Don’t go by the age of Bengaluru-based Aarav Lad as he is just nine but has already made his presence felt at the international arena of music. Competing in the 5th International Music of the World contest he won the 2nd place in the piano solo category in the age group 9 to 11.

Aarav was not just one of the youngest participants to win but also the only Indian in this age group. There were 120 competitions from 24 countries, including Russia, US, Canada, Germany and China among others, who had gathered to exhibit their talent.

Talking about his talent, Aarav’s parents Ankita and Kapil Lad said he had taken to piano very early in life. Observing the ease with which he played the instrument, they got him a 32-key mini one when he was just four. Starting his formal training from the age of five, Aarav became whole-heartedly devoted to piano.

He started learning Western classical music which has several piano compositions.

Aarav is visibly thrilled at doing so well in the international competition. He shared that his favourite composers include Liszt, Mozart, Chopin and Beethoven and inspired by these legends, he hopes to compose and create his own pieces one day. That is not all, as apart from becoming a pianist, he also wants to be a mathematician. A keen student, his favourite subjects are maths, physics and space and he has participated in many Indian and International Math Olympiads.

At present, Aarav is undergoing training under Belarussian concert pianists Natallia Kapylova and Liudmila Drazhnik.