ORLIM: Luke Conçeção Pereira, a 21-year-old from Alemao Xiro in Carmona, is a multi-talented individual with a deep passion for football, farming, and music. Not only is he adept at composing songs and poems in both Konkani and English, but he also has a professional background in the hospitality industry, holding a diploma in hotel management, specialising in the food and beverage department.
Luke’s musical journey began in his early years. “When I was in Class IV, I started learning to strum the guitar with the patient guidance of Fr Benny D’Costa of Tilamola,” he recalls. Fr D’Costa taught music to interested students from Carmona at the Igreja de Nossa Senhora do Socorro, and he played a crucial role in inspiring Luke to pursue music. Luke also expresses deep gratitude to his mother, who encouraged him to learn to play
the guitar at a young age, even when he initially saw it as a burden.
A significant moment in Luke’s musical path was his parents’ silver wedding anniversary. His mother requested Fr. Agnelo Rodrigues, the then Pe. Vigario of the Carmona church, to allow Luke to play the guitar in the choir led by Albin Fernandes.
“To my good luck, Albin allowed me to be part of my parents’ jubilee Mass choir,” Luke recounts. The positive feedback he received that day from relatives, neighbours, and friends motivated him to continue serving his parish choir with zeal and enthusiasm.
Luke’s contributions to his church’s music are extensive. He founded his own choral troupe, ‘Chambers of Santa Cecilia,’ which performs for various church services and private occasions such as weddings and funerals. He is also a member of two other choir groups. “Fr Benny D’Costa and Fr Bernardo Cotta have been instrumental in moulding me into the musician I am today,” Luke acknowledges. His introduction to Mestre Pe. Bernardo Cotta during his time at the seminary in Sáligão was particularly influential.
Since 2022, Luke has served the Carmona church as a musician, playing the guitar for all services and feasts. He continues to render his musical services to the parish whenever requested. In addition to his church activities, Luke conducts private guitar classes in and around Margão for those interested in learning the instrument. Beyond playing the guitar, he enjoys singing hymns, Mando, and other secular pieces in both Konkani and English.
Luke faces various challenges in his musical journey. Managing time while conducting guitar classes is one of them. He also deals with demotivating gossip and crab mentality from some friends and neighbours. Additionally, there are close ones who expect him to teach guitar for free, arguing that he did not pay to learn himself. However, Luke remains undeterred. “All of these hardships have never kept me from moving ahead!” he exclaims.
As a musician, Luke has strong views on liturgical music. He appreciates the move by some parishes to avoid incorporating ‘beats’ into liturgical music, as it can detract from the essence of church music, making it feel more
like a secular performance. He also expresses concern about the decline of Latin singing in churches, noting that singing in Latin elevates the sense of divinity, much like well-sung Konkani pieces. Luke is keen on partnering with like-minded individuals to preserve Goa’s rich tradition of Latin singing.
