GOANS have always excelled in classical music in both Western as well as Indian music and we know Linda Braganza from Altinho, Panaji is one such much-loved Western classical musician of Goa. We urge her to write a book on Goa’s affinity with music! Recently, the Directorate of Art & Culture honoured her with an award at a function held at the Lokotsav festival, recently. She was one amongst 12 recipients.
Linda is a familiar face at music events in Goa and she plays the piano with excellence to match few! She is the only ne we know who plays Hindi nostalgia songs like “Ajeeb dastaan hai yeh…” on the piano leaving listeners lost in time. A little bio-date of Linda: She was born March 26, 1960 and grew up to complete her graduation in 1983, imbibing music along with her academic studies, and in particular took to playing the piano with distinction. It was natural that she completed Grade 8 at the Trinity College of Music in Cambridge, UK.
We are not surprised that she got a Goa State Cultural Award for her contribution to Western music and the amount of pleasure she has given listeners of the piano. She has been a piano teacher for the last 34 years, during which time she imparted imparting western music training too with many students training with her.
Linda has performed widely in Goa with live bands and musical presentations abroad. She has accompanied violin players and given supporting contribution in bands like The Bees, Ecstacy, Voice of Cana, Timotios Goan folk group, etc. She accompanied many artists at state, national and international level and presented programs on AIR and Doordarshan, playing a wide repertoire of Western and Hindi songs with rare vivacity on her piano.
She has received many prizes in school, college and in professional presentations. She has been invited to judge many music competitions and has been felicitated innumerable times by institutions and her many admirers and fans. We are happy that Linda Alice Diniz Braganza has got a Goa State Cultural Award about which she says humbly that she feels well-rewarded. Thank-you, Goa!