Varun Parikh has launched the Bay Owl Studios Scholarship for Women in collaboration with Abbey Road Institute Mumbai, with the initiative aimed at supporting women pursuing careers in music production, sound engineering, and audio-focused creative roles.
Applications for the scholarship open on May 12, 2026, and will apply exclusively to the August 2026 intake of the institute’s Advanced Diploma in Music Production and Sound Engineering programme, which begins on August 10. The deadline for applications is June 15.
The scholarship will be awarded annually to one candidate and covers 50% of the course fee. Alongside financial assistance, the selected scholar will receive mentorship, portfolio guidance, academic feedback, and access to networking opportunities within the music and creative industries.
The initiative comes amid continued conversations around gender representation across studio environments, production spaces, and technical roles within the wider music ecosystem, where women remain underrepresented globally.
“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,” said Varun Parikh.
The scholarship’s mentorship and selection panel includes Varijashri Venugopal, Alokananda Dasgupta, Nayantara Bhatkal, Kamakshi Khurana, and Anushka Lewis. The panel will also conduct workshops, provide academic feedback, support internship pathways, and mentor the selected scholar through the academic year.
Founded by Varun Parikh, Bay Owl Studios operates as a Mumbai-based creative production space focused on music creation, collaboration, and artist development. Abbey Road Institute Mumbai is part of the wider Abbey Road Institute network, offering specialised education in music production, sound engineering, and audio entrepreneurship.
Details about the scholarship here.
