Ever since it's inception, Vem Cantar, the annual Portuguese singing competition, has grown by leaps and bounds and over the years has become a popular competition witnessing enthusiastic participation from young and old alike. Any genre of music is accepted as long as it is in Portuguese, and participants can sing either alone or in groups. After much fanfare last year, the 19th edition of the competition also known as Concurso da Canção Portuguesa will be organised by the Fundação Oriente and the Heritage Cell of the Rosary College of Commerce and Arts, Navelim on September 16 and October 13. The contest started in 1998 and Fundação Oriente came as a co-organiser in 2001.
The response last year was overwhelming with over 400 musicians and vocalists participating in the contest and exhibiting their musical talents. This year, there are 82 solo contestants and 36 groups participating in the contest. In the past many celebrities participated in the contest. It is noteworthy that apart from Sonia Shirsat, who is the most noteworthy winner of the competition, there are other noted former participants of Vem Cantar such as Nadia Rebelo, Efigenia de Santana Miranda. The contest has also seen musicians like Franz Schubert Cotta, Orlando de Noronha, Carlos Meneses, Siddharth Cota, Selwyn Braganza, and Victor D'Costa also take the stage.
"From this year onwards the contest has adopted a new format - it is split into two sections. The solo singing contest and the group singing contest will be held as two separate competitions at two different venues on two different dates. Also there will be no ‘preliminary rounds' and winners will be declared and prizes awarded at the end of each competition. A singer as young as eight year old can participate," briefs Maria Inês Figueira, director, Fundação Oriente.
Fundação Oriente, a Portuguese private institution founded on March 18, 1988, serves the main purpose of carrying out and supporting cultural, educational, artistic, philanthropic and social initiatives. It also seeks to maintain and strengthen the historical and cultural ties between Portugal and countries of Eastern Asia. Granted public utility by the Portuguese government, Fundação Oriente is headquartered in Lisbon, having branches in India (Goa), China (Macao) and East Timor (Dili). In Lisbon, apart from presenting an outstanding performing and visual arts programme, Fundação Oriente houses the Museu do Oriente.
"Our delegation in India is based in Goa and is working under the guidelines of ICCR since February 8, 1995, i.e. for the past 22 years," states the director, adding, "Since 2012 our delegation in Goa s permanently displays the outstanding work of the Goan artist António Xavier Trindade (1870-1935) and his daughter Angela Trindade (1909-1980), also an accomplished artist. Donated to Fundação Oriente by the Trindade Trust, The Trindade collection is one of the central points of our local engagement and contribution to the state's vibrant cultural life."
Monte Music Festival, set in Old Goa, is one of the most important events of their calendar and combines western and eastern music in the idyllic scenery of Our Lady of the Mount Chapel and courtyard. Fundação Oriente also supports publications that draw a new light on the multifaceted historical and cultural relations between the West and the East, with a special focus on Indo-Portuguese relations. Outside the academic sphere it organises and publishes a biannual Goan Short Stories Competition that aims at promoting Goa's multilingual heritage and creative writing in English, Portuguese, Marathi and Konkani.
"Not only are the arts at the core of our work in India, education is also one of the main areas of our work. We support teachers of Portuguese in secondary and higher secondary schools in Goa, where the language is taught as a third language," explains Figueira.
For the past 22 years, an annual and short term scholarship programme is being offered to enhance mutual awareness and exchange of knowledge between India and Portugal. The delegation also receives visits of scholars, writers and intellectuals from different fields. Short term scholarships with open calls twice a year and annual scholarships for annual courses on Portuguese language and culture and on Oriental languages and cultures and research/doctorates are offered. Fundação Oriente is completing 30 years next year which is certainly a milestone.
Vem Cantar's new avatar
n Solo singing competition at Institute Menezes Braganza on September 16, 4 pm with 82 participants in 4 categories - 8-10 years, 12-15 years, 16-20 years and 21 years and above
n Group singing competition at Kala Academy on October 13, 5 pm with 36 participant groups in 3 categories - Junior A (school level), Junior B (higher secondary school level) and Seniors
