National Music Conference held at TSKK

Goa is known over the world for its rich and diverse cultural heritage. The Goan musical tapestry is one such heritage. Goans have excelled and earned great laurels in this arena. However, do we, more specifically our younger generation really know the kind of patrimony we have inherited? With the sole objective of celebrating and making the younger generation aware of this great musical legacy, Thomas Stephens Konknni Kendr (TSKK), Porvorim, in joint collaboration with the Department of Gazetteer and Historical Records organised a one-day National Conference on 14th June 2024, on ‘The Contribution of the Goan Christian Musicians to the Musical Heritage of Goa’ at the TSKK AC hall, Porvorim. This conference organised in commemoration of the 25th Anniversary (1999—2024) of TSKK’s own campus at Porvorim was inaugurated by Archbishop of Goa and Daman, Filipe Neri Cardinal Ferrão.

Fr Pedro Rodrigues, SJ, Provincial Superior of the Goa Jesuit Province was the guest of honour. Fr Joaquim Loiola Pereira, Secretary to the Archbishop delivered a keynote address. The Chief Guest, Cardinal Ferrão, in his speech recalled the contribution of the Jesuits in the introduction and cultivation of the western music in Goa, through the historic college of St. Paul’s, in the then city of Goa, now Old Goa. He also recalled the TSKK’s role in the promotion of Konkani. TSKK, he stated, “continues to make a remarkable contribution to promote the mother tongue and the cultural heritage associated with the language.” The Guest of Honour, Fr. Pedro called upon the audience to recognise and celebrate the great contributions made by the Christian musicians in the promoting and preserving of the rich musical landscape of Goa. The keynote speaker, Fr. J. Loiola Pereira, spanning through the history and the unique niche that the Goan Christian musicians have carved for themselves, encouraged the august audience, to honour this legacy and pledge to instil in the future generation this proud tradition of the musical excellence.

Dr. Pandurang Phaldesai, the Director of the TSKK welcomed the gathering, while Fr. Kelwin Monteiro, SJ the Convener of the Conference gave a vote of thanks. The MC, Velma Fernandes, efficiently facilitated the course of the conference through her spirted compering. To mark this anniversary, during the inaugural ceremony, the Chief Guest, Cardinal Ferrão released a commemorative edition of SOD, TSKK’s annual research bulletin. Selected 25 papers published in ‘Sod’ during last 25 years have been included in this commemorative edition. The conference was attended by pre-registered 90 delegates, which included musicians, music enthusiasts, scholars, academicians and a few youths. The conference comprised of three sessions with nine paper presenters, which covered the varied facets of Goa’s musical tradition, from the vernacular folk music to the western classical music. The paper presenters included, Dr. Sebanti Chatterjee; Mr. Naresh Fernandes; Fr. Peter Cardozo; Dr. Luis Dias; Fr. Dr. Eufemiano Miranda; Mr. Franz Schubert Cotta; Mrs. Nalini Elvino de Souza, Fr. Roman Rodrigues and Fr. Kelwin Monteiro, SJ. The paper presentations were followed by an interactive question sessions chaired by Schubert Cotta, Fr. Victor Ferrão and Fr. Tony D Silva, SJ. During the lunch break, Mr. Siddharth Cota, a Goan musician entertained the delegates with a live music performance. In view of the Goan diaspora, the Conference was live telecast on the CCRTV YouTube and is permanently available online.