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• Virtuoso 2026: Pathways World School and ABRSM Host India's Premier Inter-School Music Competition May 22
  Pathways World School, Gurgaon
  

Event at a Glance:

• Event Name: Virtuoso 2026 
• Organizers: Pathways World School, Gurgaon in collaboration with ABRSM 
• Dates: April 7–8, 2026 
• Venue: Pathways World School, Aravali Retreat, Gurugram, India 
• Scale: 26 participating schools across India

 

In April 2026, Pathways World School, one of the leading IB school in India, partnered with the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM) to host Virtuoso 2026. Designed to celebrate young musical talent, the two-day event emerged as one of the largest inter-school music competitions in the country. 

Drawing participation from 26 schools across the southern, eastern, and western regions of India, the event successfully blended global standards with diverse domestic talent on a single stage. 

Setting a Global Standard in Music Education

A key differentiator for Virtuoso 2026 was its alignment with ABRSM, a globally respected music education and assessment body with over 130 years of excellence. The event emphasized the importance of both theoretical knowledge and practical execution across various instruments, vocals, and musical styles. 

The event featured insights from Ms. Sonia Khan, the ABRSM India Head and Special Guest. A prominent figure in the international music education scene, Ms. Khan advocated for the "gold standard" of music education, emphasizing the cognitive and emotional benefits of structured learning and its impact on global career opportunities for young artists.

An Esteemed Panel of Industry Experts

To ensure a rigorous and professional judging process, Virtuoso 2026 featured a panel of highly credentialed experts in both Indian and Western music: 

• Alisha Abigail: An expert in inclusive curriculum design and a versatile performer across R&B, Soul, Indie, and Pop. With a Master’s in education and experience contributing to NCERT, she evaluates performances through the lens of student expression and real-world music practice.
• Abhishek Rai: Director of Musicians Stop and a veteran session artist with over 20 years of experience. Holding advanced music qualifications from London and Grade 8 certifications in Music Theory, Guitar, and Vocals, he brought an incredible depth of technical expertise to the competition.
• Nadeem Khan: A distinguished vocalist of the Rampur-Sehaswan Gharana and a former child prodigy. Graded by All India Radio and Doordarshan, and a recipient of the ‘Swar Mani’ award, he provided expert assessment in Khayaal Gaayaki, Thumri, Bhajan, and Sufi music.

Competition Categories and Event Structure

The competition fostered a spirit of musical history by having each participating school represent a legendary composer or musician. The robust two-day schedule, held primarily at the Panini Auditorium, featured performances across diverse categories: 

• Choir: Ensembles of 8-12 participants. 
• Band: Groups of 4-7 participants. 
• Solo Vocal (Western & Indian): Divided into Junior (8-12) and Senior (13-17) categories. 
• Solo Instrumental (Western & Indian): Divided into Junior (8-12) and Senior (13-17) categories. 

Beyond the competition, the event served as a prestigious platform for peer learning, offering masterclasses and expert feedback to enrich the students' musical journeys. 

Virtuoso 2026 Winners List

The competition witnessed exceptional performances, culminating in an awards ceremony on April 8th. Below are the top achievers across the premier categories:

Category	Winner	1st Runner-Up	2nd Runner-Up
Band	Pathways World School	Heritage experiential international school	Scindia Kanya Vidyalaya
Choir	Bel Canto Academy of Music	Pathways World School	City Montessori School
Solo Vocal Western (Senior)	Samiara Malhotra (Pathways World School)	Varshika Deb Ray (Bel Canto Academy)	Abigail John (Delhi Metro International)
Solo Vocal Western (Junior)	Isabelle Basumata (Bel Canto Academy)	Amaira Rajpal (Heritage International)	Ishanavi Srivastava (Pathways World School)
Solo Vocal Indian (Senior)	Anagha kruti Avalur (The Gaudium School)	Viraj Singh (Heritage International)	Ashmi Singh (City Montessori School)
Solo Vocal Indian (Junior)	Ira Paranjape (SPM English School)	Vihaan Layek (Bel Canto Academy)	Prithiv Mishra (City Montessori School)
Solo Instrumental Western (Senior)	Samridh Rai Uboweja (Ardee School)	Siddharth Tanikella (Manthan International)	Aditya Saxena (Genesis Gobal)
Solo Instrumental Western (Junior)	Ira Panajape (SPM English School)	Arlene Aura Rai (Heritage International)	Udayan Singh Bhadauria (G D Goenka)
Solo Instrumental Indian (Junior)	Ira Paranjape (SPM English School)	Nishmita Sachin Palnitkar (Sava Sadan)	Ahaan Vir Kukreja (Lancer's International)

 

Under the meticulous guidance of Geoffrey Williams, Head of Music at PWS, Virtuoso 2026 successfully championed musical excellence. We extend our deepest gratitude to all participating students, dedicated educators, and supportive parents for making this educational gathering a resounding success.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q. What is the Virtuoso 2026 music competition? 

A. Virtuoso 2026 is an inter-school music competition organized by Pathways World School in collaboration with ABRSM. It serves as a platform to celebrate young musical talent across India, evaluating students on global standards of musical excellence. 

Q. Where was Virtuoso 2026 held? 

A. The event took place at the Pathways World School campus located at Aravali Retreat, Off Gurugram-Sohna Road, Gurugram, Haryana, India. 

Q. Who were the judges for Virtuoso 2026?

A. The professional judging panel consisted of renowned experts in Indian and Western music, including Alisha Abigail, Abhishek Rai, and Nadeem Khan. The event also featured ABRSM India Head Ms. Sonia Khan as a Special Guest. 

Q. What are the performance categories in Virtuoso? 

A. Participating schools compete in Band, Choir, Solo Instrumental (Western and Indian), and Solo Vocal (Western and Indian). Solo categories are divided into Junior (ages 8-12) and Senior (ages 13-17) brackets.