“If you work hard and know where you’re going, you’ll get there,” says Evelyn Glennie.

You have now read about two musicians, Evelyn Glennie and Ustad Bismillah Khan. Do you think that they both worked hard? Where did they want to ‘go’? Answer these questions in two paragraphs, one on each of the two musicians.

In my opinion, Evelyn Glennie and Ustad Bismillah Khan both worked hard to climb the ladder of success.

Evelyn turned deaf at a very young age. But her determination helped her fulfill her dream of not only becoming a successful musician but also of leading a normal life. Encouraged by the percussionist Ron Forbes, she learnt to feel the vibrations of music though her body. She made her way to the Royal Academy of Music. With her hard work and determination, Evelyn secured most of the awards in the Academy.  In 1991, she was presented with the prestigious Soloist of the Year Award by the Royal Philharmonic Society. 

Having born into a family of musicians, Ustad Bismillah Khan expressed his interest in music at a young age. He was trained by his uncle and inspired by the flowing waters of the Ganga. He practiced hard in solace of the temples of Balaji and Mangala Maiya.  He improved and invented raagas that were earlier deemed to be beyond the scope of the shehnai. His contribution successfully brought the shehnai onto the classical stage. Bismillah Khan was awarded with several national awards including the highest civilian award of India, the Bharat Ratna. His accomplishments gave him worldwide recognition.