Nafees Ahmed received his education in classical music from his father, sitarnawaz Ustad Fateh Ali Khan who was the chief musician of Maharaja of Patiala.
Nafees has performed extensively at home and abroad. In the US, he had the distinction of playing with the great Ustad Bismillah Khan and tabla maestro Ustad Zakir Husain.
Nafees has been instrumental in the propagation of classical music through innovative performances, lectures and presentations. He has also taught at the National Academy of Performing Arts.