Oscar Dom Victor Castellino

Opera singer of Goan origin. 

Oscar Dom Victor Castellino (Baritone) alumnus of the Royal College of Music was in Goa with his Operawala Tour of India. He was accompanied by pianist Nadine Crasto.

Sponsored by the Italian Embassy Cultural Centre the concert was staged on 8^th March, 2016 at the Goa Chitra Museum, Benaulim, which beautifully showcased Oscar’s stunning vocal abilities.  The concerts in India are being held to commemorate the death centenary of composer, Francesco Paolo Tosti’s music from his early days in the United Kingdom.  Although the music was from a single composer Oscar sang songs in English, French and Napolitana.

I had heard of Oscar’s amazing performance in Mumbai on February 23, 2016, from my friend, Niloufer Marolia, President of the St. Xavier’s Alumni Association.   I am told Oscar himself organised his concert at St. Xavier’s, Mumbai and she raved about his performance.   I eagerly awaited 8^th March and was the first to enter Goa Chitra’s indoor hall.

The evening was enchanting.  Oscar’s style is hypnotic. He has the ability to transport the listener to anywhere he wishes to take them.

 NinnaNanna - A lullaby

He is truly, exceptionally gifted.  His singing will move you to the core and evoke every emotion in you.

It was my pleasure to meet him after the show.

Oscar, we are ecstatic you brought opera to Goa and we are proud of you !

Your talent has made an impression on us. There really are no words that could truly convey the beauty of your breathtaking voice. It must be experienced to be believed. We wish you greater levels of success.

To me, you are a super star !  I shall look forward to seeing my prediction come to reality in the very near future! May all you wish for come wrapped in rainbows sprinkled with stardust!

Meet Oscar Dom Victor Castellino !

Oscar Dom Victor Castellino aka Operawala is based in the UK.  He has roots in Assagao, Goa.  Oscar grew up in scenic Mussoorie, north India, at St. George’s College where his parents were teachers. 

He majored in Physics at St, Xavier’s College, Mumbai (or Bombay as we, Goans, still prefer to call it) and has worked in the corporate industry as a software engineer.  He was discovered by Patricia Rosario, a highly respected artist in Europe. She made him believe he could pursue a career in singing.

Oscar sang for Queen Elizabeth’s pageant on the River Thames during her Diamond Jubilee celebrations in June 2012.

He will be playing the central role of James Meredith in the opera Komilitonen with Welsh National Opera Young Artists in July 2016. 

With Opera at Bearwood, he has played the roles of Mercutio in Romeo and Juliet, Dancairo in Carmen and Pluto in Orpheus in the Underworld.  He played Djami in Iain Burnside’s Journeying Boys. 

With Barefoot Opera he played Dancairo  (Carmen) and Belcore (l’Elisir D’amore).

He played the lead role of Aeneas in Giving Voice Society’s Dido and Aeneas Tour of India.

Oscar also played the lead role of Mahival in Sohini and Mahival,  an Urdu opera at the Southbank Centre and Niladri in a Vanraj Bhatia opera.

Oscar is the first recipient of the Blair Wilson Award and was supported by the Martin Harris Award and Lee Abbey Award at the Royal College of Music where he studied under Patricia Rozario who discovered his talent while he was a software programmer having earlier studied Physics at St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai.

Oscar commissioned a new work, “The Little Big Man” based on Tagore’s poems by Bertram Wee. This received much success at its premier in London in June 2015.

Oscar, thanks so much for being so friendly, and for sharing your amazing talent with others. I can see that performing is your passion.  You are not only a very talented and awesome singer, but one of the most genuine individuals I have ever encountered. You inspire me.

Good luck at the forthcoming concerts in Mysore and Poona ! 

Be blessed.

Lena

Martha's Quilling and waste Creations

This month's guest on my blog is my younger sister, Martha.  She is a teacher and the head of a kindergarten school in Mumbai.

Here are her creations in quilling and using waste paper:

Another picture of her at her school.

Kellogg Cares Day 2012

Kellogg Alumni Club of Chicago 

On 13^th Oct. Kellogg Alumni and full-time students (KWEST Iceland) cooked up a great lunch for families and kids at Ronald McDonald House Chicago! 

"Sous Chef" de Cuisine, Shawn Misquitta !

 Shawn (second from left) with Kellogg Alumni of 2009 

KELLOGG CARES DAY 2012

Events at the Pavement Club

16th October

A "together" moment just before the start of a fun day.

a small batch of the Pavement School kids and me

 Rocky Fernandes (in blue) who's been with them for many years !

a little girl doing a welcome dance for the visitors from Costa deRomantica, a cruise ship that docked in our port for two days.

 Mr. Lawrence Hardinge giving a lecture on the Pavement Club and School

 the littlest ones !

All the kids got lots of candy, books and colour boxes, harmonicas and fancy pencils as well as costume jewellery and bags for the older girls.

 taking lots of photos !

and in the afternoon - students from the Chinese International School, Hong Kong.

They donated 12 laptops which were given away to the older children.

The kids had fun talking to all the visitors even though it meant volunteers translating.  Most of them do not speak English.  They attend Hindi medium schools run by the Bombay Municipality. The older kids are computer literate.

Shawn's Chicago Marathon October 2012

Joe and I are very proud to announce our son, Shawn ran the Chicago Marathon and has another medal in his bag.

In the past few years he's been trying something different and each time he accomplishes what he set out to do, whether it's trekking up to Machu Pichu or skydiving.  This is besides being a highly successful IT professional which involves a lot of travelling.

September 2012 he ran the Chicago Half Marathon.

his badge then 

and on to the mega event.....

The Bank of America Chicago Marathon is the pinnacle of achievement for elite athletes and everyday runners alike. On Sunday, October 7, 2012, 45,000 runners from all 50 states and more than 100 countries will set out to accomplish a personal dream. 

 It was 0 degrees C when he started....

4 to 5 hours to go.....

" The last stretch comes down Michigan Ave from the south and I knew I was on the final few miles. You’d hear people screaming there’s only 2.5 miles to go! It still hadn’t hit me that I would be finishing a marathon until I saw (picture attached) a fire truck the fire department brought out with the ladder extended and a mammoth flag of the USA. That stirred up a lot of emotion in me knowing the finish line was close. "   Shawn

Congratulations Shawn !  We are very proud of you !

Dr. Neha Gala aka Crafty Doctor

The first ever craft stall that includes art rubber stamping as a hobby craft, was at the Kutch Vagad Trade Expo 2012 in Mumbai on 13th and 14th October.

A-1 Craft Supply is a joint effort of Dr. Neha Gala aka Crafty Doctor  and her partner, Vikram.  They have been busy in the past couple of years selling craft products online.

 

The Expo was at a distant suburb of Mumbai and although it would involve a good amount of time commuting by train, Joe insisted I support Neha's efforts and he accompanied me to the Expo.   That's him at Churchgate Station.

 

Dr. Neha Gala is a practising doctor at KEM Hospital, Mumbai.  She says she would rather be a crafter !

 

 

Her stall at the Expo. 

She and Vikram had to explain to visitors what art stamping was all about !

 

 

the entrance to the hall

 

A welcoming flower arrangement of yellow and orange marigolds.

 

 

 

 

 

Eriko's Mini Japanese Lanterns

My guest today is Mrs. Eriko Matsuda from Tokyo.

 

Eriko's and my friendship spans more than two decades.  We worked for the same company....she at the Tokyo branch and I at the head office in Mumbai.  Now, besides being a full time homemaker and a social worker, Eriko still makes time to learn new hobbies.  She has been crafting for many years and, with pride, I show below her latest painting on Japanese mini lanterns !

She's drawn the design free hand on the lamps !  I wish I could paint half as beautifully as that !

 

The joy of working with children

The Pavement Club

I’ve always loved working with children. It actually started when I was in my late teens and helped as a “study class” assistant in our parish school. Two classrooms were kept open from 6 to 8 pm so children living in cramped homes could study in peace and were also provided help with subjects they found difficult.

And now, almost 40 years later, Monday to Thursday afternoons, I can be found at the Pavement School. I am a volunteer at The Pavement Club & School which is an outreach programme of the Church of St. Andrew and St. Columba, Mumbai. Approximately 200 children come here irrespective of caste, creed or religion.  Most of them are keen to study and are given help to build their sense of self-worth. The Pavement Club gives a street kid an opportunity to study in a safe and peaceful environment, a healthy meal, help with studies, fun & games and most essentially, receive a little love.

Our daughter, Simone, volunteered here in her university days.  Evenings at home, she would talk about her work with compassion and love. 

The Pavement Club was started in 1991 to provide basic education and skills to under-privileged street children.  The head is Mr Lawrence, who has been building wonderful  relationships with the kids, down the years  he  has enriched their lives in many ways.  He has been watching and supporting them as they learn and grow and sometimes shares his experiences and memories with us. Many of these children started coming to the Pavement School when they were 4 and continued till they turned 16 and went to university.

preparing for the next school day

 Mr. Rocky Fernandes supervising play time

 Young volunteers from St. Xavier's College helping with homework

   

Most of these children stay in makeshift shelters on pavements or in hutments.  They attend local municipal (BMC) schools where the fees are very low. BMC Schools are open in the mornings. After school, they come to the Pavement Club and do their homework from 2 in the afternoon till 4 pm. Then it’s play time in the grounds -  till 4.30 pm when they are served a hot meal which comes from the kitchens of The Times of India, a leading daily.

The older children have special classes in computers, cooking, sewing and a complete course in Madhubani and Warli painting.

Friday is "Open Day".  It's a day for fun and games.  Occasionally magic shows, parties and ice cream treats are organised by corporate houses and others.

2 to 4 pm is when I help with homework or I carry a book from home and read out so they learn just that little bit more about the world outside India. I love seeing how their minds work and how excited they get about learning that there exist people of a different culture in the world outside. Very often I take along an album of photos of any one particular country I've visited and then an animated discussion takes place.

It is wonderful watching and learning the varying ways that children absorb information.

It’s always a joyful experience to share time with them in study and play. The welcoming smiles are a rich reward.

The photos below were taken by the InterContinental Hotel, Mumbai. They had organised lunch and a drawing competition for these street children.

 Grace before meals

 separate line for boys

meal time

The Pavement Club is financed entirely by private donors.  Used clothes and accessories in good condition as also school bags, books and snacks are welcome.  

You can visit the Pavement Club at http://www.pavementschoolmumbai.org/