Savoring a Western music concert is like relishing an extravagant a-la-carte menu. A chef takes effort, care and concentration to whip up an elaborate spread and it should ideally be relished leisurely. Cadenza’s team too have a spontaneity, sophistication and graphic equilibrium in their spirited efforts that spread out over several months. Its strength lies in the meticulousness of details -- of lights, décor, acoustics that goes into making it a truly magical evening.
So, here’s Promiti Phukan, a piano educator and founder-head of Cadenza Music Academy, making waves in India’s northeast with her one-of-its-kind Western music academy and its hallmark biennial musical extravaganza. In a place where there is no culture of public piano recitals, Promiti and her team take pains to pack and carry the grand piano to the auditorium for the concert. Set up in 2020, the Academy imparts methodical western music training. With over 100 students, the highly experienced faculty ensures that each student, no matter the discipline, regardless of age, gets a holistic all-round development as a musician. The concert not only showcases the talents of her students but also international guest artists like Nise Meruno, Girish Pradhan and Neecia Majolly.
Promiti started learning the piano at the age of 5 with pianist Rajeshwar Bardoloi. Between 2000 and 2002, she continued her studies in piano at the Good Shepherd Convent in Bangalore. She had completed 8 grades from the Trinity College of Music, London. She has been teaching the piano for almost 20 years now and her students do brilliantly every year in the Trinity College, London exams. She has performed across the region with leading bands as an accompanist in public events as well as radio and television. As a soloist, she performed for Pratibha Patil, the President of India. She had formed a 4-piece band called ‘The Piano Affair’. The band covers iconic pop and rock classics using just the piano as the centerpiece. She has been involved in numerous musical projects as an independent artist.
Cadenza spells finesse and professional sophistication, a rarity in this part of the country. The Academy aims to not just make music learning fun, but also enable each student to understand, appreciate and learn all nuances of music as an art form. Every year, one deserving student across all disciplines is awarded ‘The Pranab Borah Memorial Scholarship’ for exemplary performance and utmost sincerity, dedication and above all, for immense love of music. This scholarship comprises a certificate of merit and a cash award of Rs. 7000, and was introduced by Promiti to honour her late father, a music aficionado himself. In addition, the Academy also recognizes and highlights performers of the month across all disciplines.
Even during the lockdown due to the pandemic, her team persevered through live virtual performances, interactive sessions with music maestros, competitions, scheduled classes, workshops and music rejuvenated many of her students who were stuck at home. The Academy has now stepped out of the geographical boundaries of Guwahati city and caters to students across India, as well as overseas. And the beautiful bit is that these students from all over the country come down to Guwahati for the concert and take part in an evening of exceptional music.