Student Achievers: Voices that captivated the audience

In the much-awaited Inter-house Solo Singing Competition, Apeejay School, Charkhi Dadri, recently transformed the campus into a hub of melody and harmony. Divided into Junior, Middle, and Senior categories, the event showcased exceptional talent.

Mauryaditya (class III) charmed the audience with an emotionally rich performance, winning first place in the junior category. Sunidhi (class VIII) mesmerised everyone with her captivating vocals, securing the top spot in the middle category. In the senior category, Ananya (class XII) delivered a soulful rendition, leaving a lasting impression and earning first place.

In a candid interview, the three share their singing journey.

Singing is something that Mauryaditya truly enjoys, and it brings him immense happiness. “I was very excited and confident during the solo singing competition because my mother, who has a deep fondness for music, helped me prepare extensively. Although she isn’t a professional singer, she guided me throughout the preparation, spending time with me to ensure I was ready,” the class III student said, who sang Zindagi Ke Safar Mein, a song he deeply loves.

Singing in front of an audience didn’t faze him because his mother instilled confidence in him. “Apart from the competition, I often sing bhajans in temples, and I also lead the Swagat Geet at my school’s Annual Appreciation Day function recently,” he stated.

Apart from his mother, his music teachers also inspire him to improve his singing. “They give me a variety of songs to practice, including bhajans, devotional songs, and popular tracks like Believer. This guidance has helped me build versatility in my singing. Apart from music, I enjoy spending time with my family and friends. I’m grateful for the support and encouragement I receive from my teachers, principal, and family. Winning this competition has motivated me to keep learning and improving in music,” Mauryaditya shared.

Sunidhi, the class VIII student, said that singing has always been a passion of hers and was thrilled to win the solo singing competition this year. “The happiness I felt was overwhelming, and this achievement also earned me the title of the “Best Singer” in school. I’ve been participating in singing competitions since last year, and I always look forward to them. I don’t take formal singing lessons, but I practice on my own. I discovered my love for singing by constantly humming songs and realising that I had a knack for it. While I plan to take professional singing lessons in the future, for now, I’m honing my skills through regular practice,” she shared.

For the competition, she sang Yeh Kya Baat Hai. Despite her nervousness about performing in front of such a large audience, which included many talented participants, she gave it her best. “My teachers, especially my music teacher, have been instrumental in motivating me to participate in competitions. She taught me the importance of regular practice (riyaz) and guided me through the process,” Sunidhi said and added that her parents were very happy and proud when she told them about my win.

“I try to practice singing every day, usually for about an hour. Singing has been an enriching journey for me, and I look forward to growing further in this field,” she said.

For Ananya, winning the solo singing competition was an unexpected yet delightful experience. Initially, she wasn’t very enthusiastic about the competition because she never considered herself a good singer.

“My real passion lies in playing instruments like the harmonium and Casio. I have even received awards for playing them. This time, my friends encouraged me to participate. They believed I could sing if I put my mind to it. I decided to give it a try, thinking, “It’s my last year in school, so why not?” I performed a mashup of two songs by Arijit Singh. My love for playing instruments helped me connect with the harmony,” Ananya said, who has not received formal training in singing.

“I wasn’t nervous during the competition since I didn’t expect to win. My goal was just to try my best and maybe secure third place. When I was announced as the winner, it was a bittersweet moment because my friend, who had encouraged me to participate, came second. Still, my friends reminded me that it was a great achievement. After class XII, I plan to pursue engineering, but I’ll always cherish the experiences music has given me,” Ananya said in conclusion.