Kolkata: Sri Aurobindo Institute of Culture recently celebrated the golden jubilee of Aspiration, its 10-day cultural festival, culminating in Sinfonietta, a musical extravaganza. Around 30 students of classes 6 to 11 at The Future Foundation School brought Ananda Shankar compositions to life at the open air stage, trained by the school from a young age, teamed up with culturally inclined alumni. They played sitar, sarod, tabla, ghatam, cajon, drums, djembe, harmonium, mouth organ, synthesizer, piano, violin, electric guitar, mandolin, bass guitar and Spanish and acoustic guitars. The event ended with a vocalists’ performance. Principal Ranjan Mitter applauded the performance, calling it “excellent”. Curated and coordinated by alumnus and teacher Rakesh Choudhury, also a sitar player, Sinfonietta reflected Ananda Shankar’s philosophy. Among the audience were dignitaries, including Amal Sircar and his wife, Bithi Sircar, and their son, Indronil Sircar, a close associate of the school and global CTO for manufacturing and mobility at Microsoft Corporation. Also present were Pratip Kar, a managing trustee of The Future Foundation School, and Mitali Sinha, Ananda Shankar’s sister-in-law.Headmistress Suchandra Laha noted that the performers’ complete immersion in the craft was the true highlight. In its execution, Sinfonietta emerged as more than a tribute—–it became an experience of harmony, intent and nurtured talent, unforgettable to its final fading notes.
