True tunes

The city received a taste of world class music when it played host to Nelita True,professor of piano at the Eastman School of Music,University of Rochester,New York and recipient of the prestigious Music Teachers National Association Achievement Award,an award given to honour those who have made a lasting contribution to music and music instruction in America. True was in Pune last week on account of a national level piano festival cum competition,MusiQuest,organised by the Academy of Music. True explains,“MusiQuest was unique and I was part of an eminent panel of music savants who played adjudicators rather than simple judges. Not only did we have to judge but also had to guide,teach and interact with the participants in an effort to give them a complete experience. Even though there was short listing involved throughout the week,it wasn’t your regular American Idol format.”

For True this is the first visit to India,a country that has always intrigued her. True,who is originally from the western American state of Montana,says,“Unlike most foreigners who come to India,I didn’t experience any culture shock. In fact,what surprised me the most was the extent of the westernisation of the city,at least going by what I have seen of it,something I wasn’t expecting.” Her opinion on her Indian disciples,“There is some talent here. A good amount of it,definitely! What amazes me is the level of enthusiasm the youngsters have for learning. Be it whatever genre of piano music — classic 19th century or modern music — there was brilliance everywhere,” she says. An impressive 153 participants,with their average age being in the late teens,from all over the sub-continent arrived for the music programme. “I had the task of teaching the Advanced group of rising talents. It was difficult to select a few finalists and then the prize winners for the culminating Honors Recital event”. MusiQuest’s Honors Recital was held on September 20 at The O Hotel,where a select number of prize winners chosen by the adjudicators performed their respective pieces.And the evening also saw a recital by True herself. True mentions,“It was a very successful evening. And the prizes were splendid as well. The first prize winner was awarded a 50 per cent scholarship to a summer music programme organised by the International Institute of Young Musicians in the United States,a programme I was formerly associated with. It is a rare opportunity”.

When asked what she would be taking with her from India when she’d return to New York,True answered,“All of the wonderful memories I had during my visit. It was a short stay,but I thoroughly enjoyed it. We don’t have many students of Indian origin applying at Eastman but hopefully that will change in future,now that I have seen the vast pool of immense talent here!”