Achievements
BeyondBooks: This young guitar virtuoso plays on the world stage
At 14 awards and counting, this Class IX student from Apeejay School, Noida, is just getting started
Shaped by a decade of steady practice, he has grown into a guitarist with rare depth and confidence. His journey includes 14 international awards across countries from Spain to Romania, a feature on Guitar Salon International in California, and record-young success in the Trinity ATCL while pursuing LTCL. Meet Wrig Bhardwaj, a Class IX student of Apeejay School, Noida.
In an impromptu interview, the guitarist shares the challenges he faced while learning the instrument.
What first drew you to the classical guitar, and how has your interest changed over time?
My father plays guitar, and I used to play on it and watch him play. Slowly, my interest built for classical guitar. The only consistency in my life is a continued interest in guitars and their practice.
Which piece or composer have you enjoyed learning the most this term, and why?
Classical guitar music is primarily the repertoire transcribed from music originally composed for instruments like the piano or lute. Agustín Barrios and Francisco Tárrega were the guitarists who had originally composed music for the classical guitar. I love playing their music the most. If I talk about pieces, I love playing Asturias, La Catedral, Grand Overture, Theme and Variation by Mozart, and Serenata Española.
What specific techniques (fingerstyle, arpeggios, and tremolo) have you improved recently?
Practising classical guitar is a process in which you improve on various techniques gradually. Some pieces demand a particular technique and some the other. If you specifically ask me a particular technique that I practice most, it’s tremolo and picado.
Describe a moment in your practice where you felt particularly proud or confident.
I experience a sense of pride when I execute a piece with a distinct tone and accuracy. Now this happens most often as my musicality has improved to a decent level. The first joy I experienced was when I played Asturias flawlessly a few years back.
Challenges you faced while learning classical guitar.
The most challenging for me was learning to read sheet music and sight-read. I have learnt on my own and in a natural way, not through a traditional approach. I sometimes used to misread a note here and there in scores that were quite challenging to improve.
How does the school support your interest?
My teachers love me playing various music for them. I play in various festivals and competitions for the school. Not to mention, the recent instrumental music award I received says it all.
