It was a day of celebrating music and musicality as the finals of Crescendo III, presented by the Calcutta School of Music and Fiama Di Wills in association with t2 and powered by TTIS, got underway at GD Birla Sabhagar on Saturday morning. Select students from schools and colleges across Calcutta, ranging from eight to 22-year-olds, chosen from intense prelim sessions, took turns to prove their mettle in front of a tough panel of judges. The Western Classical instrumental section with piano, violin and guitar competitions in the junior, intermediate and senior categories was judged by Jessica from UK’s World Appreciation of Music Foundation, examiner James Smale from Trinity Guildhall, London, and pianist Berenika Zakrzewski. The vocals and band section was judged by Zsophia from World Appreciation of Music Foundation and vocalist and arts editor Anjum Katyal. The winners from each category walked away with certificates, gift hampers and mementos as well as one-year scholarships from CSM. All the senior winners also got violins, guitars, headsets, speakers and microphones. “This is the real prize and the greatest incentive,” said Pramit Sarkar from St Lawrence High School, who won the best violinist award, showing off his prized new violin.

Abhro Roy from Delhi Public School, Mega City, who performed a Mazurka Opus by Chopin, walked away with the best pianist award in the junior category, while Kanishka Saha won in the intermediate category and Keshav Bhandari in the senior category

Members of the Calcutta School of Music guitar ensemble perform for the audience

At the end of over six hours of competition, it was time to celebrate. Members of the organising committee and the judges took the stage along with all the winners

Pictures by Sanjoy Chattopadhyaya