Conversations with Trisha Virdi

Today we’d like to introduce you to Trisha Virdi.

Hi Trisha, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Absolutely! So I first started taking piano lessons when I was four, so music has been a pretty big part of my life for a really long time now, but my relationship with the instrument has always been quite on and off really. Growing up we moved around a lot, and so there were quite a few stretches where I didn’t have any lessons and didn’t even touch the piano.
But my piano has always had a very special place in my heart; I’ve had it for almost as long as my little brother. She’s travelled across the world with me, and even though it’s barely functional now, it’s still at my parents’ house. It got me through my college audition season, so it’s like my little survivor relic/token of appreciation for how far it’s carried me.
After I quit lessons, I was basically self-taught and sometime around grade 10 I made up my mind that I wanted to audition to be a pianist. When I auditioned for the Berklee College of Music, one of the requirements was improvisation, which honestly terrified me. I told them I’d never done jazz improv before, so they asked if I could try a classical improvisation instead. I honestly just winged it. At the end of the audition, I remember one of the auditioners asked if I’d ever thought about majoring in composition. I hadn’t, but that question stuck with me.

So I got into Berklee thinking I’d be a performance major, but I decided to take a composition summer program before starting, just to see. I fell in love with the idea of writing music, moreso writing music for storytelling. At my core, I’m just dramatic and delusional; making up worlds and stories in my head has always been my thing. So film music made sense; it’s storytelling with sound. I haven’t looked back since.

I graduated summa cum laude from Berklee as a Film Scoring major, with minors in Video Game Scoring and Visual Culture and New Media Studies, and I’m now pursuing my Master’s in Composition at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. Along the way I’ve scored short films, orchestral pieces, documentaries; all spaces where I get to tell stories through music.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I wouldn’t say it’s been super smooth, if anything, the bumps made it interesting and have shaped me the most. Moving around a lot meant my access to lessons and teachers was inconsistent and teaching myself was its own battle; lots of trial and error, trying to fill in gaps that lessons would’ve covered. It did however teach me to be patient and resourceful.
Going from classical piano, where everything’s on the page, to improvising and composing was also a huge leap. That Berklee audition forced me way out of my comfort zone, but in hindsight, that terrifying improv moment shaped my entire career.

And of course, moving internationally from Japan, to India, to the US, and now the UK means constantly adapting to new cultures, expectations, and ways of working. But it’s also taught me to stay flexible and open-minded, which I think shows up in my music too.

In spite of all the little bumps, I’m fortunate enough to have an extremely supportive family that have backed me throughout this journey! I’m also incredibly grateful for all the resources and opportunities I’ve gotten and for having such an amazing support system through my Berklee peers and faculty.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I normally introduce myself as a composer, orchestrator, and sound designer, but honestly I’m just a storyteller at heart and enjoy enhancing narrative and drama in other people’s creative projects. I’ve scored short films, animations, documentaries, and written concert works. I’ve also done a lot of behind-the-scenes prep work for orchestras like typesetting, orchestration, and making sure scores are performance-ready. My background includes hands-on experience with notation software, DAWs, and game audio tools, so I can support a project from first sketch to final mix and implementation.
I’ve worked with orchestras, student filmmakers, animation students, and documentary teams, so I thrive in collaborative environments. Of all the things I do, I enjoy orchestration and music prep the most, and have worked music prep and orchestration houses and I hope to keep building my career in that world!

I think I’m most proud of the fact that I never gave up on music, even during the ‘quiet years.’ That old, barely-working piano at my parents’ house is my little reminder that music can survive through gaps, doubts, and detours. I think every person in the arts brings something different and unique to the table. For me it’s not just about telling my own stories, but helping bring other people’s ideas to life. That’s why I love working as an orchestrator the most. I find most joy shaping someone else’s creative vision; orchestrating and prepping parts so that it’s ready to come to life in the hands of live players.

Do you any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
One of my favourite childhood memories is watching the OG Barbie movies with my childhood best friend. Those soundtracks honestly still inspire me, they’re full of that sense of magic and wonder that made me fall in love with storytelling through music in the first place.

My dream project would be working on something like the original Barbie movies or classic Disney soundtracks, films like Barbie in the 12 Dancing Princesses, Fairytopia, or Beauty and the Beast. That feeling of magic and nostalgia is exactly why I do what I do!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://trishavirdi.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_.trisha._02/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/trishavirdi/