Ayaan Deshpande, the musical prodigy
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Ayaan Deshpande is 10 years old and a concert pianist. The youngster has been training at the Symphony Orchestra of India (SOI) Music Academy, NCPA-Mumbai, since May 2021 under the guidance of Aida Bisengalieva.
Six months later, he gave his debut performance with the SOI Chamber Orchestra under the direction of maestro Marat Bisengaliev at the Tata Theatre, NCPA. In April 2023, he gave his gave his first piano solo and in May 2023, his first international concert at Kurmangazy Orkestri Kazakh Concert Hall in Almaty, Kazakhstan, where he performed with violinist Marat Bisengaliev and an orchestra of Kazakh folk instruments.
At Kazakhstan, he also performed at the School for Autistic Children and the Republican Kazakh Music School. The young prodigy who has performed in the presence of Zubin Mehta and Jazz legends including Herbie Hancock and Dianne Reeves at the NCPA, Mumbai, will be performing in Bengaluru on June 29.
Ayaan credits his grandfather, Neelesh, for instilling a passion for the keyboards and piano in him. “My grandfather played the harmonium as a hobby,” says Ayaan over the phone from his home in Mumbai. “I learnt a little from him. Soon, my father bought a keyboard and the lockdown happened. There was nothing much to do so I started playing the keyboard.”
Talking chirpily, Ayaan says he started by watching YouTube tutorials. “I used an app called Synthesis. Later, I got a digital piano and I was hooked and I now play the piano with the SOI Chamber Orchestra.”
Ayaan finds learn on YouTube challenging. “I had to listen, stop, go back and listen again. I had to watch and pause the video so many times. With a teacher, offline, it is way easier to learn.” Ayaan practises for about three to four hours a day. “I love swimming and playing football and tennis with my friends.”
The concert in Bengaluru will be a solo performance, accompanied by the SOI orchestra, Ayaan says. “Taking centrestage does make me nervous, but I forget it once I start playing. Before I start playing, I tell myself, ‘this is happening, stay calm and play’.”
Passionate about composing, Ayaan has till date composed a Sonata, a Waltz, a Nocturne and a piano and strings Quintet. He dreams of becoming a composer, a conductor and a concert pianist. “I want to study music in the US or Europe. I have learnt Indian classical music, which I plan to experiment with later.”
Ayaan is the winner of the Golden Key Music Festival of Vienna, 2023 (in piano performance and composition categories) and has also performed during the festival at Palais Ehrbar and the Bӧsendorfer Hall in Mozarthaus.
He will perform at Prestige Srihari Khoday Centre for Performing Arts, Bengaluru, on June 29, 7pm with the SOI Chamber Orchestra. Tickets on BookMyShow.