Young musician Kirtan Virdee from Leeds has become the first recipient of the Harjeet Singh Music Bursary.
The Harjeet Singh Music Bursary has been set up as a legacy in memory of the work and dedication given by Harjeet to teaching Indian Classical Music. The instrument Bursary has been established by the family and friends of Harjeet to provide instruments to aspiring students who have a love for Indian Classical Music, and who demonstrate potential to learn and thrive in their musical journey. The instrument Bursary is offered to those students where the affordability of a quality instrument is prohibitively expensive.
Harjeet was always focused on making a difference, and spent a lot of his time promoting music to those where accessibility was a challenge. Raising the confidence of the young people he taught, and also supporting good causes through offering performances, Harjeet had a passionate belief in encouraging and promoting talent amongst young musicians, and often commented that music is a force for good in the lives of children, with countless benefits to their well-being resulting from participating in musical activities.
The organisation is run by volunteers who administer the bursaries; this is a non-profit organization with the mission to provide instruments to deserving students who have a passion to learn. The Bursary offers Indian Musical Instruments. The funding for instruments comes from both the Family & Friends of Harjeet and sponsorships; the scheme also accepts donations of instruments. All monetary donations are used to procure instruments. The Bursary offers 8 quality instruments a year through a formal application process. The Bursary requires an update on the use of the instruments for the first three years and encourages the donations of instruments no longer being used for other students.
Kirtan who is currently completing her GCSEs has been learning the sitar since the age of 4. The Bursary offers Indian classical instruments to aspiring musicians and has provided a sitar for Kirtan.
The first recipient of the Bursary is a Leeds based student Kirtan Virdee said:
“I have been playing the sitar since I was 4 years old, making it currently 12 years of this journey. Sitar has always been a major part of my life and after being kindly gifted a beautiful sitar from the Harjeet Singh Music Bursary, I have been able to explore the next stages of my learning and deliver higher quality lessons.”
She added: “The pressure of having to loan an instrument has also been lifted, making it easier for my parents. As well as this, having my own sitar has allowed me to mentor students with no obstacles, as I can give clearer demonstrations with a higher quality sitar.”
Today the bursary presented the 3rd award to Anjali a deserving student. We wish her success in her musical journey and will post more about Anjali and her progress. Thanks to all the supporters of the bursary as the legacy of Harjeet continues.
The instrument Bursary has been established by the family and friends of Harjeet to provide instruments to aspiring students who have a love for Indian Classical Music, and who demonstrate potential to learn and thrive in their musical journey.
More information on the Bursary can be found at www.harjeetsinghmusicbursary.org
