A profile of Bennett Pinto

The budding musician with his parents

Bennett stepped into the world of music at a very young age. Born in 1957 to Alice and Cyprian Pinto, his first perfrormance was at the age of 1 ½ years when Mangalore got its first audio recorder (spool) and he recorded a song to the accompaniment of his father's violin. Bennett's father can easily be called a music legend - he was the Choirmaster at Bejai Church for 45 years, and also started a band, "The Bijai Jazz Band " which gave Mangalore its first Jazz Band experience. At the age of 6, Bennett mastered the Hawaian guitar (the Spanish guitar had not arrived in Mangalore then). At the age of 16, Bennett created a record in the Mangalore Diocese as the youngest composer of full fledged liturgical music (the record is still `intact' to date ). The same year Bennett was the winner of th e "Song of the Year" award at a Diocesan level music competition. Bennett's upbringing in a musical environment thus nurtured his talent, and perhaps provided the foundation for higher accolades he would achieve in the years to come.

Bennett has served his parish (St. Francis Xavier's, Bijai) in the capacity of a choir member since the past 35 years, as church Organist since 1974 and as Choir Master since 1987. Under his training and direction the Choir has had the honour of winning the First place 15 times in the Diocesan Music Competitions conducted by the Konkani Natak Sabha Mangalore from 1973 to 1993 including 3 hatricks, 3 permanent shields and the KNS Golden Jubillee Shield. He has composed, arranged and conducted the choral singing at the opening and closing ceremonies of the 26th National Games held in Mangalore in 1987 involving 400 singers and a 50-piece orchestra. He had the honour of being a part of the papal choir during Pope John Paul II's visit to Mangalore in 1986. He has composed and directed music as well as staged several acclaimed musicals in Konkani including scoring the music for the famous Passion Play. In 1995 his Konkani Daaiz show (with a 65-member cast) which performed in Bangalore was a mega hit. It was covered live and televised several times on Bangalore and National Doordarshan. Bennett has also trained and conducted the Mando group which won the first place at the National Level Konkani Mando competition held during cultural mega show `Saanth' in 1993. Bennett has also successfully presented a Konkani Catholic wedding of yesteryear with 128 actors and singers in all at Porob, a National level Cultural Festival. Bennett plays an assortment of instruments like the violin, guitar, mandolin, piano, organ, harmonium, accordion, sita r, tabla and of course the drums.

Conducting at the Opening ceremony of the 26th National Games  

In 1973 at the age of 16 Bennett made his debut as a composer with a bang with his music for the complete mass liturgy, and won a Diocesan award. In 1995 he achieved unexpected fame when an unknown benefactor nominated his song "The Perfect Triangle' dedicated to the International Year of the Family - 1994 for the UN Award, and it was selected and exhibited in the UN International Exhibition in Bratislava, Slovak Republic. Bennett has several other original musical compositions to his credit. The St. Aloysius College Centenary Anthem in 1980, the National Sports Anthem in 1987, his song on the People of Arizona, USA in 1988, felicitation song for Mr. World - Raymond D'Souza in 1991, the Konkani World Convention Anthem in 1995. Characterised by a lively blend of tune and rhythm, these compositions and the many others he has produced have become instant hits with the audiences where they are performed.

Along with the performances, Bennett has been rightly rewarded with recognition for his pioneering work in music. In 1973 Bennett won the Song of the Year Award at the Diocesan level competitions, and this gave him tremendous encouragement and a boost in his career as music composer. In 1995, he received the Sandesha Special Recognition Award which is a State Level Award for contribution to Konkani music and culture and to "Choir Music" in particular. He has also won the Karnataka Rajyotsava Award (district level) in 1993 for service in the field of music. Under the Rotary International GSE Award to Arizona USA, Bennett found ready acceptance in U.S.A where many groups honoured him, the highest of which is probably the Honorary Citizenship of the State of Arizona . His songs and music were recorded and broadcast by Radio Yuma and televised on ABS network. However, the most prestigious of Bennett's honours is definitely the United Nations International Recognition Award for his original composition 'The Perfect Triangle' dedicated to the International Year of the Family in 1994.

Musical accomplishments apart, this amazing personality is also the Recipient of the coveted nomination by the Government of Karnataka as Member of the Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Academy . He has contributed poetry and prose for the prescribed Konkani text books for the University B.A course.The Konka ni Bhasha Mandal Karnataka (Regd) commissioned him to research the "Contribution of Konkani people to culture in the field of Song and Music in Karnataka" wherein he has vividly presented the work of Saraswats, Gauda Saraswats, Catholics, Kunnbis, Kharvis, Siddis and Navayats in Karnataka. The same work is now coming out in the form of a book with additional inputs and a captivating 32-page section of colour photographs. An active Rotarian, he is a PHF and the Past President of his club Rotary Mangalore Sunrise (RI District 3180). In August 2001 he was invited to preside over the National Recognition Day of Konkani at Goa by the Goa Konkani Academy . He is currently the editor of Amar Konkani - a research journal of Konkani language and culture which is published in 2 scripts Kannada and Devanagari. These are just a few of Bennetts non-music-related achievements.

Bennett's future plans include starting a Music School to train the children of Mangalore in voice culture and choral singing. His dream is to take Konkani music to international fame, and he feels that this dream can be realised if cultural exchange programmes with other countries in the West are promoted.