Varun Parikh has announced the launch of the Bay Owl Studios Scholarship for Women in collaboration with Abbey Road Institute Mumbai. The initiative has been introduced to support aspiring female producers, artists and audio professionals through education, mentorship and industry exposure.
Opening on May 12, 2026, the scholarship has been designed to address the gender gap that continues to exist across music production, sound engineering and technical creative roles. The programme combines financial assistance with mentorship opportunities and practical industry access to create stronger career pathways for women entering the music and audio sector.
The scholarship is applicable exclusively for the August 2026 intake of the Advanced Diploma in Music Production and Sound Engineering at Abbey Road Institute Mumbai. The course will begin on August 10, 2026, while the deadline for scholarship applications has been set for June 15, 2026.
According to the organisers, women remain underrepresented in production studios, engineering environments and technical creative spaces globally. Through this initiative, Varun Parikh, Bay Owl Studios and Abbey Road Institute Mumbai aim to create greater access, visibility and long-term support for emerging women professionals in the industry.
Varun Parikh said, “Music and creativity thrive when more voices are given the opportunity to participate and lead. This scholarship is about creating access, encouraging talent, and ensuring that more women feel empowered to build careers in music production and audio.”
The scholarship will award 50% of the course fee to one candidate annually. Alongside financial support, the selected scholar will receive mentorship from women producers and artists, structured feedback on all four academic summative assignments, portfolio development guidance, networking opportunities and exposure to professional creative environments.
The initiative is supported by a panel of women practitioners from music, film and creative industries, including Varijashri Venugopal, Alokananda Dasgupta, Nayantara Bhatkal, Kamakshi Khurana and Anushka Lewis.
The panel will participate in the candidate selection process and contribute to workshops, academic guidance and internship support during the academic year. The mentors will also provide structured feedback and industry insights aimed at helping the selected scholar navigate the professional landscape.
The scholarship launch comes as India’s music industry continues to expand across film, streaming, live performance and independent music segments. The organisers said the initiative reflects a broader effort to encourage greater representation in technical and production-focused creative roles.
Varun Parikh is the founder of Bay Owl Studios and has focused on music education, creator development and industry-led learning initiatives through the platform. Bay Owl Studios operates as a Mumbai-based creative production space for artists, producers and emerging talent, supporting collaboration, music creation and educational initiatives.
Abbey Road Institute Mumbai is part of the global Abbey Road Institute network and offers specialised education in music production, sound engineering and audio entrepreneurship, drawing from the legacy of Abbey Road Studios.
The scholarship initiative marks a collaborative effort between education and industry stakeholders to support inclusion and professional development within India’s evolving music ecosystem.
