Two young pianists to pay tribute to Classical music maestros at Mumbai concert

Anuvrat Choudhary and Ridhima Rele will perform Western Classical compositions before Mumbai audiences for the first time PicSayyed Sameer AbediCome Friday complex works by some of the greatest composers of Western Classical music will be brought to life by deft fingers that have been playing Chopin Ravel Beethoven Schubert Bartok and Martinu for at least a decade Educational qualifications in place mdash Trinity College Londons Grade 8 is one of the many examinations they have cleared mdash Ridhima Rele and Anuvrat Choudhary have also performed in Pune Goa and Delhi Rele recently turned 25 while Choudhary 17 is still waiting for his 12th standard result The promising pianists will perform at the Young Talent Concert series an initiative of the Stop Gaps Cultural Academy and the NCPAEntering its 28th edition this year the series has played a pivotal role in providing a platform to upandcoming musicians from across India and of Indian origin in the age group of 15 to 30 Budding Brigade is another such initiative of the academy for talented children between five and 15 years of age Twentyeight years ago there was no platform for budding artists in Mumbai especially when it came to performing before an audience We felt that we needed to give young people a chance to be discovered says Alfred J DSouza conductor of StopGaps Choral Ensemble that led to the formation of the cultural academy The citys audiences are very knowledgeable and have been supportive throughout he addsEarly to riseRele began piano lessons when she was six My father had learnt to play the tabla at a young age and was passionate about his daughters picking up a musical instrument shares the Andheri resident Gurgaonbased Choudhary has a lot to thank his father for too My father believes that everybody should be exposed to good music to some degree shares the young pianist who began his journey with a portable keyboard and harmonium and moved to structured piano lessons when he was in Class fourChoudhary conducts the 50member school orchestra Rele has been performing at Pop concerts across the cityFinding the right teacher is crucial says Rele who has been a piano teacher for four years now Throughout her schooling years she would travel to Dadar and later to Grant Road for her piano lessons which she still continues Meanwhile Choudhary was earlier enrolled with a Gurgaon music institute and was able to continue his training under the tutelage of his music teacher at Doon School where he was also the school music captain and conducted a 50member orchestraAlfred J DSouza left during a rehearsal for a Stop Gaps event A similar concert for young musicians has been planned later in AugustWay forwardUnlike many children who take up music as a hobby that takes a back seat later both the pianists are clear about pursuing a career in music Choudhary wants to follow his dream of becoming a concert pianist and Rele will be studying at the Allegro Vivo academy in Vienna this AugustAsk them about the reception of Western Classical music in India and the response we get is encouraging While performance spaces remain limited there is a growing interest in the genre I come across many students keen on taking it up seriously shares Rele A lot of people of my age are more interested in Pop and Electronic music but there is also a good number of them with whom I can have a spirited discussion on the Classical tradition Choudhary addsDSouza agrees We have come a long long way Earlier those interested in Western Classical music in Mumbai usually came from the Christian and Parsi communities but today the group is varied He adds While Mumbai may offer the best opportunities some of the most promising musicians come from outside the city Its a truly vibrant scene out there Thats music to our ears