Singing in his parish church choir helped Rohan find an opening in the tiatr field as a keyboardist, thus contributing towards the growth of songs and music
Chinchinim-based Rohan Patvick Goes, popularly known as Rohan in the tiatr field, was born on January 22, 1994. His elder sister, Eunice would play the keyboard in the church and as the instrument was there in the house, he thought of learning it.
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Keyboardist James Vaz would drop in to teach children in his ward, Bamado, Rohan availed of the opportunity and while schooling in Mount Mary’s, learned the basics from his tutor for one year. He continued the same instrument with Michael Gracias for two years, thus learning the solfagio.
Thereafter, it was practice with the keyboard for Rohan which continues to date. While pursuing higher secondary studies at Mount Mary’s, Chinchinim, he availed of the special scheme of the Tiatr Academy of Goa (TAG) and under the guidance of Fr Roland Lin Fernandes, who was then the chaplain of St Anthony’s chapel, Deusua, learned the saxophone.
“It was a vigorous training for almost one and half year under the mantle of Fr Fernandes” Rohan shares, and although he did not get a chance to perform with the wind instrument in tiatrs. He preferred to showcase his prowess during performances as a one-man-band.
As a keyboardist, Rohan’s first opening in tiatrs came about in Succor de Ambelim’s tiatr ‘Tujem Utor’ which was staged at the chapel. “It was a performance with Francis de Paroda on the trumpet,” he noted.
Accepting and being pleased with his performance on the keyboard, Francis de Paroda introduced Rohan in Anil/Olga’s troupe in tiatr ‘Uzvadd Naslolo Dis’. He continued with the same troupe in tiatr ‘Ho Mog vo Okhot’.
In December 2012 Rohan came in as a replacement in Albert/Roma’s tiatr ‘Valor’, followed by the Easter release ‘Vhoddil’ in 2013. In the same year, he went as a replacement in Prince Jacob’s tiatr ‘Hi Kanni Tum Sompoi’.
Rohan continued with Prince Jacob’s troupe for three seasons from 2013-14. The tiatrs he performed in included ‘Pap Tujem Prachit Mhojem’, ‘Amchem Konn Chinta’ and ‘Sukhant Toxem Dukhant‘.
After a short stint with performances in Prince Jacob’s troupe, Rohan did a course in STCW, with the hope of going overseas. In 2015, he performed in Ligorio Fernandes’ Lenten show ‘Tea Zhott’ttechea Disa’, followed by Elvis/Carmin’s tiatr ‘Dhanv Ghoddea Dhanv’ during the Easter season.
Rohan made an entry in Jr Reagan’s troupe in September 2015 in tiatr ‘Tourism Minister’, followed by tiatrs ‘Twinkle Twinkle Little Star’ (2016), ‘Tom and Jerry’ (2016), ‘Tambddea Roza Tuje Pole’ (2017).
In 2016, during the monsoon season, Rohan also performed in Mariano Fernandes’ tiatr ‘Amar Akbar Anthony’, besides comedienne Joana’s monsoon show ‘Ghorchim’ in 2018. In 2017, he performed in Calado de Verna’s Lenten show ‘Man of God’, thereafter joining Prince Jacob’s troupe in tiatrs ‘Kazar.com’, ‘Amkam Kiteak Poddlam’ and ‘Sun Hi-Fi, Sasumaim Wi-Fi’.
In 2019, during the season of Lent, Rohan performed in Valencia D’Souza’s show ‘Tannem Mhaka Obhishek Kela’, followed by the Easter release of Saby de Divar’s ‘Goykaranchem Pasiens Somplem’, which also provided him the golden opportunity to make UK tour with the entire cast.
In September 2019 when Prince Jacob released his tiatr ‘Ghorcho Bhedi Bhailo Chor’, Rohan was part of the musical troupe. During the season of Lent in 2020, he performed in ‘Voch Ani Tum-i Toxench Kor’, written by Valencia D’Souza and directed by Michael Gracias.
Although Rohan had a long tenure with some noted tiatr directors, he also assisted as a backup in tiatrs by comedian Agostinho, comedian Ambe, Francis de Tuem, comedian Sally, Mario Menezes, Milagres de Chandor, Lawry Travasso, comedienne Anita and Menino de Bandar. He was also part of Kissan de Chinchinim and Anil/Olga’s troupes at the Kala Academy’s annual tiatr competition, besides Jr Reagan’s tiatr ‘Tourism Minister’ at TAG’s Popular Tiatr Festival.
Apart from tiatrs, Rohan has also performed in folk plays (zomnivhele khell) during the Carnival festival presented by Cruz de Velim, Succor de Ambelim, Coly Col, Rodrigues de Benaulim, and Mini Mario. “But before making a bold start with tiatrs,” he humbly states, “since 2009, it was church choir performances in Our Lady of Hope Church, Chinchinim on Sundays, followed by a choir group for weddings, funerals and other occasions.”
As a keyboardist, Rohan joined St Michael’s choir, Orlim in 2015 and continues till date. “It’s totally a different and unique experience when performing for choirs as it provides an opportunity to put your heart and soul into it,” he adds.
Rohan’s mother, Elvi Fernandes, who was a state awardee in athletes and an international footballer performing for the Indian team in Indonesia, had the greatest desire to get all her four children into music. Apart from Stacey, Eunice (keyboard), Ninoshka (violin) and Rohan (keyboard) fulfilled her long-cherished dream.
Besides making his presence felt in choirs and tiatrs, Rohan also moves about with one-man band performances for any occasion. For all the budding musicians desiring to take a plunge in the musical field, “knowledge of music, both in theory and practical, is very important,” he believes, “as in the long run it helps to write music with ease and less difficulty. Instead of depending on others for notations, one can work independently and make a living.”
