Season 2018 of the Bangalore City Chamber Orchestra (BCCO)

The Bangalore City Chamber Orchestra (BCCO) is poised to be the first ever professional orchestra in the state of Karnataka. This landmark project is a crucial step to breathing life into a more recognised and opulent space for cultural excellence.

The BCCO intends to be a season-based program for Indian professional instrumentalists and players of high standard working with world class performers, singers and conductors from abroad and India to give Bangalore audience their very own city orchestra to experience the glamour of music steeped in lush classical tones without having to travel outside the state.

The aim for the BCCO is for it to become a sparkling jewel in the heritage of Bangalore that the city to be proud of.

The most unique quality of the BCCO however will be that it is to be the only and first ever professional orchestra in Karnataka where only players of the best caliber would be employed to perform; not be asked to perform for free. This is our answer to ‘Make in India’ for Western classical musicians of Indian heritage to be acknowledged and encouraged to make a livelihood out of dedicating their lives to the Arts.

The BCCO would be a cultural hub for musicians from the east and west to exchange ideas and create arrangements to explore Indian music in the western classical style.

Season 2018 of the BCCO professional string orchestra has 19 members lead by Belgian Conductor maestro Joris Decolvenaer and concertmaster Sanya Myla Cotta are leaders of their generation in Western classical music. Bangalore’s very own Mezzo soprano Tanisha Herbert and violinist Arun Rozario will be performing solo with for the BCCO.

Introducing members of the Bangalore City Chamber Orchestra 2018:

First Violins: Sanya Cotta (Concert Master), Arun Rozario, Frederika Cotta, Eshvita Menezes, Grace Biswas and Earl Joseph

Second Violins: Bernd Van Hulle (Principal violinist), Dielle Braganza, Ritu Gopal, Saee Tatke and Judyline Fernandes

Violas: Shalom Palkhivala, Syanna Fernandes, Joson Josh Henriques

Cellos: Saranga Ashen Coorey (Principal cellist), Joshua Samuel and Leo Velho

Double Bass: Andrea Leitan

The Bangalore City Chamber Orchestra is all set to perform on May 4th at the SAIACS CEO centre auditorium and on May 7th at the Kala Academy with 90 minutes of music by Gluck, Rossini, Bela Bartók, Samuel Barber, Vivaldi, Arensky and more. The concert in Goa at the Kala Academy is in collaboration with ‘Opus Gala’.