July, 2021: Samia Mahbub Ahmad (Master Artist) & Abraar Rafi Ahmad (Samia’s Apprentice) were recipients of the Maryland State Arts Council’s (MSAC) Folklife Apprenticeship grant in the genre of Hindustani classical music. This initiative is part of the MSAC’s traditional arts program, Maryland Traditions, that awarded $65,000 to artists in the state of Maryland. The funding supports the sharing of traditional arts skills from a master artist to a learner artist during a one-year teaching period. Thirteen grants of $5,000 each have been awarded for the 2021-2022 granting period to thirteen teams, Samia and Abraar being one of them.
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April 2, 2020: Recipient of the Regional Independent Artist Award for Performing Arts of the Maryland State Arts Council (MSAC).
Visit ⇒ https://www.msac.org/
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October 2, 2011 & October 20, 2019: As a two time winner of the Global Classical Music series, Samia was invited twice (2011 & 2019) to perform a solo Hindustani Classical music and music compositions from related genres at the Montpelier Arts Center, Maryland.
Event: Montpelier Global Classical Recital Series Competition.
Venue: The Montpelier Arts Center, Laurel, Maryland, USA
Above⇑ Program announcement for the October 2, 2011 recital
Program announcement for the October 20, 2019 recital⇒ https://www.mncppc.org/calendar.aspx?EID=10387
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July, 2009: Samia (as Master Artist, Hindustani Classical Vocal) and her daughter, Irum Tasneem Ahmad (Apprentice, Hindustani Classical violin) were recipients of the FY 2010 Maryland Traditions Folk Arts and Culture Master-Apprentice Award.
Awarded by: The Maryland State Arts Council, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
Photo credit: Shane Carpenter
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January, 2009: Samia was selected in the Artists and Scholars Roster of the Arts and Humanities Council of Montgomery County, Maryland. The selected panel of artists represented genres from all over the world,
Location: Silver Spring, Maryland. USA.
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December 4, 2010: Recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Award for Outstanding Contributions in the academia and the arts.
Organized by: An Award ceremony hosted by the Dhaka University Graduates Alumni Inc. (The Maryland, Virginia and Washington DC Chapter).
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November 17-25, 2001: Samia secured 1st position, Hindustani Classical vocal category, at the Hindustani Classical Music Competition organized by the MTNL Perfect Health Fair 2001.
Sponsored by: The Heart Care Foundation of India.
Venue: Lal Qilla (Red Fort) Grounds, Delhi. India.
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November, 1993: Samia secured 1st position, Hindustani Classical vocal category, at the Annual Indian Music & Dance Competition jointly presented by The Academy of Indian Music & The University of Maryland, Baltimore County.
Venue: The University of Maryland, Baltimore County.
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November, 1995: Samia secured 1st position, Hindustani Classical vocal category, at the Annual Indian Music & Dance Competition jointly presented by The Academy of Indian Music & The University of Maryland, Baltimore County.
Venue: The University of Maryland, Baltimore County.
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FY 2011-12 & 2012-13: Samia completed a 2-year contract with the National Council for the Traditional Arts (NCTA), Maryland State Arts Council (MSAC) & Class Acts Arts for the Arts-in-Education (grades KG-12) Touring Program for Washington DC, Maryland and Virginia, USA.
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FY 2010-11, 2011-12, 2012-13, 2013-14: As an Arts Grants Application Review panelist (from 2010-2014), Samia assisted the Maryland State Arts Council in selecting awards for global traditional and folk arts organizations based in Maryland.
Program: Traditional & Folk Arts Grants Applications for Organizations
Sponsored by: The Maryland State Arts Council, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
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