MARGAO
Tiatr Academy of Goa (TAG) President Anthony Barbosa has said the Academy’s troupe will participate in the Guinness World Records First World Konkani Music Mega Convention in Mangaluru.
He said the TAG managing committee carefully considered the invitation before deciding to participate, despite the Academy’s several ongoing programmes to promote and develop tiatr.
Barbosa said Rev Fr Elvis Dias, chaplain of St Francis Xavier Chapel, would coordinate the participation, along with Rev Fr Eusico Pereira, parish priest of Holy Cross Church, Cavelossim, and Rev Fr Benny D’Costa, parish priest of St Anne’s Church, Bodiem.
Parishioners of Guirdolim and Barbosa himself are also part of the team, which is rehearsing daily.
He said Konkani kantar (songs) was an integral part of tiatr, with distinct cultural and artistic significance, making the convention an important platform to showcase the tradition.
The Academy has also brought together talented singers, including those who rarely get opportunities to perform on bigger platforms, as well as priests passionate about Konkani singing.
Barbosa said the participation represented the entire tiatr fraternity and generations of artistes who had preserved and promoted the Goan art form.
He hoped it would encourage and bring recognition to emerging and lesser-known Konkani singers.
TAG, a Government of Goa undertaking, was established in 2009 to promote and preserve Konkani tiatr, including its music, songs, dances and literature.
