When the audience sat spellbound

Delhiites witnessed a spectacular piano performance by the students of Ankita Kumar's Piano Academy, which left everybody spellbound. The evening held at ML Bharti Auditorium was graced by Former Chief Justice Of India Dipak Mishra, who seemed relaxed and rejuvenated with the music of two students of the academy 'Colours of Music' – Shounak Malhotra and Saisha Khanna. The young artists rendered Hindi film music and Western classics on the piano.

Award-winning pianist and founder of the piano academy Ankita Kumar raised the curtains at the evening by invoking the Almighty with her rendition of Raj Kapoor's classic 'Jaago Mohan Pyaare'. She then invited her two students Shounak Malhotra, 13, of Sanskriti School and Saisha Khanna, 14, of the British School to play for the audience. Shounak's renditions of Hindi film songs like Kal Ho Na Ho and Tum Hi Ho and Hollywood classics like Phantom of the Opera and Mamma Mia mesmerized the audience. Saisha's music comprising of the classic Pehla Nasha and Ek Haseena Thi was equally enchanting.

Talking of the event, Retired Justice Dipak Mishra said, 'These young pianists have displayed incredible talent and stage presence in their performance today. I am very impressed by both Shounak and Saisha and I congratulate their teacher Ankita Kumar who has honed their talent and worked so hard on them."

Expressing her feeling, the proud mentor Ankita said, "It is a very proud moment for me. Shounak and Saisha have achieved far more than I did at their age and I hope they reach greater heights as musicians of our nation."

Internationally recognised pianist Ankita Kumar debuted on stage in 2009 at the Stein Auditorium, India Habitat Centre with her solo recital 'Summer Sonata' featuring Hindi film songs and Western popular songs on the piano.

Since then, she rendered several performances all across the country. Moreover, she has performed internationally at the Nehru Centre in London. Ankita is the recipient of the Sanatan Sangeet Sanskrit Award given to the most promising young musicians of the nation. Ankita has released two Music albums titled which were produced by the prestigious music lane T Series. Turning her passion into the profession, Ankita opened a piano academy which at present has 30 registered students ranging from the age of 7 years to 60 years. Basics of piano playing, hand exercises, scales and the grammar of music are taught extensively. Songs and melodies are taught in tandem with rhythm corrective classes and orchestra sessions. The school has been lauded for its innovative methods of teaching that train the mind and the ear, both of which are imperative to good piano playing.