Classical Violinist, Music Composer and Director

Early life

Classical violinist, Dr. Nusrat Mumtaz Ruposhi, is descended from an extensive bloodline of talented artists. Living in Toronto, Canada today, was born in Dhaka, Bangladesh, to a renowned cultural family, she grew up surrounded by all manner of creativity. Her mother, the late Mrs. Alpana Mumtaz, was an illustrious dancer, dance director and founder of the music school Kothakali Sangeet Bidalaya. Her aunt, the late Mrs. Rowshan Jamil, is a house-hold name in Bangladesh, renowned for acting in countless movies and dramas (Youtube). In an environment that fostered art of all kinds, Dr. Ruposhi began her training in music and dance when she was three years old at Kothakali Sangeet Biddalaya.

A Drummer/Singer/Band leader

In 1989, she founded an all-girls band named Noble Sentiments and casted herself in the role of the drummer. Even today, she still engages the use of percussion in her music compositions. As a singer, she has performed in two Music Albums, a Pop Music record called “Ties” and a Bengali Music Album known as “Money Porey”, respectively released in 1995 and 1996.

Ph.D in Performing arts

In 1994, Dr. Ruposhi began her extensive training as a violinist through a scholarship program sponsored by the Indian government. She completed her Bachelor of Performing Arts and Masters of Performing Arts in 1997 and 1999, respectively from Maharaja Sayajirao University, Baroda, Gujarat, India. She graduated with excellence, merit and a reputation for musical brilliance. In her MPA, she not only secured the top position in her own department, she was ranked as the principal graduate among all students from each of the university’s four departments pertaining to the performing arts. During her Bachelor’s degree and Master’s training, Dr. Ruposhi’s violin education specialized in the ‘Gayaki Style’ of North Indian Ragas, instructed under the eminent classical violinist, Sri Neelkanth Nahar Ghaneker.

Dr. Ruposhi is the first Bangladeshi violinist to pursue a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D) in performing arts. Through the Indian government’s scholarship program, and the guidance of Professor DK. Bhonsle, Dr. Ruposhi has completed her Ph.D thesis in the faculty of performing arts at the Maharaja Sayajirao University. Her Ph.D research topic, “Forms and Styles of North Indian Classical Music in Bangladesh”, evoked her profound insight of music and art in the nation.

Solo Classical Violinist

Dr. Ruposhi has been performing solo, as well as accompanying classical violinists, both nationally and internationally since 1998. As a representative of the Bangladesh Cultural Delegation, she presented solo violin recitals in Iraq and Jordan in 1999. She has been performing in various cities in India since 1998, as a solo performer and alongside her Guru, Sri Ghanekar. In Bangladesh, Dr. Ruposhi’s debut violin solo was in 1998, at the national museum auditorium.

Dr. Ruposhi, in 1998, was selected to perform at the ‘Pramanad Hall’ in Baroda, a function that identifies and certifies ‘Kalke Kalakar’ (promising artists of the future). With great honor, Dr. Ruposhi received the certificate of Kalke Kalaker from India. In addition to numerous solo performances in Gujarat, Dr. Ruposhi has played alongside her Guru on many occasions all over India. While training, Dr. Ruposhi was considered by her Guru as one of his most promising disciples, consequently selected to perform with him in many places throughout India. In 2000, she presented a two-hour long classical violin solo at the prestigious ‘Durbar Hall’, in the presence of the king of Baroda.

Her Debut

Dr. Ruposhi’s debut solo classical violin recital was in 1998 at the national museum auditorium. Since then she has performed as a solo classical violinist on many occasions on invitation and on initiatives by various organizations. In 2005, she was awarded the ‘Nattya Shobha’ award in Bangladesh, and in 2008, Ananya Top Ten Women award as the country’s best young talent in music.

Dr. Ruposhi released her first music album on violin called ‘Bodhu Bidai’ in December 2003. The album includes presentation of two Indian classical ragas on violin and a composition (Bodhu Bidai) by Ruposhi that captures the emotions of a Bengali marriage ceremony in bidding farewell to the bride. This composition was inspired by a theme for music proposed to Ruposhi by her aunt, the dancer and actress, Rowshan Jamil. Ruposhi included the composition in her first music album as a tribute to her aunt.

Violin Fusion

The promotion of classical violin music in Bangladesh is fueled by Dr. Ruposhi, inspired by her lifelong love of it. She is constantly working to popularize music with creativity and the fusion of new styles, without losing the classical chord in her music. Since 2004, Dr. Ruposhi has presented her fusion music compositions on many occasions, on both stage and television.

Dr. Ruposhi’s aim is to create a broader audience for not only her music, but fusion violin as a whole. Through her teaching, performances and musical compositions, she advocates strongly for a fusion of Indian classical music with modern western music. She also believes that presenting fusion music, based on a strong classical base, can reach and stir the interest of a much more expansive population. Dr. Ruposhi hopes to establish herself as a quality violinist, a music director and a composer for dance- and theme-based orchestration. Her ultimate goal, as a talented violinist, is to provide passion, inspiration and counsel to the rising number of violinists in North America to fuse their music with worldwide violin styles and harmony.