The Xavier College Chorus (XCC) of St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai in collaboration with Gandhi Ashram School Orchestra (GAS), a Jesuit mission school, in Kalimpong, Darjeeling, is organizing a music concert titled ‘Strings'. The concert aims at showcasing music as a vehicle for positive transformation for the poorest of the poor.

1. Project Proposal
Concert Details

2. The Strings Concert
A Xavier College Chorus presentation
Come hear what small children can achieve with a simple violin and viola... beyond gansta rap
and violence.
Music - Empowering the new generation
Not mere words; not a simple
philosophy. Here are children who
prove what a small idea coupled with a
courageous determination can bring
about. A small town in a far-flung end
of a humongous country; people lost in
time and given to poverty and
hardships. Lack of facilities and a grim
reality only makes it worse. Music is
here to change the lives of these
countless children. Music was
introduced here by Jesuit priests to
instill in them a hope beyond their present and aimed at changing their mentalities.
Today, it has been 14 years since the germination of this idea and the emergence of an alma
mater beyond words - Gandhi Ashram School (GAS) in the foothills of the Himalayas. Today, it
boasts of more than 132 residents. They moved on from being just an ordinary poor child to
performers of international standing. It is ironical - strings once tied them down; today they give
them an opportunity to soar high and higher. Stories like that of Kushmita Biswakarma and
Rudramani Biswakarma who today conducts the GAS orchestra, prove that music can be a
catalyst to help them dream and achieve.
In the GAS, students are introduced to music as a means to free themselves from the strings of
oppression, injustice, poverty - all of which lead to hatred and violence. Music has brought
them closer in making their dreams of a better life a reality.
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3. The performers
Xavier College Chorus (XCC)
The Xavier College Chorus of St. Xavier's
College, Mumbai was started in 2010 by a
student, Virgil Sequeira. It was formed with a
vision to bring together musically inclined
students from the college, to share their
talents and create music. It is also a platform
for professionals to work with students and
share their expertise through workshops and
training. The XCC also aims to be socially
relevant through its work. It will soon come
out with its first album based on Indian Choral
Music arranged by some XCC's members and
also a host of composers and arrangers from around the world.
Facebook page - Xavier College Chorus
Gandhi Ashram School Orchestra
Gandhi Ashram School (GAS) is a Jesuit mission school in Kalimpong, Darjeeling. Founded by a
Canadian Jesuit Fr. Ed McGuire in 1993, it admits only the poorest of the poor from the area.
Part of the curriculum includes learning a stringed instrument. Musician Volunteers from all
over the world spend their time sharing their skill and training the children. The result has been
a strong string-Orchestra that has been able to match professional execution of western
classical works. The Orchestra has also
successfully executed folk music and Bollywood
music. They have gained international
recognition mainly through the Jesuitenmission,
Germany (www.jesuitenmission.de) that has
enabled collaborations with similar ventures
around the world like 'Sonidos de la Tierra',
started by Maestro Luis Szaran in Paraguay. They
have recorded successful albums with the
Jesuitenmission as well as given innumerable
concerts in Europe and India.
www.gandhi-ashram-school.org
Luis Szaran and Sonidos de la Tierra
Maestro Luis Szaran, is a Paraguayan composer, conductor and
musicologist. He will be conducting the Orchestra and the Choir for the
Domenico Zipoli pieces. He has been the conductor of the Symphony as
well as the Philharmonic Orchestra of the City of Asuncion since 1990. He
has also conducted many other noted orchestras around the world. He
was the first Latin American composer to receive the prestigious 'Vivaldi
Medal' in Venice. He also manages the Domenico Zipoli Ensemble in
Venice. Among his National and International recognitions are: Official
Gentleman of the Italian Republic, Order of the Science and the Letters of
France, Orbis Guaraníticus of the UNESCO and the National Order of the
Merit of Paraguay.
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4. He received the 'Skoll Foundation award for Social Entrepreneurship' for his
project 'Sonidos de la Tierra' in Paraguay. He is the manager and founder of the
'Weltweite Klange' or ‘the World Orchestra’ in Germany that brings projects
similar to Sonidos de la Tierra.
Sonidos de la Tierra or Sounds of the Earth works on the philosophy - 'a child who
plays Mozart by day will not break windows by night'. It, thus, seeks to empower
children and youth and keep them away from crime and empower them through
music. It is a network of music schools. This project has transformed the slums of
Paraguay.
www.luisszaran.org
www.sonidosdelatierra.org.py
Gustavo Barrientos (Violin)
Gustavo has been trained in violin in Brazil and Argentina with renowed
Violinists - Elisa Fukuda, David Taylor, Manfred Kramer (Baroque music) and
Yang Liu - Chamber music with the quartet of Sao Paulo and Fernando Hasaj
of the Camerata Bariloche.
In 2004, he participated in the Summer Music Academy
(Sommermusikakademie) in Hamburg (Germany) with Thomas Brandis
(former Concert-master of the Berlin Philharmonic). In 2006, he was a
Professor of the violin at the Conservatorio Municipal de Asunción Agustin
Barrios, Municipal Institute of Art (IMA) in Asuncion, Paraguay. In 2008, he received a
scholarship to study in Berlin, Germany for 1 year where he studied the violin under Götz
Bernau ( Concertmaster of the Berlin Symphony).
Currently, he is a member of the Symphony Orchestra of the City of Asunción (OSCA) ,of the
Municipal Chamber Orchestra of Asuncion (OCMA), professor and instructor of strings in the
project Sounds of Tierra of Maestro Luis Szarán and Concertmaster of the National Symphony
Orchestra of Paraguay (NSO) since 2010.
Valerie Tobergte (Organ and Cembalo)
Valerie Tobergte started playing the piano in Kindergarten and then changed for the violin.
Beside this she also started playing the recorder at a young age. In the last few years she has
performed various concerts with pieces written by composers such as Chopin, Schubert, Keller,
Bach and Tchaikowsky.
In 2006, she joined a two year intensive course for the Organ and conducting which included
singing lessons and music theory. In 2008, she successfully completed this course with a
performance of the “Concerto a minor by Johann Sebastian Bach” and a “Toccata in F Major by
Dietrich Buxtehude”.
After finishing her Grade 12 at the Rudolf Steiner School “Freie Waldorfschule Evinghausen”,
she is now volunteering for a year at Gandhi Ashram School to gain experience as a music
teacher.
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5. Shirish Malhotra (Flute)
Shirish Malhotra is India's most proficient Western Classical flautist. He holds
a Diploma in Flute Performance (DipABRSM) from the Associated Board of
the Royal Schools of Music, London, as well as a Performer's Certificate from
Trinity College (with 96% marks!) not to mention two exhibition awards from
TCL. Shirish has over the years been taking an increasing interest in jazz (most
notably Brazilian music) which has led him to take up more instruments like
the guitar and the saxophone. He has since become as fluent with jazz chords
and improvisation as he is with reading the most complex musical scores.
He enjoys applying classical principles of harmony and counterpoint to jazz arrangements and
guitar transcriptions to create tasteful renditions of standards.
Zarin Ghadialy-Hodiwala (Contralto)
Zarin Ghadialy-Hodiwala was a member of the prestigious Bayerischer Rundfunk Chor, which is
an ensemble of soloists, attached to the Bavarian Radio and Television in Munich for 12 years.
With them, she worked under great conductors and has lent her voice in concerts and
recordings of prestigious labels. She has given several Lieder Recitals in Germany besides
performing at the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris and also travelled through France performing
with the Heidelberger Chamber Orchestra.
Since her return to India in 1982, she has sung in her capacity as soloist, in religious and secular
compositions, with the Bombay Chamber Orchestra, the Cantata Choir, the Paranjoti Academy
Chorus, the Chamber Singers and the Stop-Gaps Choral Ensemble. Over several years, Zarin has
performed Duo-Recitals with the renowned Canadian Pianist, Paul Stewart in Mumbai and
Pune.
Natasha Collaco (Soprano)
Natasha Collaco holds an LRSM, LTCL and FTCL Performer's Diplomas in Singing and LTCL
Performer's Diploma in Pianoforte. She pursued her Vocal studies at the Guildhall School of
Music and Drama, London. She participated in school recitals, in the Thomas Coram
Foundation's Handel Concert and the Royal Overseas League's Arie Antiche Concert while in
London. She has given several recitals under the aegis of the Time and Talents Club, Max
Mueller Bhavan, British Council, Alliance Française, House of Soviet Culture to name a few. She
has also performed as a soloist with many leading choirs in Mumbai and in several parts of India,
appeared on TV and broadcasted often on All India Radio.
Kersi N. Gazdar (Tenor)
Kersi N. Gazdar has been a violinist with the B. P. Chamber Orchestra since 1991. He has also
played with the Sangat Festival Orchestra. He has been singing with the Cantata Choir since
1992. He made his debut as a Tenor soloist in 2005, with the Cantata Choir. In 2005, he was
awarded 2nd place at the All India Voice Competition held in Pune. In 2009, he shared the
Norma Gasper award for excellence in teaching. Kersi teaches piano at the Mehli Mehta Music
Foundation and Theme Piano World, besides a private teaching practice. Apart from teaching,
he also reviews Western Classical music CDs for a national magazine.
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6. Itinerary of the Concert
The programme showcases the power of music to transform and the ability to capture the
imagination of a new generation.
The Programme will begin with a solo performance by a young violinist playing 'Miserere' from
the Hollywood movie 'The Mission' (1986). The focus of the concert is music and its power to
transform. This music piece exhibits the magic that captures the imagination of the young and
hones their abilities to rise. The song is a cry for mercy; the beginning of the concert which will
culminate into the cry of victory gradually as the concert progresses.
While music has the ability to transform, it also has the power to transcend; transcend time,
distances, differences and cultures. Coming from the scenic hilltops of Darjeeling, the students
of GAS will also be playing 'Fiddler's Dance', a western classical piece. Unlike languages that
need a translation, the sheer joy and exuberance comes across easily with the music giving us
the image of a lively dance (performed in the great wide open). The 'Blues Band ' piece that
follows has a similar charm.
The event then progresses to displaying the great heritage of the Jesuit music of the Paraguayan
Reductions - the main draw of the event. These masterpieces were composed by Domenico
Zipoli SJ in the Baroque period. Set for the indigenous tribes of South America, these
compositions incorporated local sights and sounds. In addition, the Baroque style considered
the ultimate praise and worship as the purpose for their existence. This is what the Orchestra
aims to deliver – a feeling supernatural. We will listen to pieces like Domine ad adjuvandum,
Laudate Dominum (Praise the Lord), Jesu Corona Virginum, Ad Mariam (A Marian antiphon),
from the Misa a San Ignacio – the Kyrie (Lord have Mercy) and Sanctus (Holy, Holy) and an
orchestral piece, El Barocco Guarani.
Part of the repertoire for the evening will be 'Yo Nepali Shir Uchali', a famous song for the
Gorkha Jawans serving in the Indian army. Parallels can be drawn between the meaning of the
song, the feel of the music and the lives of the students of the GAS. Like the Gorkha Jawans,
with their heads held high, they march on through letting nothing deter or distract them. This
music is intrinsic to who the students are, for music not only reflects culture, it represents the
people who make the music and therein is culture itself.
The evening will end with the ultimate cry of triumph of the youth today – Jai Ho. The song from
the runaway hit, Slumdog Millionaire has come to signify the aspirations and the dreams of the
under-dog. The creative rendition of this piece by the Orchestra of Gandhi Ashram School will
be the ultimate showcase of their talents and abilities. Violins will dance with Cellos and the
violas will render grace to the choreography that will celebrate the spirit and thank the city for
its generosity and appreciation.
Interspersed between every piece of music will be stories and profiles of the students of the
Gandhi Ashram School. How they have achieved the unconceivable through the power and
strength of music. The perfect sound of music will prove these claims.
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7. Itinerary of the Tour
Preceding the concert is a week of intensive rehearsals, short performances, talks and concert
promotion by the performers themselves. Members of the Gandhi Ashram School Orchestra
and Mr. Luis Szaran will arrive in Mumbai by Saturday, January 15, 2011. They will be
accommodated with host families in Bandra, Mumbai. An inaugural dinner for all the
performers and volunteers is part of the plan for Sunday, January 16, 2011.
During the week in the mornings, the Orchestra will give short performances at St. Xavier's
College, Churches, schools and colleges in Bandra that invite the orchestra to perform. Besides,
the orchestra will also perform for interested NGOs. There are plans for Mr. Szaran to address
the students of St. Xavier's College about his Social Entrepreneurship in the slums of Paraguay
(Sonidos de la Tierra). Mr. Szaran will also be lecturing the Sociology and Anthropology students
of the college on the discipline of Musicology and his work on the music of the Jesuit
Reducciones of South America.
The Evenings will be spent rehearsing for the concert – the Orchestra, the Chorus, Soloists,
guest musicians and Mr. Luis Szaran. The concert is scheduled for Monday, January 24, 2011 at
St. Andrew’s Auditorium, Bandra, Mumbai, 7 pm onwards. The tour will end with departure of
the performers on Tuesday, January 25, 2011. Therefore the tour for the non-Mumbai
performers in Mumbai will last 10 days, 9 nights.
Target Audience
1. Staff and College Students from around the city, especially from St. Xavier's College
2. Friends and Families of the geographically varied members of the Xavier College
Chorus
3. Distinguished alumni of St. Xavier's College
4. School students and parents from the city, especially from St. Stanislaus High School
and neighbouring schools in Bandra
5. Musicians, Music teachers, music students and music enthusiasts from around the
city
6. Conductors and members of choirs and orchestras from Mumbai and outside
7. Representatives from Donor parties
8. Representatives from the Western Region Jesuit Provinces – Bombay, Goa, Pune and
Gujarat
9. Representatives from the Media and Press
Dr. Frazer Mascarenhas SJ Virgil Sequeira
Principal, St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai Director, Xavier College Chorus
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