Goan boys Selvyn Braganza and Charudatt Gawas did the state proud after they were recently awarded top spots at the annual All India Radio Music Competition. While Braganza took the top spot in the violin and original music category, Gawas bagged the special prize in the harmonium section. The competition which began in mid 2016 was held in two rounds- state and national.
Speaking about his experience, Braganza stated that he was encouraged to give the competition a shot this year as it was the first time that Western music was included. “ The competition required the participants to compose their own piece and as I have been composing music already, I decided to try it out,” he says. For the competition, Braganza, who is a violin teacher under Directorate of Art and Culture, Panaji and also plays trumpet in Rosefern’s tiatrs, decided to compose two new pieces. “The first one I named Selvyn’s Groove because I composed it in three different rhythms “ it began with a tango and then moved to beguine or bolero and ended with a polka. I wanted to show a change in feel along with rhythm,” he explains. The second piece was named Selvyn’s Fantasy and was based on his childhood musings.
Charudatt Gawas on the other hand has been playing the harmonium for the past 14 years and is presently pursuing is MA at Kala Academy, Panaji. “There aren’t many harmonium competitions organised in the state and this particular one is one of the top ones around. If you win this competition it gives you a direct AIR grade,” he says. An AIR grade directly certifies you as an artist and gives one prestige. “Usually you have to answer an exam to get a grade. Many artists who are in top positions have come from this competition and AIR grading,” says Gawas. For the competition, Gawas was required to play a 10 minute raga and then accompany the vocals for another 10 minutes. Both his and Braganza’s pieces along with those of the other participants from different other categories were recorded at AIR studio in Altinho and then sent to Delhi to be judged.
While the results were declared in December last year, the duo who were the only ones from Goa to win, received their prizes in March 2017 in Bangalore.
