Think of classical music and the mind conjures up images of people in black and white, with wild hair and an even wilder look in their eyes! And then there’s someone who fits in ‘differently’. Eshvita Annie Nazareth! Charming and unassuming, diligent yet quite fun loving; meeting Eshvita is an introduction to the new generation of musicians.

Born, Eshvita Annie Nazareth, on the fifth of August, 1983, daughter of Eugene and Elaine Nazareth, she lives in the tiny, picturesque village of Olaulim, in Bardez, Goa, India. Music is part and parcel of her family - her father is well acquainted with the guitar and mouth organ, her brother plays the guitar too. It is some experience to be with the family when they jam up!

At the tender age of eight years, she took to music like a duck takes to water; fiddling with her grandfathers violin. Recognizing her potential, her parents committed her to the guidance of Mr. Bento Alvares, who nurtured the seedling in his care. Even at that early age, she was recognized as a musical child prodigy.

Later, she was taught by the renowned Musician Mr. Nauzer Daruwalla. She attributes her strong foundation and sound backing in the field to his guidance and teaching. In February 1994, she won the first prize in the violin category, at the All Goa Competition in Western Classical Music, at the Kala Academy. A leading daily described her achievement – “The distinction she has been awarded takes on greater significance when one realizes that she was competing with candidates who were 20 years of age” (Eshvita, at that time, was only eleven years old.). She participated in the Inaugural Concert of Goa Chamber Orchestra as the youngest member with Mr. Daruwalla as conductor; later in the same year.

Her first encounter with the international music environment was in 1996, when she passed her Grade Five Examination (conducted by the Trinity College of Music, London) with Merit. She was tutored by Mr. George Gama of Saligao and Mrs. Goretti Pinheiro, of Panaji. She has attended ‘Master Classes’ conducted by the German violinist Hartmut Krause, Swedish violinist Esther Hoppe and British violinist Mary Bird. She was also guided by late Mr. Arnold Saldanha.

In 1998, she was accepted as a pupil by Mrs. Myra Shroff, LTCL, who noted the exceptional talent in the budding young musicienne. From then onwards, Mrs. Shroff has molded her into the professional that she has now become.

Four years ago, she passed her Grade Eight – Theory, under the guidance of Mrs. Rita Vaz, FTCL.

She was one of the creators of the enchanting evening that was, at the Capela de Monte, Old Goa, in November, 2002, conducted by Mr. Nigel Dixon, organized by the Fundacao Oriente.

In December 2002, the Goa Choral Society & Orchestra, of which she is a member, presented Handel’s Messiah, also conducted by Mr. Dixon.

She was one of the three soloists who played Bach’s Partita III, accompanied by the Goa State String Orchestra, conducted and organized by Mr. Victor Rangel Rebello in 2002 at The Kala Academy.

On the 8^th of December 2003, she cleared the ATCL examination, with distinction. The examiner noted of her presentation at the exam, -“Overall, an assured and mature performance.”

She has performed in all the Concerts of Western Classical Music, organized by Mrs. Shroff. The Goa Choral Symphony has had her accompanying them on her violin at their Musical Raphsodies, conducted by Mr. Albert Barretto.

In Dec 2003, GSSO performed the annual Christmas carol concert at Don Bosco auditorium Panjim, along with the Goa’s Choral Society and The Kala Academy Junior choir. Over a hundred voices, accompanied by the GSSO performed the usual Jingle Bells, 12 days of Christmas as well as the most unusual Personent Hodie ( 13 century Christmas carol)  The GSSO also performed some excerpts from the Capriol Suite, and St Paul’s Suite  by Gustav Holst.

She gave a delightful performance marked by clarity and forcefulness, of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons – Autumn, and Beethoven’s Sonata in A opus 12 No 2 , accompanied by Ms Margarida Miranda, for a  Western Music Recital at Kala Acadamy, in 2004.

In the Year 2004, she Passed her LTCL with no difficulty under the Guidance of Mrs. Myra Shroff, Mr. Schubert Cotta and Piano Accompaniment by Ms. Margarida Miranda…With a very challenging program which included, The Mendelssohn – Concerto in E minor 1^st movement, Beethoven Romance In G,  Khachaturian Song Poem, and her most favorite; Nigun by Ernest Bloch.

She taught violin at Fernando's Music Academy, and now has a number of young students whom she nurtures at her own leisure.

Another feather in her cap is the performance with The Bombay Chamber Orchestra and the National Centre for Performing Arts, in February, 2005.

In February 2005, Goa’s Guitar Guild organized a National Violin Competition, which sadly had only twelve participants out of which three were from Bombay. She was one of the five finalists. She Performed the Mendelssohn- concerto in E minor ( 1^st movement) and Khachaturian Song poem Accompanied by Ms. Margarida Miranda.

Later in March, she performed the Bach – concerto in D minor for two violins and orchestra, she played 2^nd violin and Sanya Cotta played 1^st violin accompanied by GSSO, conducted by Mr. Victor Rangel Rebello.

In August, she was invited by The Stop Gaps Association to perform at their annual Talent Concerts at the NCPA Bombay. She played her favorite pieces - Sonatina by Dvorak, Romance in G by Beethoven and Romanza Andeluza by Sarasate Accompanied by Miss. Mern Halloween. It was one of the most exciting performances as she recalls that the audience was very supportive. She also likes to give credit to Mr. Les Menezes who helped her with recordings of the concerned repertoire and moral support.

Besides the violin, she also plays the keyboard, and has now taken to learning the piano with great enthusiasm. In November 2005, she secured a 91 on 100 for her Piano performance, in Grade 3 through the Trinity School of Music, London, as a pupil of Jeanne V Coello, LTCL DipABRSM.

 Her favorite activities include capturing dreams in paint. Her “artistic” creativity flows based on her moods and she often conjures up a delightful work of art.

Her repertoire is a veritable list of the most astounding creations, written for the violin. Of these, Romance in G, by Beethoven, and Vocalise which describes a warm and melancholy mood, are her favorite.

She loves to teach the young ones at The Sharada Mandir School, where she strives to bring out the best in the age group of two and half to six year old tiny tots. She teaches them fun songs and organizes small concerts in the school itself. She enjoys exploring the talents within the kids. Being with the little ones makes her forget all her troubles and the kids too enjoy her classes.

She currently teaches young budding violinists which include her most advanced Stephy; Aldrid , Neeven , Troy, and Ivan who is eight.

She also plays the violin in the local village Church on Occasions like feasts , weddings, Christmas, Easter, and so on; together with the local village choir.

Her main hobbies include Jamming up with friends and family on unplanned occasions. She enjoys Goan Folk music (Mandos) and finds great pleasure in strumming the mandolin.

She performed for a Charity concert, Kasturba at The Kala Academy, this year. She played Vocalise by Rachmaninov accompanied by Mr. Nauzer Daruwalla and also The Bach Concerto in D minor for two violins with Nauzer and Accompanied by Mrs. Luella.

Currently studying under the guidance of Mr. Nauzer Daruwalla, her favorite teacher, she is preparing for her FTCL exam to be held in December this year. Her program includes Bach Partita in D minor including the Chaccone, Poloniase Brillant in A by Wienauski and Paganinis 24^th Caprice.

She expresses her gratitude to her Mother; for never ceasing to believe in her potential; to her Father, for always being there; her most ever-loving Brother, who never fails to give her all the support and encouragement she needs, sometimes even forgetting his own needs; Teachers, for the patience they showed and the discipline they instilled; Ronald for all the moral support and extreme patience, and most importantly, Christopher Gomes, who encourages her and inspires her to pursue herculean goals; and friends, for all the support they have shown.

Her way of life is thus – her foremost belief is that each one of us holds in our hands the tools with which we can carve our future. She believes in sharing, as it brings her great joy.

Knowing Eshvita is a reaffirmation that the violin is not a ‘blessing’ for the elite, or restricted to the Shakespearean era, but an art that will endure forever the transience of man, at the hands of musicians who play it for the love of music and for its sake.