Hum & Strum Rising Stars 2026: Celebrating the Winners of Bangalore’s Vocal & Instrumental Music Talent Hunt
- Hum and Strum Music School
- 19 hours ago
- 7 min read
Updated: 1 hour ago
More than 300 young musicians registered. Only 16 finalists were selected from each age category. Across two days in Bengaluru, voices, instruments, nerves, practice, and stage presence came together for a memorable celebration of student talent.
Hum & Strum Rising Stars 2026, organised by Hum & Strum Music School at its Brookefield centre, was held on 15 and 16 August 2026. The contest brought together young singers and instrumentalists across two age groups, giving students a platform to perform, compete, and grow.
For parents looking for a meaningful music competition in Bangalore, and for students learning to sing or play an instrument, Rising Stars 2026 reflected what a good student music event should do. It celebrated achievement, yes, but it also honoured effort, preparation, confidence, and the courage to perform in front of others.
Rising Stars 2026 brought student talent into focus
Akshara Shubhash — Winner, Vocals (6–12), with her stunning performance of Rolling in the Deep. 
Ishani Menon — Runner-Up, Vocals (6–12), with her performance of Simply the Best. 
Siddharth — Winner, Instrumental (6–12), showcasing his piano talent at Hum & Strum Rising Stars 202 
Aditya Panda — Runner-Up, Instrumental (6–12), showcasing his drumming talent at Hum & Strum Rising
Winners, 6–12 Vocal & Instrumental Category at Hum & Strum Rising Stars 2026!
Ananya Kar — Winner, Vocals (13+), Hum & Strum Rising Stars 2026, with a powerful performance of Val 
Shubhi Sinha — Runner-Up, Vocals (13+), Hum & Strum Rising Stars 2026, with her performance of Creep 
Saathvik Manivannan — Winner, Instrumental (13+), at Hum & Strum Rising Stars 2026. 
Pranav KA — Runner-Up, Instrumental (13+), at Hum & Strum Rising Stars 2026.
Winners, 13 Years & Above Vocal & Instrumental Category at Hum & Strum Rising Stars 2026!
Rising Stars 2026 was designed as a vocal and instrumental music contest for young performers. The event welcomed students who had prepared songs, pieces, rhythms, melodies, and stage-ready performances across different musical styles.
The competition was held at the Hum & Strum Music School Brookefield centre in Bengaluru, making it especially relevant for families searching for a music school in Brookefield or a kids music competition in Bangalore. Yet the spirit of the event went beyond location. It gave young musicians something that every growing artist needs: a real stage and a reason to prepare with purpose.
The contest featured two broad performance streams:
Vocal performances
Instrumental performances
This made the event inclusive for different kinds of young musicians. Some students carried the performance through voice, expression, and interpretation. Others did it through keys, drums, strings, rhythm, and instrumental control. Both forms require discipline. Both require courage. Both deserve recognition.
For many children and teenagers, a music contest for children is more than a single performance slot. It becomes a milestone. It gives structure to practice. It teaches students how to handle anticipation. It helps them understand the difference between learning a piece and performing it for an audience.
That distinction matters. A student may know every note at home, but the stage adds a new layer. Lights, timing, memory, expression, and focus all become part of the performance. Events like Rising Stars 2026 help young musicians build that experience early, in a setting that recognises both effort and excellence.
More than 300 registrations showed the scale of the competition
One of the defining facts of Rising Stars 2026 was its strong participation. More than 300 participants registered for the contest, making it a significant music competition for kids in Bangalore.
More than 300 registrations and 16 finalists from each age category made Rising Stars 2026 a competitive and meaningful platform for young musicians.
That number says something important. It shows that many children and teenagers are not only learning music, but are also ready to test themselves in a performance setting. It also reflects the support of families who understand that music education grows stronger when students have opportunities to perform beyond the classroom.
The contest was organised across two age categories:
6 to 12 years
13 years and above
This age-wise structure helped create a fairer performance environment. Younger children performed alongside peers closer to their stage of musical development. Older students had the opportunity to bring more mature repertoire, stronger technique, and deeper interpretation to their performances.
The journey from registration to finale was competitive. From the large pool of participants, 16 finalists were selected from each age category. That selection gave the grand finale a clear sense of focus. It also meant that every finalist had already earned a place through preparation and performance readiness.
For students, being selected as a finalist is itself an achievement. It validates practice. It encourages consistency. It tells a child or teenager that their musical growth is visible. For parents, it often becomes a proud reminder that progress in music is not always measured only by exams or certificates. Sometimes, it is measured by the confidence to walk on stage and perform.
The Brookefield grand finale took place on 15 and 16 August 2026
The grand finale of Rising Stars 2026 took place at the Hum & Strum Music School centre in Brookefield on 15 and 16 August 2026.
A two-day finale gave the event room to honour both vocal and instrumental performances across age groups. It also allowed the competition to feel like a complete student music showcase rather than a rushed contest. The focus remained on performers, their preparation, and the final step of bringing music to the stage.
The choice of Brookefield as the venue was fitting. As a growing residential and learning hub in Bengaluru, Brookefield is home to many families seeking structured arts education, including music classes and performance opportunities. For parents searching online for a vocal music competition, an instrumental music competition, or a music competition in Bangalore, the event stood out because it combined competition with student development.
The dates also gave the finale a strong sense of occasion. A music contest held over 15 and 16 August naturally carried the feeling of a holiday weekend, family participation, and community gathering. Without needing spectacle, the event had something more meaningful: young performers stepping forward with songs and instruments they had prepared with care.
In student music, the final performance is only the visible part of the work. Before that moment come repeated practice sessions, corrections, rhythm work, pitch work, memory checks, coordination, and the patient refining of details. Rising Stars 2026 brought that preparation into public view.
Winners and runners-up of Rising Stars 2026
The results of Rising Stars 2026 recognised students across both age categories and performance streams. Winners received an electric guitar, while runners-up received an acoustic guitar.
Celebrating our Rising Stars with their well-deserved prizes! Celebrating our Rising Stars with their well-deserved prizes! Celebrating our Rising Stars with their well-deserved prizes! Celebrating our Rising Stars with their well-deserved prizes!
These prizes were more than symbolic rewards. For a young musician, receiving an instrument can become an invitation to continue learning. It can encourage regular practice, exploration, and creative play. An electric guitar brings a sense of energy and possibility. An acoustic guitar offers warmth, portability, and a direct connection to rhythm and melody. Both prizes support the idea that a competition should not end with the result. It should open the next stage of musical growth.
Category | Position | Student | Performance details | Prize |
Vocals, 6 to 12 years | 1st | Akshara Shubhash | “Rolling in the Deep” | Electric guitar |
Vocals, 6 to 12 years | 2nd | Ishani Menon | “Simply the Best” | Acoustic guitar |
Instrumental, 6 to 12 years | 1st | Siddharth | Piano | Electric guitar |
Instrumental, 6 to 12 years | 2nd | Aditya Panda | Drums | Acoustic guitar |
Vocals, 13 years and above | 1st | Ananya Kar | “Valerie” | Electric guitar |
Vocals, 13 years and above | 2nd | Shubhi Sinha | “Creep” | Acoustic guitar |
Instrumental, 13 years and above | 1st | Saathvik Manivannan | Drums | Electric guitar |
Instrumental, 13 years and above | 2nd | Pranav KA | Drums | Acoustic guitar |
Each name in the results represents many hours of work. Each finalist, too, contributed to the standard of the competition. In a field that began with more than 300 registrations, reaching the finale was a significant step.
The winners and runners-up deserve applause for their achievement. At the same time, every participant who registered, prepared, and performed took part in the larger purpose of the contest: to grow through music.
Why events like Rising Stars matter for young musicians
A student music contest should do more than rank performances. At its best, it helps children and teenagers develop habits that stay with them long after the event.
Rising Stars 2026 supported that growth in several ways.
Confidence
Performing in front of others helps students become more comfortable with visibility. Even a short stage performance can teach a young musician how to manage nerves, recover from small mistakes, and stay present.
Stage experience
Music lessons build skill. Stage time builds performance maturity. Students learn how to begin, how to hold themselves, how to finish, and how to respond to the energy of the room.
Discipline
Preparing for a contest gives practice a clear goal. Students learn that strong performances come from repetition, correction, and patient improvement.
Creativity
Whether a student sings a song or performs an instrumental piece, music invites personal expression. Competitions can help students think about tone, style, interpretation, and musical identity.
Opportunities to grow
Recognition can motivate students to continue. Feedback, observation, and the experience of watching peers perform can be just as valuable as the final result.
This connects naturally with Hum & Strum Music School’s philosophy of Practice • Perfect • Perform. The phrase captures the path many young musicians follow. Practice builds the foundation. Perfecting refines the details. Performance brings the learning alive.
Rising Stars 2026 gave students a chance to experience all three. They prepared before the event, refined their pieces for the stage, and then performed as part of a shared celebration of music.
Frequently asked questions
What was Hum & Strum Rising Stars 2026?
Rising Stars 2026 was a vocal and instrumental music contest organised by Hum & Strum Music School at its Brookefield centre in Bengaluru.
When was the Rising Stars 2026 grand finale held?
The grand finale was held on 15 and 16 August 2026 at the Brookefield centre.
How many students registered for the competition?
More than 300 participants registered for the competition.
What were the age categories?
The competition had two age categories: 6 to 12 years and 13 years and above.
What prizes did the winners and runners-up receive?
Winners received an electric guitar, while runners-up received an acoustic guitar.
A celebration of every young performer
Hum & Strum Rising Stars 2026 was more than a results list. It was a celebration of young singers, instrumentalists, finalists, and every student who stepped into the process with commitment.
The winners and runners-up earned well-deserved recognition. The finalists showed the value of focused preparation. The participants helped make the competition meaningful through their courage and effort. Parents supported practice routines, travel, preparation, and the emotional journey that comes with performance. Instructors guided students through the steady work behind the stage moment.
Together, they made Rising Stars 2026 a warm and inspiring chapter for student music in Bengaluru.
For every child who performed, the event offered something lasting: confidence, experience, discipline, creativity, and a reason to keep growing. And for every family watching that journey unfold, it was a reminder that music education is not only about learning notes. It is about helping young artists find their voice, their rhythm, and their place on stage.
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