4th Edition

Year: 2023

In its fourth edition, the Brillante Piano Festival emerged grander and more magnificent than ever, flawlessly unfolding an array of talents from local, national, and international spheres. Brillante is a perfect example of something ‘local ‘that has gone ‘global’. An IP of Nagaland, this is a music festival that has organically grown from a small hill city called Kohima to now attracting hundreds of festival attendees and resources from everywhere putting music and its State Nagaland on the map. In its 4th edition, 16 Indian states and 7 countries were represented not counting numerous institutes, music bodies, personalities, artists, officials, youth, and children that attended the festivities.

Ushering in a captivating musical experience that delighted audiences and participants for 3 whole days - the Festival has only continued to impress everyone with its amazing programs and creative engagement scale. It has solidly established itself in India as a music and arts festival that is truly community-centric. It is so - to the core of everything that is curated and organized. Held at one of the most premium venues in NE India, the Capital Cultural Hall, Kohima, the festival began with a vibrant Street Piano performance featuring a diverse array of...

This edition also highlighted the introduction of the Specially Abled Musician (SAM) program, featuring Writam Changkakoti, Prodigal’s Home Dimapur, Blind Choir, Moaliba Imsong, Ketoulhoutuo Zuyie, Takosangba Pongener, Rocky Zothanmawia, Kinisho Kinimi, Kekhriezhakuo Joachim, Theruo Rulho , and Lino K. Awomi. The reason for this initiative was to celebrate the uncommon effort, resilience, and spirit of special needs musicians who deserve equal space to be heard and seen on mainstream music platforms. By doing so, Brillante aims to sensitize the larger community about our special needs musicians and also share their heroic stories of overcoming odds through the power of music.

The festival's program featured exquisite piano performances, artistic expressions, and innovative initiatives, providing a platform for music enthusiasts to immerse themselves in a range of genres. The festival also offered educational workshops, masterclasses, and practicums led by esteemed experts. These sessions covered various aspects of piano performance, Pedagogy principles & practicums, music therapy, sound healing, piano maintenance, and jazz music, catering to music lovers and learners alike. Special performances by artists, child prodigies, and specially-abled musicians highlighted the festival's commitment to inclusivity and talent celebration. Every evening was enhanced by captivating performances from September 29- October 1, 2023.

The Brillante Piano Competition, India's only multi-genre piano competition encompassing Western Classical and Jazz categories, offered participants the opportunity to vie for top honors with an esteemed panel of juries namely Dr Adam J. Greig, Priya Chaturvedi, Sahil Vasudeva, Gerardo Sanchez Lara and Vimezo Iralu,l for Western Classical and Aki Spadaro, Pradyumna S. Manot, Jatziri Gallegos for the Jazz Category.

Western Classical Category A (13-16 years):
First Place: Rose Dam Roy (Mumbai)
Second Place: Dajied Kyrpang Suchiang (Shillong)

Western Classical Category B (17 years and above):
First Place: Vashu Tangri (New Delhi)
Second Place: Abhro Roy (Kolkata)

Jazz Category (Open Age):
First Place: Aamir Rizvi (Kolkata)
Second Place: Jaisheej Paul (Kolkata)

Honorary Mention: Mantra Upadhyay (Gujarat)

Participants competed for a prize pool of Rs 2.1 lakh, with winners receiving Yamaha P45 Digital Pianos, Furtado's cash vouchers, and scholarships worth over Rs 2 lakhs awarded by Global Music Institute, Noida, and Goa Jazz Academy.

Collaborations are a huge aspect of Brillante’s strength. As aptly described by Anthony Gomes, “Brillante is redefining collaboration within the music community in India. It is providing a platform to showcase high standards of pianism and music making, whilst helping musicians from all over the country forge friendships and relationships that can only augur well for the growth and appreciation of Western classical music….” The collaborators of the 2024 edition were TaFMA, Samagra Shiksha Nagaland, the Assam Rifles, Startup Nagaland, Furtados Music India, Yamaha Music India, Musee Musical, KMMC, Global Music Institute, The Goa Jazz Academy, Delphic Council of Northeast, Music Academy Kohima, Trinity College London, Nagaland Piano Teachers’ Association, Indian Association of Music Therapy, Global Shapers Nagaland, Norman Putsure College, Don Bosco College, science College, OLOGOC, and media partners being Mokokchung Times, Eastern Mirror, and Global Window.

The event was graced by the esteemed presence of several distinguished schools, including TM HSS, Jotsoma GMHSS, Rüzhükhrie GMS, Lerie GMS for Special Needs, Neilhouzhü HSS, Tseminyu GMS, Norman Putsure College and Lao Radiant School, Senapati. Resource persons for the Pedagogy segment were Anjli Mata, Sachin Das, Zingrin Shishak, Roheth Kandwal, Prof (Dr) Dinesh C. Sharma, Priya Chaturvedi, Anuvrat Choudary, Aki Spadaro, Almudena Sanchez, Gerardo Sanchez Lara, Paddy Trio and Adam Grieg. Also, Brillante Talks and Panel Discussion were led by Alobo Naga and Joe Rutsa who gave their professional support. Throughout the festival, the audience was entertained and guided by dynamic hosts namely; Lipoksunep Jamir, Dr. Theyiesinuo Keditsu, and Zubeno Mozhui, alongside Shashila Ozukum, who brought charisma, wit, and a touch of glamour, ensuring the event to be truly memorable. Lastly, the competition was hosted by Mele Pucho and Matemsola Longchari.

The festival concluded with a grand finale on October 1, graced by Nagaland's Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio as the special guest. The 4th Edition of the Brillante Piano Festival, with its energetic and harmonious blend of people, music, diversity, and inclusivity, endorses the power of art to unite communities and celebrate the strength of impacting the world together.

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