MUMBAI: Gajendrra Singh, the man who turned music talent shows into a money spinning genre on Indian television, has now launched an academy that will groom aspiring musicians in the country.

Singh, whose brainchild Sa Re Ga Ma Pa on Zee TV, spawned voices like Shreya Ghoshal and Kunal Ganjawala, has announced the formation of a Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Academy that will train select candidates within a `music gurukul`. Says Singh, who is currently making Voice of India for Star Plus, "The Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Academy has always been my dream. I wanted to build a platform for aspirants who have a great love for music and want to make a mark in the world of music."

The academy`s launch was attended by eminent names in the music industry including Jagjit Singh, Pyarelal, Ghulam Mustafa Sahab (Sonu Nigam`s Guru),Shaan, Pandit Mani Sharma, Alka Yagnik, Aadesh Srivastav, Jatin and Lalit and Pandit Askaran Sharma.

Speaking on the occasion, veteran composer Pyarelal recommended an amalgamation of western and indian music in the curriculum, while well known vocalist Jagjit Singh stressed that there would be no short cut to musical mastery at the gurukul.

According to the rules of the academy, applicants need to appear for auditions that will be conducted at various locations across India. 32 applicants across India will be shortlisted for the programme, it is learnt.

The one year residential program, with emphasis on overall personality development, will also offer full scholarship for two seats and a 50 per cent scholarship for four seats every year. The faculty will comprise music masters like Anand Sharma, Annujj Kappoo and Sucheta Bhattacharjee. The academy will also have a Zen Garden retreat with an amphitheatre, library, fitness room, musical instruments, music lounge and recreation facilities for the convenience of students, it is learnt.

While every student is guaranteed some career option, students who top the course will be given the opportunity to launch albums and a chance to participate in the ongoing Star Voice of India.

E-bay is the online partner for the Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Academy and has put up the prospectus up for sale on the site.