Neuhof
School Band from Mizoram wins Yamaha Teens Rock 2026 Grand Finale, celebrating
India's emerging young music talent.Bengaluru, India : Yamaha Music
India successfully concluded the Grand Finale of Yamaha Teens Rock 2026 –
The Battle of Bands, powered by Trinity College London, at the Prestige
Centre for Performing Arts, Bengaluru. Bringing together young bands from
across India, the event celebrated creativity, collaboration and live
performance, while providing young musicians with an opportunity to express
themselves and showcase their music.
After
an exciting evening of performances, Neuhof School Band from Neuhof English
Medium School, Mizoram was crowned the winner of Yamaha Teens Rock 2026. CS
Howlers from CS Academy, Tamil Nadu was named First Runner-up, while The
Apricity from Shri, Hanuman Mandir Dharamshala School, West Bengal was named
Second Runner-up.
The
Grand Finale featured performances by finalist bands, alongside special
performances by students from KM Music Conservatory, The Sunshine Orchestra and
Yamaha Artists. The young musicians also had the opportunity to perform in the
presence of A.R. Rahman, Brand Ambassador of Yamaha Music India, making
the event a memorable milestone in their musical journey.
A.R. Rahman, Brand Ambassador, Yamaha Music India, said,
"Music
gives young people a space to express, and platforms like Teens Rock give that
expression a stage. It was wonderful to see these talented bands come together,
perform with passion and bring their unique identities into their music. I
congratulate all the finalists and hope this experience inspires them to
continue learning, creating and developing their own musical voices.
Initiatives like Teens Rock play an important role in encouraging more young
people to experience the power of music and performance."
The
Grand Finale marked the culmination of a nationwide journey that attracted more
than 680 registrations and over 270 video submissions from young bands
across India. Following a rigorous, multi-stage selection process involving
multiple rounds of online and offline auditions, including the semifinals
held at 13 Yamaha Music Square across the country, six bands earned their
places in the Grand Finale, with five qualifying as zonal winners and one
securing a place through public voting.
Performances
were evaluated by a jury comprising Yamaha Artists Mr. Ranjit Barot, Mr.
Gulraj Singh and Mr. Rhythm Shaw, alongside Mr. Stuart Briner, Director
of Music and Performing Arts, Trinity College London. The jury assessed
participating bands on musicality, creativity, stage presence and overall
performance quality.
Beyond
the competition, Yamaha Teens Rock aims to support young musicians in their
musical development by creating opportunities to learn, collaborate and
perform. Through these experiences, the initiative seeks to encourage greater
youth participation in music and contribute to a stronger foundation for band
culture in India.
Mr. Kennei Sakai, Managing Director, Yamaha Music
India, said, “At Yamaha, we believe music can bring people
together, build confidence and inspire creativity. Teens Rock was created not
simply as a competition, but as a platform that encourages young people across
India to experience the joy of making music together, expressing themselves
freely and performing with confidence.”
“Together with our partners, including Trinity College
London, we remain committed to expanding access to music learning and
performance experiences. Our long-term vision is to develop Teens Rock into one
of India’s leading youth band events, inspiring more young people to engage
with music and contributing to the growth of India’s music culture,” Mr.
Sakai added.
Mr. Sachin Das, India Head, Trinity College London, said,
"Teens
Rock provides a valuable bridge between music learning and live performance. It
offers young musicians an opportunity to build confidence, collaborate with
their peers and experience the excitement of sharing their music with a live
audience. We are delighted to partner with Yamaha Music India in creating an
initiative that celebrates not only musical ability, but also creativity,
teamwork and self-expression. Congratulations to all the participants and
winners who made this year's journey truly memorable."
Through
this partnership, Yamaha Music India and Trinity College London aim to connect
music education with meaningful performance opportunities, helping young
musicians develop their skills and confidence while contributing to the
continued growth of India's music culture.