Anthea
Luna-Marie Mascarenhas Dias is like any other child – bubbly and cheerful and a tad bit shy. But give
her a violin and she transforms into a little maestro, creating a world of
emotions through her music. The 11-year-old is on cloud nine as she was
recently awarded a distinction in ATCL diploma in Violin by the Trinity College
of Music, London, making her the youngest person in Goa to have earned this
merit. The ATCL is equivalent in standard to the first year of an undergraduate
degree. With her numerous hours of practice on the violin and concerts that she
has been part of, Anthea has just kick-started her run in the music scene. She
has been trained by Winston Collaco, US trained Suzuki Method violin teacher
based in Margao, who has been encouraging her to play the violin passionately.
Daughter of Orville and Marianela Gina
Dias, Anthea is the younger sister of Nadia, who is currently pursing MBBS and
has a Visharad Purna in Bharatnatyam. Marianela Gina is also the founder of
‘Goenchim Noketram’, a Goan folklore and musical troupe. Anthea was influenced
to take up the violin as she watched the troupe rehearse at the house. “I loved
the violin and I only wanted to play the violin. My mother saw my talent and
enrolled me for violin classes with Prof Winston Collaco. I practise a lot and
spend at least three and a half hours playing the violin every day,” says
Anthea, originally from Orlim but currently residing in Margao.
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A class 6 student of Fatima Convent High
School, Margao, she is already looking forward to preparing for the Licentiate
diploma from Trinity College London (LTCL), which is equivalent in standard to
the final year of an undergraduate degree. She is very keen on pursuing her
higher musical studies in violin in Europe. For her examination, Anthea was
accompanied by Maria Gisela De Assucao Pereira on piano as she performed ‘Beethoven
Sonata in F ‘Spring’ and four romantic pieces by Antonin Dvorak. “I love
playing any piece on the violin as every piece is different and I love to
challenge myself with difficult pieces. The examination was 35 minutes long
with 30-second breaks for tuning between the pieces. I was nervous in the
beginning but I performed well. I have been trained as an individual student by
Prof Winston,” explains Anthea.
Anthea started learning violin at age 6 under Prof Winston. “Her
tremendous potential for music, particularly playing the violin, was evident at
this young age. Given her enthusiasm and commitment at learning the violin with
the full encouragement of her parents, I mentored her to work towards achieving
a high standard of playing even at a very young age. At age 9, she successfully
completed her Grade 8, advanced certificate exam from Trinity College of Music,
London with a distinction. She has attended master classes under renowned
international artistes like our own Sanya Cotta, besides Joris Decolvenaer,
Berit Cardas, Ulf Klausenitzer, summer camps conducted by Trinity Laban
College, London,” says her violin teacher, Collaco Winston.
Speaking about the importance of the ATCL exam, Winston
explains, “ATCL is usually attempted by music students and professionals who
are in their 20s and 30s as they can start teaching once they complete the
exam. Anthea is too young to start working as a music teacher.”
Anthea has been one of the youngest performing violinists in
Goa. She has been part of the India National Youth Orchestra that was held in
Bengaluru, which was a seven-day workshop in 2017. The orchestra consisted of
youth from Austria and India and Anthea was one of the only two who were from
Goa and that too the youngest of the group. She has performed with the Santa
Cecilia Choir and Orchestra, STUTI Choral Ensemble and Goa String Orchestra and
a ‘Christmas concert’ by Child’s Play India Foundation. She also attended a
workshop in Western Classical Music (Violin) organised by SPIC MACAY and Kala
Academy supported by Concerts Norway in 2016 and 2017. She also won the first
place in the state level cultural talent search competition 2016- 17, organised
by Directorate of Art and Culture.
“I
give equal time to my studies and my music. When I am at home, I study, watch
television, read newspapers and books and play the violin in the evenings.
During my holidays, I play the violin in the mornings and evenings,” says this
budding violinist.
