It's hardly 3 pm in the afternoon, yet the enthusiastic students from across Goa begin gathering at the Sonata Music School at Margao for the practice session, each one of them trying to reach before time and pick up their musical instrument. Some arrange the chairs and mikes while others help in other last minute arrangements, taking pains to see that all is perfectly set before the rehearsal begins.
"Our music school exists for the past 15 years and currently we have 130 students who are getting trained under the guidance of Fr Peter Cardoso," states Tereza Viegas, in-charge of the administration of Sonata Music School which is participating in a one of a kind musical programme that will consist of polyphonic choral singing and a grand orchestra, the choral group of 40 singers will perform in classical, semi-classical, pop, rock and Goan styles in different languages while the live orchestra of 70 artists will accompany the choral group and 10 ballroom dancers.
The ‘Crescendo' Pilar Music Academy Concert, presented by All Goa Youth Fusion Concert and conducted by Fr Peter Cardoso, director of Pilar Music Academy will be held on September 3 at Ravindra Bhavan AC auditorium at 3.30 pm with RJ Joed Almeida comparing the event.
Pilar Music Academy consists of a board of members appointed by the Provincial of the Goa Province. The board manages to organise social and gospel related activities in the province. The Pilar Music Academy belongs to the Society of Pilar and many of their students who are trained to appear for the exams of Trinity College of London have passed in flying colours.
"The present concert has 120 artists from different parts of Goa. Taking up social, cultural and religious issues, our music academy presents drama, choral and orchestra for mass awareness thrice a year, during lent season, monsoons and Christmas," briefs Fr Peter Cardoso, director, Pilar Music Academy under the guidance of which currently there are four schools four schools of music in Goa - at Porvorim, Pilar, Margao and Sanvordem.
"Through ‘Crescendo', we are trying to introduce the wonderful harmony that music can bring into the lives of today's tired and weary humans who are living a mechanical and robotic life," shares Fr Peter who is teaching music and conducting choirs for the past 30 years and was one of the conductors to the choir when Pope visited India in 1986. Having studied in both types of music, Western and Indian Classical after he post-graduated in Political Science, Fr Peter completed his higher studies in Western music in the US and Indian Classical music at Aligarh University, UP.
Well-versed in ‘Solgeggio', the method of learning to write music and sing without the help of musical instruments, Fr Peter who has dedicated his life to teaching music, has recently published ‘Sing and Play' book 2 with popular melodies and songs to play on keyboards, violin and guitar. The book published in 2017 is second of this kind, the first being published in early 2000.
"My entire aim is to bring harmony into people's lives, through the medium of music. I want to boost more and more students to become artists and learn music to its core. The Western music originated in the 9th century from the Gregorian, gradually shifting to Renaissance, Roman classical, Romantic and now modern. One must know the history of Gregorian, Classical, Portuguese and English music," briefs Fr Peter who encourages students from age eight onwards to learn music. According to him there is no upper age bar. One can begin to learn music at eight and keep learning until 88 or more as it never stops.
"I believe that composing music is very important. All students of music should try to compose music, write music and harmonise music. Bringing such awareness through musical concerts is one of the aims of ‘Crescendo'. I want to give opportunity to others to learn and enjoy music to make them happy and joyful. Music is soothing, it is food for the soul and makes one stress-free," elaborates Fr Peter who has earned a degree, ‘Prabhakar' in Indian Classical music.
Through the music school activities the academy prepares the students to put up concerts, operettas and even operas. In fact the opera ‘Agnel Onod Goencho' was the first Konkani opera in the history of Goa, where the whole script of the play was sung. This was the first production of the Pilar Music Academy. Later on, many operettas and concerts were presented in the main cities and different parts of Goa and Mumbai.
This concert is organised and presented by All Goa Youth Fusion Concert Committee which was established in 2009. The main aim of this committee is to provide the amateurs a platform to showcase their talent.
(Donation passes will be available at two popular music shops in Margao - B X Furtado and Pedro Fernandes)
