Jury
Our jury members are renowned music pedagogues as well as performing artists.
The decision of the Jury is final and will not be subject to further appeal.
Neecia Majolly, who is also the Convener, is the Founder of NMCPA (Neecia Majolly Centre for Performing Arts), Founder-Trustee of The Majolly Music Trust, Founder of The Majolly Project and has been acclaimed as one of India’s finest pianists. Besides being a singer/songwriter, conductor and composer, she is also a most sought after music educator who has influenced her students to pursue their musical studies in esteemed institutions abroad after which they have launched their careers as successful performing artists and music educators.
A Global Music Awards Gold and Silver Medalist winner, IMEA (International Music and Entertainment Association) Awards Winner and Akademia Music Awards Winner for ‘The Majolly Project’ (progressive rock group),Neecia has had her musical education in Brunei and Singapore and went on to do her degree in Music from the Western Australian Conservatorium, Perth. Ever since her return to India, she has emerged as one of the most dynamic musical forces in India and has performed at venues across India, Nepal, South East Asia, Sweden and Australia.
The Camerata (now known as The Majolly Music Trust Choir), a choir she founded and directed, has earned a firm reputation in India for being unique in their choice of repertoire and quality of presentation. The year 2001 saw the historic performance of Handel’s “Messiah” for choir, soloists and full – fledged orchestra, the likes of which had never been experienced in India before.
Another choir she co-founded, Madrigals, Etc., is the only choir in India specializing in music from the Middle Ages and Renaissance eras, and has the distinction of releasing the first ever Western Music Classical album in the country in 2009 ‘the renaissance begins’.
In 2019, she founded ‘FEMUSICA’, all women choir/instrumental group that performs music by women composers/collaborators. Their debut was in Chennai the same year, and the group has performed to critical acclaim.
The Majolly Music Trust itself has one of the finest faculties in the country imparting music education in piano, and voice studies besides having created a unique pension fund for aged and infirm musicians.
Besides being former representative of the London College of Music Examinations in Karnataka, Neecia is believed to be the first Indian Western Classical Pianist to have a piano album, ‘Gold Coast Pure Spa’, released by Universal Audio, USA.
In May 2017, the debut indie album ‘Please’ from The Majolly Project was released.
Neecia has recently been empanelled in the Indian Council of Cultural Relations ' Reference Panel of Artistes, and is also on the Advisory Council of the Karnataka Artistes Association.
Neecia is also a Gold Prize Winner in the Composition category at the World Classical Music Awards (2022)
Aching Shaiza is a pianist, mezzo-soprano, music educator and vocal coach based in New Delhi.
She graduated from Patkai Christian College, Nagaland and studied piano under the tutelage of late Mrs. Margaret A.Shishak (M.Mus Michigan University). She studied Jazz piano, composition, drama and musical theatre at Caux, Switzerland and is the founder of the “Collective Artist Project” whose repertoire ranges from Classical to Jazz, Broadway to Pop.
She holds an Associate from the Trinity College of Music, London, as well as Dip. ABRSM and Performer’s Certificate in both Piano and Voice from the Associated Board of The Royal Schools of Music, London (ABRSM).
She has taught IB music and HS Choir at The American Embassy School, The British School and at The Delhi School of Music. She has worked as vocal coach for high school Musical Productions like ‘My Fair Lady’,’ Mama Mia’, ‘Oliver’, ‘Sound of Music’ and ‘Jekyll and Hyde’.
She has performed at the Birmingham Symphony Hall, International Convention London, Switzerland, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, NCPA Mumbai, Rashtrapati Bhavan, Lakmé Fashion Week and at many other places in India, Europe and Asia, conducting workshops. She has also performed with visiting concert artists from around the world.
Her students, many of whom have won National and international (Piano/Voice) competitions have received accolades for their level of technique and quality of performances and have been accepted into music degree programs at Harvard University, Longy School of Bard, Royal College of Music London, Manhattan School of Music, Ithaca NYC, The New school in NYC and Berkeley School of Music to name a few.
She firmly believes that artists act as a catalyst in bridging the gap amongst the world’s divide, by sharing the message of hope, peace, forgiveness, unity and love through their art.
As “Change Makers”, she has collaborated with a Romanian opera singer, a South Korean pianist, a Palestine- American writer and photographer, a Swedish theatre artist, a Norwegian music composer, an Egyptian architect and has organized a series of concerts as part of the Arts team - Initiative of Change, Switzerland.
Aching Shaiza is a piano and voice faculty at Caux Artist Program, Switzerland, and the Head of Department for Voice at THEME Music Institute, Delhi NCR.
Nourhe Khate is the founder of Emotive Strings, overseeing all things music and creative direction. As an artiste, his instrument is an extension of his being. He was the winner of the David Menezes National Violin Competition in 2014 and is also one of the two Indians to receive the Rumi Foundation Great Indian Scholarship, the Great India Scholar & Leverhulme Arts Scholar to pursue and complete his Masters in Violin Performance from the prestigious Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music, London. (2016-2018). He currently teaches Violin at Margaret Shishak School of Music and Hope-The Music School. He is also the violinist for The Shillong Chamber Choir.