In-Conversation with Oshin
Ihtesham is a multi-instrumentalist composer and producer who seamlessly weaves together electronic and acoustic elements in music, creating a unique sound that is both fresh and familiar.
Ihtesham’s dedication to music began early on, impressively completing the prestigious Global Institute of Music (GMI) program (Music Production and Technology) parallel to his high school studies. His experience at GMI proved pivotal, solidifying his desire to pursue a career in film scoring and production.
Drawing inspiration from a diverse range of musical influences, including Jacob Collier, Hans Zimmer, Ludwig Göransson, Felsmann + Tiley, and Finneas, Ihtesham’s music pushes boundaries and defies categorization. You can get a taste of his captivating sound on Spotify and on his Youtube channel.
Moreover, we are bursting with excitement to share some incredible news. Recently, Ihtesham applied to 11 international universities whose courses aligned with his passion in film scoring and production — his talent and dedication have clearly paid off greatly, as he received offer letters from a whopping 6 universities!
But wait, it gets even better. Among those acceptances are offers from 3 of the world’s top 10 music schools, which offered him a generous scholarship each, namely San Francisco Conservatory of Music, John Hopkins Peabody Conservatory, and Los Angeles School of Music — Intrigued? Check out the rankings here:
Top 25 Music Schools for Composing for Film and TV
The 20 Best Music Schools In The U.S.
This is a phenomenal achievement, a true testament to Ihtesham’s hard work and undeniable musical potential. We managed to sit down with Ihtesham and get his thoughts on this wonderful feat!
Q: Congratulations on receiving acceptance letters from 6 top international universities! We’re all incredibly proud of you. Can you tell us a little bit about your initial reaction when you found out?
The big one was definitely the decision from San Francisco Conservatory of Music. The morning I learned about the acceptance and scholarship, I was super thrilled, excited, and scared, all at once. I shared these reactions with my parents, and we all felt like all the effort put towards the applications finally paid off.
Q: Picking 11 colleges must have been tough! What was your brainstorming process like? Did you have a mix of target and safety universities, or did you focus on specific programs or locations that excited you the most?
As absurd as it sounds, my dad and I started with a list of about 100 colleges!! I spent weeks refining this list, bringing it down to 11. This process was mainly based on the program, and how well it aligned with what I wanted to learn. I primarily focused on top preference university applications (SFCM, NYU, Berklee), as their deadlines were earlier. After finishing most of the applications and auditions, I applied to a few other schools (Musicians Institute, LA College of Music) as well.
Q: Every musician has their dream environment to learn and grow. Did you have a favorite school or program you were hoping to get into? If so, which one and why?
Based on the program, I really hoped to get accepted into Peabody Institute, SFCM, and NYU Steinhardt. This is because they covered a good balance of composition, production, and film scoring. My personal favorites were SFCM and NYU based on the locations. When I visited San Francisco and New York for auditions, they felt truly alive and fitting for me.
Music Background and Achievements
Q: Can you tell us a bit about your musical journey? When did music first become a passion for you, and what instruments do you play?
I’ve always been interested in instruments. I started playing the tabla when I was 9 years old. With a grasp on rhythm, I moved to the drums. And a few years from there, I wanted to switch to guitar, which became my main instrument for 2 years. Music didn’t suddenly become a passion for me. In 8th grade, I used a very basic browser DAW called Soundtrap for the first time and had a lot of fun using it. From there, I slowly started getting better and realized how much I enjoy making music, while experimenting with all these different instruments. Eventually, when I realized this was the pathway for me, I landed on the piano as my main instrument.
Q: Did you have any mentors or teachers who played a significant role in your musical development? How did they impact your journey?
Teachers and mentors at GMI really helped me hone my craft, and even helped me through applying to, and choosing universities. Namely, Luke Cook, Anhad Khanna, Jay Pei, and all the faculty when I studied at GMI.
Q: Do you have a particularly memorable performance experience that stands out in your mind – could be a competition, GMI event, or even a local gig?
My most memorable experience at GMI was in a ‘Recording and Production Techniques’ class. We were recording Skyfall by Adele across the semester, and I recorded the piano with my peers during one of these sessions. As simple as it is, the moment stood out because it was the first time I truly felt like the worlds of performance and recording/production combined for me.
Scholarship Offers
Q: So, you landed some incredible scholarships! Spill the beans! Did you have a secret strategy for crafting winning applications? Were there any resources or tips that you found particularly helpful?
There is no defined formula for scholarship that Universities follow. The scholarship that I received is ‘merit-based’. I assume they would have looked at the overall profile, not specifically one aspect. While growing up, I focused on multiple aspects of my profile, such as social work, olympiads, debating in WSC (World Scholar’s Cup), and a range of technical subjects like mathematics, physics, and computer science. But, I think eventually it comes down to the music I submitted as part of my portfolio. One of the pieces I submitted was a reinterpretation of an Indian classical performance, which is unlike any piece I have ever worked on before.
Nina Burmi – Mishra Bhairavi Thumri (Reinterpretation) | Ihtesham.
This piece required me to utilize various skills — sampling, composition, production, mixing, mastering, and even notating as sheet music. I think a big part of getting a merit scholarship comes from how true you can stay to yourself and your music while stepping out of your comfort zone.
Decision Making and the Future
Q: So many amazing options — how will you choose the perfect fit? Can you give us a peek into your decision-making process?
I’ve finally come around to choose SFCM. This is primarily because of the generous scholarship they are willing to offer. Apart from the financial aid, SFCM’s program, ‘Technology and Applied Composition,’ dives into highly suitable concepts for me such as theory, composition, technology, production, recording, and more. This perfect blend of a technical and creative curriculum is what attracts me. And lastly, San Francisco is a beautiful city and I feel such an environment will allow me to function at my full potential.
Q: With your sights set on the future, what are your long-term plans after college? How will the program you choose help you achieve those dreams?
I want to eventually get into film scoring, and work on my own and other artists’ music as a producer. The program at SFCM will not only equip me with the skills to excel as a session producer but also provide me with the knowledge and experience needed to score feature films.
Balancing School & Music: Ihtesham’s parents on his achievements
We also had the chance to chat with Ihtesham’s parents, Mr. Beg and Mrs. Fraz, who were eager to share their perspective on his incredible achievements and have undoubtedly played a crucial role in his musical journey:
Q: We can only imagine how amazingly proud you must be of Ihtesham’s scholarships and high acceptance rates! This is such a great opportunity — can you share your thoughts and emotions on this exciting news?
Ihtesham is incredibly passionate about music, and throughout his school life, he has worked diligently to balance all his activities. He is truly multi-talented. We are absolutely thrilled about his college acceptance, especially with the scholarship offer—it felt like the perfect reward for his hard work. He definitely deserves it, and we are extremely grateful to all his teachers at GMI and Prometheus School for their support.
Q: Clearly, you have struck a great balance between supporting Ihtesham’s musical passion and preparing him for the future. What advice would you give to other parents on finding that balance while their children pursue music at a high level?
As parents, it’s important to spend both quality and quantity time with your children. During their teenage years, it can be challenging for them to figure out their study or career path. Parents should try to provide an environment that exposes their children to various fields (music, sports, arts, computer science, design, or any area that might interest them). Pay close attention to identify your child’s strengths and interests, and then work on creating opportunities for them to pursue these interests further. The selection of subjects and study boards should align with your child’s chosen path to ensure they can fully commit to and excel in it.
The future looks bright for Ihtesham, and we can’t wait to see what incredible things he accomplishes next! Stay tuned for updates on his journey – he’s also an avid contributor to our GMI blogspace, and promises to bring you fresh resources and exciting new music content!