The Dover Lane Music Conference

18/2, Dover Lane, Kolkata – 700029

Phone – 2461-8137

Email – doverlanemusic@hotmail.com / musicdoverlane@gmail.com

General Secretary’s Report 2015 – 2016

Dear Members,

Welcome to this Annual General Meeting of The Dover Lane Music Conference.

May I at the outset on behalf of the organization express our deepest sorrow for musicians and dignitaries in other fields who had passed away in the last one year. Our humble condolences go to the bereaved families.

The 64th Annual conference was a very successful effort. Programme on all four nights had been well appreciated. Much of the credit goes to you as well. We also take this opportunity to thank all musicians, who have participated on this occasion. We are specially grateful to Pt. Shivkumar Sharma for inaugurating our 64th annual conference at Nazrul Mancha.

Sangeet Samman Award :

The Dover lane Music Conference has been honoring the leading musicians of the country by conferring SANGEET SAMMAN award on them since 1996. I take this opportunity to once again express our deep admiration for their contribution to the world of classical music.

This year we were honoured to present this award to violin maestro Smt. N. Rajam.

Activities of Music Academy :

The Dover Lane Music Conference runs a training Academy at our own office premises, where presently, Vocal, Violin and light classical music classes are being conducted by eminent teachers. Lecture demonstrations are also being conducted periodically by eminent teachers and musicians. In the past year our Music Academy did well. I am happy to record that the number of students has been increasing steadily. We are confident to start more classes like, Tabla, Sitar and Sarod, to young boys and girls in near future. We are also planning to introduce Indian Classical Dance classes.

The Talent Search Contest :

The Dover Lane Music Conference has been organizing an yearly Talent Search Contest for young adults between the age group of 16 and 22 years ( for Dance Streams) and 16 and 24 years(other Streams) since a very long time. Apart from Dance streams like Bharatnatyam, Kathak and Odissi, the other streams are, Khayal, Bhajan, Thumri, Ragpradhan, Sitar, Sarod, Tabla.

There were about 250 contestants, who took part in the contest in 2015-16.

The Classical Dance Festival :

The Dover Lane Music Conference also organizes a classical Dance Festival every year. Here, eminent performers from all over India and most of the leading danseuses of Kolkata have been performing. Every year young talented dancers are invited to participate here. The successful participants in the yearly Talent Search Contest are also invited to show their talents and skills.

Like previous years a two day Dance Festival was held at ICCR, Satyajit Ray Auditorium Kolkata on 21st and 22nd September, 2015.

The Periodical Music Sessions :

Periodical sittings are being organized under the banner of the Academy in our office premises every year. Apart from these circle sittings we also hold a separate classical music session at an auditorium every year and invite the successful participants of our yearly Talent Search Contest to perform on this stage.

The Periodical Classical Music Session was held at Birla Academy of Art & Culture, Kolkata, on 23rd and 24th September, 2015.

64th Annual Conference: 22nd – 25th January, 2016 :

We organized our much ambitious 64th Annual Music Conference at Nazrul Mancha in January this year. All were whole night sessions. The annual session earned massive response from all over West Bengal. Music lovers came from other parts of our country and abroad as well. There were about 4500 ardent listeners of Indian Classical Music every night which continued up to 6 a.m. the following day.

Finally, I wish to thank all our donors, and honored members of our society for extending their generous support to make our 64th conference a grand success.

I also wish to thank all our patrons, friends and lovers of Indian classical music in general for their support and co-operation.

I also invite suggestions from our members regarding the running of our organization.

On behalf of our governing body we thank Das Gupa Banerjee & Associates our honorary auditor for taking the trouble once again to audit our annual accounts.

I on behalf of the outgoing governing body take pleasure in welcoming the new governing body to take charge and assure them of my sincere co-operation.