Kala Academy Goa Marks Founder’s Day with Western Classical Music Concert

Goa, August 23, 2026: The Department of Western Music of Kala Academy Goa marked its Founder’s Day with a Western Classical Music concert at Kala Academy, Campal, on Saturday, paying tribute to Maestro Antonio Figueiredo, founder of the department and a pioneer of Western Classical Music education in Goa.

Kala Academy Goa Chairman Chandrakant (Babu) Kavlekar, Teresa Figueiredo, daughter of Maestro Figueiredo and former Director of the department, and other dignitaries attended the programme. Fr. Romeo Monteiro, Director of the Department of Western Music, garlanded the portrait of the founder.

Staff, students and former students performed a range of solo, ensemble, choral and orchestral works. The repertoire included compositions by Suzuki, Gossec, George Gershwin, Chopin, Scott Joplin, Handel, Tchaikovsky, Beethoven and Mozart.

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The Kala Academy Choir performed Viva from Mozart’s Il re pastore, Soon We Will Be Done by Kyle Pederson and Sobit Amchem Gōyem, with lyrics by Dr. Luis Gomes and music by Dr Romeo Monteiro.

The Kala Academy Symphony Orchestra presented Gioachino Rossini’s Overture and Mozart’s Symphony No. 32. The concert concluded with Prayer for Peace by Sebastian Temple, arranged by Fr. Romeo Monteiro and performed by the orchestra, choir and junior students.

Prizes and certificates were presented to meritorious students during the programme.

Addressing the gathering, Fr. Romeo Monteiro spoke about the role of music in developing discipline, teamwork and emotional expression. He encouraged students to pursue their training with dedication and contribute to carrying forward the vision of the department’s founder.

Chief Guest Babu Kavlekar commended the students, teachers, director and parents for their contribution to music education. He announced that Kala Academy Goa plans to establish three Western Music centres across the state’s three districts to provide opportunities for more students interested in Western music.

The Department of Western Music traces its origins to 1952, when it began as Academia de Musica under the leadership of Maestro Antonio Figueiredo. The institution was among the early centres in the Indian subcontinent to provide systematic training in Western Classical Music through programmes modelled on European conservatoires.

The department currently has nearly 400 students pursuing training in violin, cello, pianoforte, classical guitar, voice, electronic keyboard, solfeggio and musicology.

Fransisca de Brangaza anchored the programme, which combined a tribute to Figueiredo’s legacy with performances by the department’s present students, staff and former students.

By Br. Malvino Alfonso