The Paranjoti Academy Chorus is one of India’s premiere choruses. The Paranjoti Academy Chorus has an unbroken tradition of 60 years. Under conductor Coomi Wadia since 1967, the chorus has made 10 tours of Europe, USA, Japan and Philippines and winning several prizes in competitions. Its vast repertoire ranges from medieval European music to the most modern works of new composers. Primarily an ‘a capella’ group, the chorus has performed several masterworks with orchestra. Coomi is recognized internationally as a conductor of choral music, as a judge at music competitions, and for her definitive first performances of new music, not only Indian, but from all over the world.
Joanne D’Mello is originally from Goa and has a degree in Music from the Royal College of Music in London where she studied with Patricia Rozario OBE. Joanne has sung in Masterclasses of great opera singers like Sir Thomas Allen, Ann Murray, Sarah Walker and Lieder interpreters like Matthias Goerne, Graham Johnson and Ian Partridge. She has recently toured Belgium and France with a childrens’ Opera called Princess Turandot by the Antwerp based theatre company Walpurgis.
Canadian pianist Paul Stewart launched his career in 1981, appearing with the Toronto Symphony in a critically acclaimed performance of Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1. Since then, he has appeared as guest-soloist with major orchestras worldwide, and in recital throughout the world. He has a special affection for India, where he has played and travelled widely for many years.
Parvesh Java has pursued a Bachelor in Music degree at the Chicago College of Performing Arts where he studied piano with Deborah Sobol, composition with Kyong-Mee Choi and conducting with Stephen Squires. He attributes his current pianistic abilities to the efforts of Varga and Sobol and the mentorship of Paul Stewart and Marialena Fernandes. He currently studies orchestral conducting with Lior Shambadal in Berlin and Romolo Gessi in Vicenza.
Rahul Bharadwaj trained in opera and western classical performance in Michigan, completing a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance in 2005, Magna Cum Laude. He is currently based in Bangalore on a hiatus before going on to complete his training in 2015.
