Hans Utter, Ph.D. is an exponent of the prominent Imdad Khan gharana, an unbroken line of seven generations which has made significant contributions to the development of classical Indian music. As a disciple of Ustad Shujaat Khan, son of the illustrious sitarist Ustad Vilayat Khan, Hans has trained intensively in India for nearly two decades. He has performed Turkish and Arabic music around the United States. He is the recipient of eighteen national and international awards and grants, and has worked with artists such as Dizzy Gillespie, John Abercrombie, Ustad Shujaat Khan, Latif Bolat, Turkana, Steve Gorn and Chuck D. He holds a Ph.D. in Ethnomusicology from the Ohio State University, and has taught music at The Ohio State, Capital, and Indira Gandhi National Open universities. His publications include the book Trance, Ritual and Rhythm: The Cult of Mahasu Deota (New Delhi: B. R. Rhythms, 2010), many scholarly articles, Awaken Radiance of Mind, the novel Blood Lotus, and many other publications. He is currently a Senior Advisor for the Assam Women’s College. Hans has worked in film, music production, and has performed, lectured, and offered seminars in  over twenty countries.