Dibrugarh: The SPIC MACAY Dibrugarh Chapter concluded its first Western classical music series this week, with performances at three educational institutions in Assam’s Dibrugarh and Tinsukia over two days.
The series featured pianist, conductor and Yamaha Artist Nise Meruno, who performed with the Tetso College Ensemble from Nagaland and Dibrugarh-based neurodivergent pianist Devanga Bidrum Kalita.
The series began on September 29 at D.H.S.K. (Autonomous) College, Dibrugarh, in collaboration with the institution’s SPIC MACAY Heritage Club. Around 350 students and faculty members attended the programme.
The artists, on September 30, performed at Budding Buds Higher Secondary School in Tinsukia, where around 250 people attended.
The series concluded that evening at Dibrugarh University, with more than 400 students, faculty members and members of the public attending the final performance.
The three programmes featured Western classical compositions, Naga folk-fusion music and original works by Meruno. Devanga also shared his personal journey through his performance. The programme included compositions such as “O mio babbino caro” by Giacomo Puccini, “Una furtiva lagrima” by Gaetano Donizetti, Mozart’s “Ave Verum Corpus,” César Franck’s “Panis Angelicus” and the hymn “Abide with Me.”
The audiences also heard the Italian song “’O Sole Mio,” piano interpretations including “Canon in D,” and original compositions by Meruno. Organisers said the programmes gave many attendees their first opportunity to watch a live Western classical performance and learn about the traditions associated with the music.
The SPIC MACAY Dibrugarh Chapter said the series was part of the organisation’s 50th anniversary celebrations. As part of the commemoration, 200 programmes are being organised across the Northeast.
The Dibrugarh Chapter conducted 32 programmes in 2025, reaching more than 20,000 students across Upper Assam. The current series was its fourth programme of the year.
The series was supported by SRF Foundation and the Jyoti Lalita Kanoi Foundation. The Jyoti Lalita Kanoi Foundation, led by Dibrugarh-based chartered accountant and philanthropist Jyoti Prasad Kanoi, has supported educational infrastructure and social initiatives in the city.
The SPIC MACAY Dibrugarh Chapter thanked its patrons, the three host institutions and their respective Heritage Clubs for their support. Organisers said more such programmes are planned in the region in the coming months.