Vienna Bach team in Kalimpong as jury

Kalimpong : Twelve musicians from the three hill sub-divisions will vie for the top honors at the first instrumental music competition being organized by My Peace Organization at Saptashree Gyanpeeth here tomorrow.

The contestants — four each from Kalimpong, Kurseong and Darjeeling — were short-listed after the preliminary rounds in their respective towns.

In the final round, they will be given six minutes to perform any composition of their choice — on the guitar, violin or keyboard (in piano mode) — before a four-member jury comprising faculty members of Bach Music Academy in Vienna, Austria.

The quartet comprising Hanns Stekel, director of the academy, pianist Mari Naka, violinist Luis Morais and contrabass James Rapport arrived here today. Apart from judging the competition, the guests will also play some selected pieces at the end of the program tomorrow.

“The winner will go home richer by Rs 20,000, while the second and third position holders will get Rs 15,000 and Rs 10,000 respectively,” said Abhinash Chhetri, the event manager of the competition.

The contestants will be judged on the basis of timing, beat, length of the piece, rhythm, feel while playing and technique.

On Sunday, the Austrian musicians will also hold a special Western classical show at a hotel here. “They are basically here to interact with the trainees of the music institute run by My Peace,” said Chhetri.

In fact, the institute, which aims to train children from the lower-income groups, will be formally inaugurated tomorrow in the presence of the academy faculty.

“The local institute is working towards getting affiliated to the academy. Once that happens, faculty members from the Vienna school will come here regularly to teach,” said Chhetri. Once the first batch of students completes their examinations, efforts will be made to form a symphony orchestra that will subsequently be given nationwide exposure.

“The very talented ones among the children will be given an opportunity to pursue their skills abroad,” said Chogyal Rimpoche, who heads the music school.

Source: The Telegraph