Poona piano festival

The Academy of Music presented MusiQuest — a national level piano festival/competition in Poona from February 1 to 4, 2007. This unique competition, founded and convened by Roxana Anklesaria-Doctor brought together 120 participants from across India performing over 170 repertoire selections in three divisions — junior, intermediate and advanced — ranging in age (from seven to 48) and levels of advancement (beginner to diploma levels).

Fostering musical performance, learning and interaction among budding young talent from across the country, the festival was presented in a workshop format with participants receiving instruction at the piano as well as written adjudications and participation certificates from the international panel of adjudicators. The emphasis was on motivation and positive criticism.

The international adjudication panel included renowned teachers/pedagogues such as Dr Stephen Perry (Germany/USA), Sheila Hardy (Canada) and Mary Tickner (Canada). The Honors Recital culminated the festival events on February 4, 2007 at the Dastur Primary School’s Mazda Hall. This event featured the awards ceremony and prizewinners in performance.

Roxana Anklesaria- Doctor (left) with judges and junior level prize winners

Besides attractive cash prizes the winners each received a set of music books courtesy various musical publishers in the USA. The advanced first place winner was additionally awarded a 50 percent scholarship to the International Institute of Young Musicians, Kansas, USA.

In third place in the junior section was eight-year-old Vabis Dabdi from Poona, a third standard student at St. Helena’s School. Her hobbies include drawing, crafts and singing. In second place in the advanced section was Tanaz Irani, also from Poona. The adult performers selected in the advanced section included 29-year-old Khursheed Printer from Bombay who began piano lessons when she was four years old. She teaches piano and has a Masters degree in English literature.

Khursheed Dinshaw