Meet Young Ruhani Dhillon, a passionate singer who loves to play Netball

By Manju Mittal

Ruhani Dhillon is a dedicated percussionist. She is not only a musician but also a singer, guitarist, netball player and bhangra dancer. For Ruhani, music is a passion and self learnt. Multi-talented Ruhani is a talented artist, born and brought up in Sydney, Australia and has not forgotten her roots. Currently in her second year at the Sydney Conservatorium of music, Ruhani is undertaking a bachelor of music majoring in Western classical percussion.

Ruhani was named under the age of 19 category percussion champion at the NSW state band solos and party championships in 2018. She also completed her Trinity Guildhall Orchestral percussion grade 8 with a distinction. She went on her first International music tour to Singapore with the Beecroft Primary School senior concert band. She has won multiple awards and awarded not only for her talent but also for her generosity as a human being.

Ruhani was awarded the Supreet Kaur scholarship for excellence in Netball; represented the Hills District Association in 2014 and 2018, and representing the State twice. In the year of 2017, Ruhani joined Bhangra group as a junior member and progressed to the intermediate and senior levels.

This second generation talented young artist shared her interest in singing, inspiration and future dreams with TIDU.

When did you start realizing you had talent as a musician?

I think I realised it when I was eight years old. I attended a band orientation at school and expressed my interest in becoming a percussionist because I really loved the drums. I play wide variety of instruments including the marimba, xylophone, timpani and also guitar. I am following my passion for music, I love to experiment different sounds and musical concepts. I have always been encouraged by my family to pursue music as they knew it is what made me happy.

Who were some of your influences?

My parents play a major role and they are a great influence on my life. It is because of them what I am today. I have grown up in a family that loves singing. Music is really in my blood and my life forever. My father plays Cricket and also a great kabbadi player in his early years representing Australia, Canada and New Zealand, my mother is a long distance runner. Truly I have been inspired by my parents. It’s a great pride for me that they are my parents and I look at them as my role models.

What is your biggest musical dream?

Right now, my biggest dream is to pursue a career in music. I want to become a professional musician or perhaps a music teacher. I will continue to play Netball for as long as I can and would love to start coaching younger girls within our community. It would be amazing to see more Indian and Sikh girls make it to National and State level so they can become beacons of our cultural heritage that is so deeply rooted in sports and music, so this should be my dream for a while.

Your singing has bit of a Western flavour in it, how did you pick up that style and your thoughts about music today?

Well, I was born and brought up in Sydney and hence I just picked up the style while listening to all sorts of music. I never had any formal musical training I just sang what I grew up listening to. The music Industry in India is really growing these days. A lot of experimenting and blending with western forms of music has begun, the result of which is popularly known as Fusion music.

What is your message to the young percussionists?

My advice to all youngsters would be to just do what you love, if you really believe in what you are doing and working hard enough. I am sure it can definitely make a difference.

Besides singing what do you do for yourself to unwind?

I love spending time with my family & friends. I love listening tomusic and I enjoy drawing, it is like a therapy to me. I love dancing as it’s a great form of fitness and stress relief.

Have any musicals icons inspired you?

Kishore Kumar, Mohammad Rafi and Lata Mangeshkar are my favourite singers and I get so much being inspired by them. In the newer generation of singers, Arjit Singh is my favourite.

The remarkable insight and thoughts of a young Indian local student  Ruhani Dhillon from Cheltenham, Sydney, has done her community proud and also her parents. She sings effortlessly with great passion, her energetic Bollywood numbers have rocked on social media platform as well as at many Desi concerts and functions. Ruhani is always busy performing live on social media during this Covid-19 lockdown crises.

We sincerely wish Ruhani best of luck in all her future endeavours. Do stay in touch with Ruhani and her achievements via facebook and Instagram page.

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