‘Work hard, be disciplined, and dedicate yourself to practice’

Anmol Preet Kaur, a student achiever from Apeejay College of Fine Arts (ACFA), Jalandhar has grown up immersed in the world of performance arts. Coming from a family deeply rooted in theatre, she developed a passion for singing and dancing at an early age. Her journey into formal music training began at ACFA, where a vibrant creative environment and inspiring mentors helped shape her artistic path. 

The Apeejay student has recently won the title in the Youth Festival award  in which she  participated in Music vocal categories of  Indian Group Song, Western Group Song, Light vocal, Group Bhajan. Read edited excerpts of her interview in which she shares about her preparation journey.  

Congratulations on your achievement! Can you share your overall experience of participating in the Youth Festival?

Thank you so much. For me, the Youth Festival is not just an event, it is an emotion. I truly believe that when students come to college, participating in the Youth Festival becomes an essential part of their journey. It does not only polish our art but also shapes our overall personality. It teaches us patience, discipline, teamwork, and prepares us mentally and emotionally to pursue this field professionally.

Throughout this journey, our teachers and mentors supported us immensely. They motivated us at every step and created a family-like environment, which made us feel confident and secure. The content prepared at Apeejay College of Fine Arts is always unique and creatively rich, especially the compositions designed by our alumnus Dr. Anadi Mishra. His skills are exceptional, and he guided us with the care and encouragement of an elder brother, always making himself approachable for any doubts or guidance.

For any singer or artist, Apeejay College of Fine Arts is truly one of the best institutions, offering the finest mentors and an environment that nurtures both talent and confidence.

You competed in multiple vocal categories like Indian Group Song, Western Group Song, Light Vocal and Group Bhajan. How did you prepare for such diverse performances?

Preparing for multiple vocal categories required immense dedication, discipline, and patience. We rehearsed for more than 12 hours a day with complete focus. Our day would begin with riyaaz, followed by meditation. Just like warm-ups are essential in the sports field, riyaaz is the foundation of training in music, and we treated it with the same seriousness.

We usually started our practice sessions with Bhajan, where our mentors focused deeply on fine details and continuous polishing. They guided us on every single note, every word, and how each emotion should be expressed and delivered through music. After that, we moved on to the Indian Group Song, where the mentors trained us with great patience and consistency, helping us reach a refined level of performance.

Our rehearsals then continued with the Western Group Song, where we were guided through vocal exercises, voice control, and voice modulation. Along with this, I was trained in Ghazal. I learned from Mishra Sir that a Ghazal is not just sung, it is lived — every word should touch the listener’s heart. My aim was to do complete justice to the depth and emotion of the composition. Our Indian Group Song, Western Group Song, and Ghazal were all composed by Dr. Anadi Mishra.

Apeejay College of Fine Arts has been winning the Youth Festival Championship Trophy for the past 25 years consecutively, which reflects the collective hard work of students, accompanists, teachers, and mentors. I truly hope this legacy continues in the future, as the college has consistently represented Guru Nanak Dev University with pride and has also achieved remarkable success at the national level.

How did working in group performances shape your learning, coordination, and confidence as a vocalist?

Working in group performances has been an incredibly enriching experience for me as a vocalist. It has taught me the importance of teamwork, coordination, and mutual respect. Singing alongside other talented performers requires active listening, adaptability, and understanding the dynamics of the group to maintain harmony and balance.

These experiences have also significantly boosted my confidence on stage. Performing in a group creates a supportive environment where each member encourages the other, allowing us to take creative risks and express ourselves more freely. The guidance of our mentors at Apeejay College of Fine Arts further enhanced this learning, helping us refine our timing, pitch, and overall stage presence.

Ultimately, group performances have not only strengthened my technical skills but also shaped me into a more confident, adaptable, and expressive artist, ready to embrace both individual and collaborative challenges in music.

What role did your mentors at ACFA play in excelling at the festival?

My mentors at Apeejay College of Fine Arts played a pivotal role in helping me excel at the Youth Festival. Their guidance went far beyond technical training; they taught me how to express emotion, understand the nuances of each composition, and deliver every performance with confidence and authenticity.

The teachers and mentors consistently offered personalised feedback, focusing on every detail — from pitch and rhythm to pronunciation and emotional expression. They encouraged me to step out of my comfort zone, take creative risks, and push my limits while ensuring I felt supported at every step.

Their mentorship also created a family-like environment where I could approach them with any question or concern, making learning seamless and inspiring. Without their unwavering support, motivation, and expertise, achieving excellence in the festival would not have been possible.

How do competitions and experiences of different festivals contribute to your growth as a musician and performer?

Participating in different competitions and festivals has been such a valuable journey for me as a musician. Every performance feels like a new learning experience — whether it’s managing stage pressure, exploring different musical styles, or truly connecting with the audience. These moments constantly challenge me to grow, understand my strengths, and work on my weaknesses.

This year marks my third year participating in the Youth Festival, and I’ve made a lot of mistakes along the way. But I’ve learned that making mistakes is completely normal. What really matters is realising when you’re making a mistake — if you notice it, it means you are aware and learning. If you don’t, then that’s a problem. Recognising and correcting your mistakes is so important, and this is a lesson I learned from my mentor.

Being part of festivals also exposes me to so many talented performers and fresh ideas, which always inspires me to push myself further. The feedback and guidance from mentors, judges, and peers help me improve in small but meaningful ways, whether it’s perfecting a note, expressing an emotion, or refining my overall delivery.

Overall, these experiences have made me more confident, adaptable, and expressive as a performer. Every stage I perform on reminds me why I love music so much and motivates me to keep growing and chasing bigger opportunities in the future.

What message or advice would you like to give to fellow students who aspire to participate in future Youth Festivals?

I would tell students who want to participate in future Youth Festivals to take the experience seriously, but also enjoy every moment. From my own journey, I’ve learned that it’s not just about winning or performing perfectly — it’s about learning, growing, and experiencing everything on stage fully.

I’ve made a lot of mistakes myself, and that’s completely normal. Work hard, be disciplined, and dedicate yourself to practice, but also trust the process and enjoy it. Listen to your mentors, learn from everyone around you, and have confidence in your abilities. The festival is a unique platform to showcase your talent, meet inspiring people, and grow as a performer and as a person. Most importantly, give your best, stay humble, and let the music do the talking — if you do that, every experience will help you improve and become a better artist.