Five-year old Repton Al Barsha Pupil Wins Prestigious Encore Award at the Young Musician of the UAE Competition 2025

Violinist, Kabir Khan, began playing the violin at 18-months and is now recognised as the youngest competitor to achieve the award  Youngest musician in the region to attempt Grade ABRSM 5 

Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 3 December 2025: Repton Al Barsha proudly celebrates the outstanding achievement of Year 1 pupil Kabir Khan, who has been awarded The Encore Award at the Young Musician of the UAE Competition 2025. At just five years old, Kabir was the youngest competitor in his category, performing alongside talented children aged 10 to 15.

The Young Musician of the UAE Competition is dedicated to inspiring artistic excellence and supporting the next generation of musicians across the Emirates. Bringing together outstanding young performers, the competition features multiple elimination rounds, with each stage requiring entirely new repertoire. Kabir excelled across three demanding rounds, impressing adjudicators with his technical ability, musical expression and remarkable composure for his age.

Kabir competed against the finest young musicians from schools across the UAE, earning his award through exceptional dedication and skill. The competition's mission is to promote high standards of music education and celebrate the achievements of young performers within the UAE's flourishing arts community.

A Musical Journey Marked by Dedication and Talent

Kabir began learning the violin at 18 months old, initially studying through the Suzuki method. He took his first violin exam at the age of three and is currently preparing for ABRSM Grade 5, positioning him among the youngest students in the region to attempt this level.

By the age of four, Kabir had already performed his first concerto with the Emirates Youth Symphony Orchestra at the Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Library. Today, he is a proud member of the National Youth Orchestra of the UAE and is set to perform at Dubai Opera on 7 December, marking another significant milestone in his young musical career.

Kabir's repertoire already includes concertos by Perlman, Küchler and Rieding, performed on a 1/4-size violin with maturity far beyond his years.

A Well-Rounded and Highly Active Young Performer

Beyond music, Kabir is exceptionally sporty, active and academically engaged. He is a standout performer in gymnastics and athletics, regularly being recognised during school sports events. His weekly routine includes football, cricket, jiu-jitsu, athletics and swimming, all balanced alongside intense musical preparation.

Kabir practises the violin for three hours daily, including sessions before and after school, with longer weekend practices ranging from three to four hours. To support his demanding schedule, Kabir's home environment is purposefully screen-free, reducing distractions and allowing him to fully immerse himself in meaningful activities, learning and play.

Speaking about his passion for playing the violin, Kabir Khan said: "I love playing Violin and like practicing. I like performing for my friends at school. When I grow up I am going to be a surgeon."

Commenting on Kabir's accomplishment, Chandini Misra, Principal of Repton Al Barsha, said: "Kabir's dedication, resilience and passion for learning are truly extraordinary. To achieve such distinction at just five years old is a remarkable testament to his hard work, as well as the dedicated support and personalised guidance provided by his teachers at Repton Al Barsha and his family. We are incredibly proud of him and delighted to celebrate this outstanding milestone in his musical journey."

Repton Al Barsha congratulates Kabir on this distinguished honour and looks forward to supporting him as he continues to excel in music, performance and academics. His achievement reflects the school's commitment to nurturing individual talent, encouraging excellence and enabling pupils to pursue their passions with confidence and purpose.