India: Kala Academy Goa celebrates Founder’s Day with musical excellence and prize distribution

Kala Academy Goa’s Department of Western Music commemorated its Founder’s Day and held its annual Prize Distribution Ceremony on August 24, at the Dinanath Mangeshkar Kala Mandir in Panjim.

The event paid tribute to Maestro Antonio Fortunato de Figueiredo, the visionary founding director of the department. Shri Arvind Khutkar, Member Secretary of Kala Academy Goa, graced the occasion as the chief guest.

In his address, Shri Khutkar praised the leadership of Fr. Romeo Monteiro, noting his pivotal role in elevating the quality of musical education and reviving the Symphony Orchestra at Kala Academy.

He also commended the participants for their dedication and contributions to the event.

The history of the department dates back to 1952, when Figueiredo, a native of Loutolim, established the Academia de Música da Índia Portuguesa.

In 1971, this music school was integrated into Kala Academy Goa, becoming the Department of Western Music under the support of the Government of Goa and the Directorate of Art and Culture.

Following Figueiredo’s retirement in 1977, the department thrived under the leadership of Maestro Rev. Fr. Lourdino Barreto, a diocesan priest, who significantly enhanced the standard of teaching while leading the Symphony Orchestra and Choir to new heights.

After Fr. Barreto’s passing in 1997, classical pianist Ms. Margarida Miranda took over, ensuring the continuation of the department, although the Symphony Orchestra was not revived.

In 2018, Maestro Fr. Romeo Monteiro was appointed by the Government of Goa to head the department, leading to a remarkable revival of the Symphony Orchestra.

The Founder’s Day celebrations featured a program showcasing a variety of solos, duets, and ensemble performances by students across different musical disciplines. The Junior and Senior Choirs also performed, accompanied by the young violinists of the Junior String Orchestra.

The evening culminated with an exceptional performance by the Kala Academy Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Maestro Fr. Romeo Monteiro, who also serves as the Chancellor of the Archdiocese of Goa and Daman.

The 52-member orchestra, comprising strings, reeds, brass, and percussion, is a rare gem in Goa and India. It stands apart as one of the few orchestras in India composed entirely of local talent, in contrast to the Symphony Orchestra of India in Mumbai, which primarily features professional musicians from abroad.

This year’s orchestra included 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. Their repertoire for the evening included:

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

Prizes were awarded to outstanding students from the previous academic year (January to December 2023), presented by the chief guest.

The program was eloquently anchored by Ms. Jeriza Pereira and Mr. Stanford Dias, students of the Department of Western Music.