Kala Academy Goa’s Department of Western Music Celebrates Founder’s Day

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Verghese V Joseph & Bro. John Malvino Alfonso OCD –

Panjim: On Saturday (August 24), the Department of Western Music at Kala Academy Goa held its annual Founder’s Day and Prize Distribution Function at the Dinanath Mangeshkar Kala Mandir in Panjim.

Founder — Maestro Antonio Fortunato de Figueiredo

The event honored Maestro Antonio Fortunato de Figueiredo, the founding director of the department. The event was also a celebration of the department’s rich history and the achievements of its students.

The chief guest for the occasion was Mr. Arvind Khutkar, Member Secretary of Kala Academy Goa. In his speech, Mr. Khutkar praised the Director Fr. Romeo Monteiro for elevating the level of musical education and rejuvenating the Symphony Orchestra of Kala Academy. He congratulated all the participants for their contributions to the event.

Chief Guest Mr. Arvind Khutkar, Member Secretary of Kala Academy presenting a certificate to Reanne Mendes, who completed the entire course of Cello in Kala Academy.

The Department of Western Music has its roots in the Academia de Música da Índia Portuguesa, founded in 1952 by Maestro Antonio Fortunato de Figueiredo from Lotoulim. In 1971, the Academia de Música was absorbed into Kala Academy Goa, becoming the Department of Western Music. Since then, it has been supported by the Government of Goa under the aegis of the Directorate of Art and Culture.

After Figueiredo’s retirement in 1977, Maestro Rev. Fr. Lourdino Barreto, a diocesan priest, took over the leadership of the department. He significantly improved the quality of teaching and helped the Symphony Orchestra and Choir reach new heights of performance. When Fr. Barreto passed away in 1997, classical pianist Ms. Margarida Miranda assumed the role, although the school continued, the Orchestra was not revived.

In 2018, Maestro Fr. Romeo Monteiro, who is a Chancellor of the Archdiocese of Goa and Daman, was appointed by the Government to lead the department, which led to the revival of the Symphony Orchestra.

The Founder’s Day event showcased the talents of the department’s students through a diverse program of solos, duos, and ensembles in various musical disciplines. The Junior and Senior Choirs also performed, along with young violinists from the Junior String Orchestra.

The highlight of the evening was the performance by the Kala Academy Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Maestro Romeo Monteiro. This 52-member orchestra, which includes strings, reeds, brass, and percussion, is unique in Goa and India.

In India, the only professional Symphony Orchestra is the Symphony Orchestra of India, based in Mumbai. It employs professional musicians who are often brought in from outside the country. However, the Kala Academy Symphony Orchestra is made up of Goan students, staff, and music enthusiasts.

This year, the orchestra had 52 members, including the conductor, with 11 first violins, 9 second violins, 8 violas, 8 cellos, 3 double basses, a flute, 2 clarinets, a tenor saxophone, 2 trumpets, 2 French horns, a trombone, and timpani.

The Orchestra performed three pieces:

  1.  The first movement of Haydn’s Cello Concerto No. 1 in C Major, featuring soloist Reanne Mendes;
  2. A traditional Goan tune, “Mestri rebek vazita,” arranged for orchestra by Fr. Romeo Monteiro; and
  3. The first movement of Symphony in C by Anton Zimmerman.

On this occasion, prizes were distributed to meritorious students who studied in the previous academic year (Jan – Dec 2023) at the hands of the Chief Guest. This recognition of excellence serves as a motivation for the students to continue their pursuit of musical excellence.

The Founder’s Day celebration at Kala Academy Goa’s Department of Western Music was a testament to the department’s commitment to promoting Western Classical Music in Goa. It provided a platform for young talents to showcase their skills and be recognized for their hard work and dedication. The revival of the Symphony Orchestra under the leadership of Maestro Fr. Romeo Monteiro has added a new dimension to the department’s offerings, making it a unique institution in the region.

Ms. Jeriza Pereira and Mr. Stanford Dias, both students of the Department of Western Music, anchored the programme.