LAHORE: The Punjab Council of the Arts has announced the date of the first All Punjab Music Competition 2024 after Ramazan from the grassroots to the provincial level.

The first large-scale competition would take place on April 22 at the Faisalabad Arts Council and Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz or the Punjab minister for information & culture are expected to grace the inaugural ceremony. The first Punjab Music Competition will continue for 60 days from April 22 till June 22 and the grand finale will be held in Lahore.

The competitors between 14 to 30 years of age having domicile of the Punjab are eligible to participate in the contest. The cash prizes for the top three position holders at the district level will be Rs20,000, Rs15,000 and Rs10,000, respectively. At the divisional level the cash prizes will be Rs40,000, Rs30,000, and Rs20,000 for the first, second and third positions, respectively and at the provincial level, Rs200,000, Rs150,000, and Rs100,000.

Punjab Council of the Arts Executive Director Syed Bilal Haider told Dawn that all Punjab Music Competition would span from the grassroots to provincial level, providing a structured pathway for aspiring young singers to develop their skills, gain recognition, and contribute to the cultural tapestry of Punjab. He added that the competition would help identify talented singers in Punjab and provide them with opportunities for recognition and advancement in the music industry.

Mr Haider said throughout the competition at all levels, experienced, renowned and unbiased judges from the music industry will announce the winners after watching performances of the contestants.

The competition will first take place at the tehsil level and then reach all the 38 districts of the province while the grand finale in Lahore would attract considerable attention and participation from across the province, with top singers vying for prestigious titles and recognition.

The registration for the competitions has been started and the link can be found at the social media pages and website of the art council.

Published in Dawn, April 8th, 2024