Small Wonder

Her most treasured performance to date was a three-hour show on July 3, 1998 where she played 26 old Hindi instrumental songs on the synthesiser along with professional artistes to a house full Tilak Smarak Mandir. Afroz has also been playing live at Pune Festival continuously for three years along with various other performances.

With her main area of interest being old Hindi songs, Afroz does play latest numbers too on demand from her friends. Her idol composers are Shankar Jaikishan and O P Nayyar, with songs sung by Lata Mangeshkar and Asha Bhonsale being her favourites.

Afroz received her primary guidance from noted film music director Kalyanji Bhai Shah. She is presently undergoing training with Shamrao Kamble, an arranger of old songs working with Laxmikant Pyarelal. She also goes for classical vocal classes to Suryakant Gaikwad once a week. Afroz also learns staff notation on the piano at Cicilia School of Music.

So how does she manage both academics and music? Her mother proudly states, “Since childhood we have seen her interest in music and hence we have given her our full support. We know it’s not possible to for her to give full concentration to both studies and music. She is our only child and we do not pressurise her to excel in studies. She gets a first class in her examinations and that is more than enough for us.” Afroz is presently studying in the eighth standard at Mount Carmel Convent High School. Her day begins at 5.30 am with music practice and ends at 11.00 pm again with music. In between she attends school and completes her homework. With such dedication towards music at such a tender age, we are sure Afroz will definitely make a mark in the world of music.