British Band Tocatta performed at Residency Towers over the weekend and wowed the audience with their renditions.
Toccata is a fast piece of music for the piano, organ, or other keyboard and stringed instrument. Recently the British band Toccata, founded by Dr. Sunil Paulraj was in town to perform at a popular hotel. Toccata began its journey in 2005 in the aftermath of the Tsunami. With around 85 musicians from different backgrounds, the band has performed at venues around the world to contribute towards social causes and a small group of 16 members came down to give a wonderful show on Sunday evening.
“A small group of us came to India to perform for the victims of Tsunami which became a huge success and from there we went on picking a new charity every year”, says Sunil, who is a neonatal specialist from Ireland. “The purpose of the whole organization was to use the wonderful musical talent that was present all over the world, not just in the UK to help charity, and so to that end we started this group”.
Today Toccata has grown into a an organization which has more than 200+ musicians from all over the world who interact and work with each other on different projects and support various charities. In 2007 they also started a medical wing to Toccata with the purpose to take doctors and nurses out to different 3 rd world countries and to donate medical equipment, teach, conduct conferences and training.
“We have always been well received and welcomed wherever we perform in India and people here have loved us and we have developed a strong base in places like Calcutta, Bangalore and Chennai’, adds Sunil.
The band draws inspirations from worldwide musicians like Alan Johnson, Elton John, Alba,
Eagles, etc. When they realized that their music was making a difference with the audience, it drove them to take it up seriously. When the youngsters who see the purpose of our tour, it changes the way they think and it makes them appreciate how blessed they are and the importance of giving for the less fortunate.
Toccata has created a niche for them and will perform for anyone who loves music. Unlike commercial bands, they don’t have a competition and their only aim is to please people with their music.
