The fourth edition of the Brillante Piano Festival Nagaland concluded with a grand finale concert at Capital Cultural Hall here on Sunday with chief minister Neiphiu Rio gracing it as the chief guest.
In his speech, Rio assured that the state government would support the youth at all times and encouraged the music fraternity to grow and make Nagaland “land of music”. He lauded the Specially Abled Musician (SAM) programme that highlighted the talent and courage of musicians with disabilities and praised the efforts and spirit of the musicians with special needs.
Acknowledging the organising committee for giving the musicians a platform like the Brillante Piano Festival that had not only impacted musicians within the state, but across the country and beyond, he claimed that there were many talented youth in Nagaland.
He recalled his first tenure in the government which had declared “Year of Youth Empowerment” and constituted the Task Force for Music & Arts (TaFMA), which had grown over the years and was bringing Nagaland into the music map, stressing that music was required both in times of celebration and sorrow.
Rio praised founder and director of Brillante Khyochano TCK, a pianist and educator, for her commitment and dedication in taking the vision of music ahead and making Brillante a hub for piano enthusiasts by providing a platform for all and encouraging the next generation of pianists and musicians.
Speaking on the occasion, Khyochano mentioned that the strength of Brillante lay in dedicated musicians and like-minded people who were a sort of community and had transformed music and musical experience.
She informed the gathering that a team of 15 were catalysts for change and had taken up initiatives, adding that specially abled musicians were the driving force of the programme.
The grand finale also included performances by Nise Meruno, Kekhrie Ringa, Joi Barua, choir team of Hope Academy, Dr Adam J Greg and The Paddy Trio, which were witnessed by a host of audience, including ministers, bureaucrats, students and civilians.
The fourth edition of the Brillante Piano Festival showcased talented pianists from across the global and piano aficionados in a host of events along with master class by Dr Adam J Greg and Gerardo S Lara, besides hosted competitions and pedagogy performances from September 29 to October 1.
Meanwhile, Aamir Rizvi and Jaisheej Paul were declared first and second in Jazz category, with Mantra Upadhyay getting an honorary mention.
In Classical A category, Rose Dam Roy and Dajied Kyrpang Suchiang were declared first and second, while in Classical B category, Vashu Tangri emerged as first and Abhro Roy second.