Khyochano TCK with Vikhietuonuo Rutsa, Akhriezo Kire, Dr. Keneilhoulie Medom and Namang T Chang during press conference in Kohima on September 13. (Morung Photo)
Announces 5th edition in Bengaluru from September 28-29
Our Correspondent
Kohima | September 13
The much hyped Brillante Piano Festival, the world’s only multi-genre piano festival originated from Kohima (Nagaland), is set to mark its debut in Bengaluru with its 5th edition from September 28 to 29, 2024 at The Prestige, Srihari Khoday Centre for Performing Arts and Forum Mall.
This was announced by Brillante Management during a press conference held at Kohima Press Club (KPC) office in Kohima.
Brillante Piano Festival, founded in 2017 in Kohima by Khyochano TCK, aims to break barriers and unite communities through music.
Vikhietuonuo Rutsa, PR Head, Brillante Piano Festival informed that this year’s festival will witness the participation from 18 countries and 16 Indian states, making it a truly global celebration of music and diversity.
Representation from 18 countries includes; Netherlands, Republic of Korea, France, Australia, Latvia, Thailand, Nepal, Canada, USA, Budapest, India, Russia, Scotland, Japan, Bhutan, Congo, UK and Spain.
Representation from 16 Indian states will comprises Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Chandigarh, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Punjab, Delhi, Assam, Haryana, Telangana, Nagaland, Kerala and Goa.
Representation from Nagaland will include Ülikhrie Folk Group (12), Brillante organizers (15), Students (21) and Specially Abled Musicians (SAM) participants (4).
The confirmed participation from notable institutions includes; K.M Music Conservatory, Chennai, Kodaikannal International School, Christ University College, Bangalore, Whistling Woods International, Bangalore School of Music, Hope Academy, Dimapur.
Chief Minister of Meghalaya- Conrad K. Sangma, Deputy Chief Minister of Karnataka- D.K.Shivakumar, Abu Metha - Advisor to CM & Chairman of IDAN, Ambassador Nirupama Menon Rao, Temjen Imna Along-Minister of Higher Education & Tourism Nagaland, Rustom Vakil-Honorary Chancellor, Honorary Consulate, Anthony Gomes-Head of Furtados, Sachin Das-Head of Trinity College London, Musee Musical, Jose Thomas-Head of Choice Group, Corliegh Robert Stixrud-Principal Kodaikanal International School and Watanabe-Yamaha Team has confirmed their participation.
Brillante Piano festival partners
The Brillante Piano festival partners and collaborators includes; presented by Kodaikannal International School, powered by Furtados and Steinway and Sons, co- Powered by TAFMA (Task Force for Music & Arts), Government of Meghalaya and Yamaha, Supported by TATA TRUSTS, Coca Cola and Liszt Institute Hungarian Cultural Centre, Delhi, Venue partners- Prestige Srihari Khoday Centre for Performing Arts and Forum Mall.
The festival is associated with Nagaland Tourism and Start Up Nagaland
The Digital Partner includes Modern Myriad Branding and Merako. Medical Partner- Sakra World Hospital. Institute Partners- Bangalore School of Music & Fine Arts, K.M Music Conservatory, Chennai, Christ University, Bangalore, Whistling Wood International, Hope academy, Dimapur, Liszt Institute- Hungarian Cultural Centre Delhi, Music Pandit, Trinity College London, Musee Musical Foundation, Music Teachers Board, Choice School, N.R Foundation, The Blue Room, The Majolly Music Trust, Natalia Piano Studio and Madras Jazz Festival.
The event is managed by O3 Events and produced and created by Brillante Management.
Celebrity guest artists will include; Lydian Nadaswaram-Winner of CBN’s show “ The World’s Best” in 2019, Marouan Banabdallah and Ricky Kej- 3 x Grammy Award Winner | Billboard #1 United Nations Goodwill Ambassador and many more.
About Brillante Piano Festival
Khyochano TCK, the Founder & Director of Brillante Piano Festival told the press conference that Brillante Piano Festival was founded in 2017 in Kohima.
“Brillante is all about awakening possibilities. It is about changing lives, it is about community impact. From the person, to the family, to the community, and to the nation through the transformative power of music,” she said.
We are deeply committed to our pursuit and our purpose in contributing to our community and to the whole world through the gift of music that God has given to empower, to facilitate, to build bridges, to break down barriers, she said.
“This year, for the first time, we are moving the entire festival from Nagaland to South India,” she said and thanked all partners, collaborators and the fraternity of musicians and art lovers in Bangalore.
“Nagaland is known for our culture and music, and when we go to another state, we represent that,” she said, adding we don’t just represent a music festival as such, but we represent our people, our culture, and all that we are known for,” the festival director said, adding “We want to represent that in the best possible way, the best of Nagaland in music, in culture and also in terms of entrepreneurship.”
Brillante management have also collaborated with the Department of Industries & Commerce, Nagaland where they will be sending entrepreneurs to the festival.
She said that Brilante is also one that has pioneered a platform for musicians with special needs through SAM program.
The festival will feature workshops, panel discussions, piano competitions, concert, Street Piano etc.
Our vision is to enrich the ecosystem for musicians and for the whole stakeholders of the music, she said.
Dr. Keneilhoulie Medom who will be taking care of hospitality and medical sector informed that Nagaland will be sending one folk group called Ulikhrie from Chedema village.
Right after their performance in Bangalore, they will be going down to Kochi, Kerala and perform there.
Namang T. Chang, who is digital and media head for the festival said that this festival has two digital marketing organisations “because the market where the festival is happening in Bangalore is different than where it used to always happen which is branding in Nagaland.
We are taking care of all the digital marketing, social media, he said.
Apart from promoting all the music and the musicians and all, we also want to promote the soft power of Nagaland, he said.
Akhriezo Kire, in-charge of logistics and operations said that alongside other programmes, there will be Naga Pavilion with participation from Startups Nagaland.
“We are expecting about 20 lakh footfall during this festival,” he said.
On being asked reason for taking the 5th edition to Bengaluru, Khyochano said “It doesn’t mean that we will not have the festival in Nagaland anymore. We will continue to have festivals within our home state, but in order to grow the movement, it has forced us to take the festival out of Nagaland.”
The first edition in 2017 was just a local event for a local community but in second edition in 2019, majority of participants started coming from other parts of India and then it continued growing.
“We are so proud to present it to the rest of the world as a Naga product,” she said.
Meanwhile, she thanked Nagaland’s Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio for supporting the journey of Brillante Piano Festival.
