Speeches & Articles

Remarks of
CONSUL GENERAL BETH A. PAYNE
at
Calcutta School of Music
October 24, 2008

October 24, 2008

President, Ms. Dickoo Nowroji
Vice President, Mr. Sam Medora
Honorary Secretary, Mr. Ashish B Ghosh
Ms. Deepika Jaidka and Ms. Zarin Rustomji
Conductor, Mr. Sanjib Mondal
Other guests and the musicians of the Calcutta Chamber Orchestra
Ladies and Gentlemen,
“Namoshkar”

I am very pleased to be here this afternoon to present this cello to the Calcutta Chamber Orchestra.  This is a gift from Ms. Frances Caterini, who established the Calcutta Foundation Orchestra in the early 1990s when her husband, Dino Caterini, served as the Public Affairs Officer at the American Center.

Many of you will remember Ms. Caterini’s initiatives with the Calcutta Foundation to promote western classical music.  One of the most effective ways she did this was to organize performances by talented but often poor local musicians, made possible by contributions from the public.  The Orchestra thrived due to the hard work and dedication of Ms. Caterini, a trained musician who I understand sometimes conducted the orchestra herself.

I am also pleased to know that the Calcutta Foundation, re-named the Calcutta Chamber Orchestra in 2005, continues to flourish under the capable management of the Calcutta School of Music.  Because of this Orchestra, the people of Kolkata have the opportunity to hear wonderful music. I hope that this beautiful cello will play its small part in allowing the Calcutta Chamber Orchestra to reach its full potential.

My colleagues at the U.S. Consulate and I value the close relationship between the Calcutta School of Music and the Consulate.  We all share a love of music, whether it is classical or other forms.  And while I like classical music, I also love jazz.  Just last Friday evening I was here enjoying a great jazz presentation.  This is what I like about Kolkata – at one moment I can sit back and enjoy live jazz, and a few days later I am presenting a cello to a top-notch Chamber Orchestra.

This says a lot about the sophistication of the Kolkata musical audience, and we are proud that the U.S. Consulate through the American Center could be of help when the Orchestra was forming more than 15 years ago.

I know that over the years many musicians who have come to Kolkata under the auspices of the American Center have had the opportunity to perform here at the School of Music.  This is a beautiful facility and we definitely will continue to let you know when musicians come from the United States to Kolkata, so that you can continue to give them the chance to perform here.

While Frances was unable to be here today, she is certainly here in spirit.  A big thank you, Fran, from all of us music lovers in Kolkata!  And thank you also to the Calcutta School of Music and the Calcutta Chamber Orchestra for continuing to give us the opportunity to enjoy wonderful music.  Thank You  - Anek Dhonnobad!