Kathmandu, June 21
On Wednesday, St. Xavier’s College, Maitighar, celebrated its annual ‘Survaahini: a Musical Bliss’ event by honouring fusion guitarist Anil Shahi with the 10th Fr. E.L. The Watrin Memorial Cultural Award. Shahi, known for his blend of classical and contemporary guitar styles over a career spanning 25 years, emphasised the importance of preserving classical music in Nepal.
“It is concerning that there are few classical music listeners in Nepal. But we can promote it at home and abroad with dedication and effort,” says Shahi.
The event, on Wednesday, featured musical performances including a fusion of Indian classical music with Western elements by Neepa Chaudhary and Sudesh Subedi from the Fusion Roof Band.
Program director Sudhakar Pant and assistant Saurabh Sharma were also recognized for their significant contributions to the success of the event.
St. Xavier’s College has been honouring musicians annually since 2005 for their efforts in popularizing Nepali classical music among the youth. Artists honoured through this program include Bhajan Shiromani Bhaktaraj Acharya, Kunti Moktan, Sila Bahadur Moktan, Prem Dhoj Pradhan, and Shambhujit Baskota.
