Jerome Rodrigues from Paroda, Salcette, has contributed immensely in the field of music, through yeomen service in the Indian Navy band for 23 years, followed by dedicated job in the Maharashtra police band for 18 years and finally as the conductor of the Goa State Symphony Orchestra at Kala Academy.
He started his musical career with violin and later he was advised to take up the trumpet. "At childhood, it was recommendation by my aunt, Joana Goes to maestro Minguel Philip Fernandes from Chandor, who served as a choir master of St Anthony church at Galgibag, Canacona." During his stay with his aunt for two years, he picked up the nuances of music, gaining mastery over solfagio and the violin.
Thereafter, on return to his paternal house in Paroda, Jerome met his friend, Sebastian Dias, who took him to Mumbai in 1962. "During that period," he recalls, "many Goans were proceeding to Mumbai in order to seek greener pastures overseas as seafarers (tarvotti)."
But Jerome was fortunate to meet Carlito Fernandes, a villager from Assolda, Paroda, who recommended him to Training Officer, M Gomes, who in turn directed him to Director of Music Commander, N M Wise. "At that juncture, vacancies were created in the Indian Navy and fortune came knocking at my door," he informed.
As Jerome had the greatest desire to learn music, he got the golden opportunity and joined the Indian Navy on December 3, 1963. "It was hard work and sheer dedication to his passion for almost 5 long years," he mentions.
Soon after garnering mastery over music, both in reading and writing, Jerome took the initiative of arranging and composing music through personal experience, especially marshal music, which is utilized for parades. Besides specializing in marshal music, he would also compose other music, by listening to contemporary pop music and arranging it for the military band. He says that he always received appreciation and encouragement from the naval officers.
Among his notable contributions include the March Jai Jai Bharati composed by M Dias which he arranged for the full Band and is still being played for the Republic Day parade when the Navy Band marches past the President of India.
Another march INS Nilgiri was specially arranged and dedicated to India's first indigenous built frigate INS Nilgiri played in front of top dignitaries of India and abroad.
With this brilliant career behind him, he was selected to go for 3 years Potential Band Master Course at Army School of Music, Pachmarhi, Madhya Pradesh. He was awarded distinction in Diploma of Licentiate Military Music Examination (L.M.M.E) and also the Licentiate Trinity College London Diploma (L.T.C.L). In the Indian Navy he has replaced the Naval Salute from British Music to Indian one and also Naval March Past tune.
During his Naval tenure he played the trumpet concerto of Dmitri Shostakovich with the Bombay Chamber Orchestra under the conductor, Joaquim Bulher in Mumbai and Delhi in 1975. He has also played for many other orchestras besides the B.C.O. viz, BALOS, Paranjyoti Choir, Newman Choir, George Daniel Choir etc., and also for the film industry with noted music directors like Laximikant Pyarelal, Chris Perry, Kalyanji and Anandji.
He has composed some quick marches, slow marches, raagas, Church music, countless arrangements of day to day life music and several other compositions which are being played by all bands, namely Army, Navy, Air Force and state police bands.
In the Asian Games ‘Asiad 82' held in New Delhi, his was the highest contribution in music amongst other composers. One most memorable composition is that of Pandit Ravi Shankar’s Theme which was in 7/8 timing, Jerome wrote it in 2/4 timing and was played as Opening March of the Ceremony. One of his special item was a Fanfare entitled ‘Asiad 82’ which was composed and arranged for the arrival of the President of India for the inauguration of the Games.
Apart from this, he had also played a Solo ‘Abide with me’ echo on the chimes for the event. In 1965, Pakistan war, he was on board ship INS Mysore, where he was awarded the Summer Seva Star and Raksha medal. In 1971, Bangladesh war, he received the Paschim Star and Sangram Medals also Long Service 9 years and 20 years as well as Silver and Golden Jubilee medals.
Jerome reached upto the rank of Master Chief Petty Officer in the Indian Navy. In 1985, he had asked for premature retirement after 23 years of distinguished service due to personal reasons.
In the same year, Jerome joined the Police Force through the MPSC Selection Board with the help of the then Police Commissioner, Julio Ribeiro. He was attached to the Naigaum Police Head Quarters, Dadar, Mumbai.
Since Jerome joined the police force, he was preoccupied full time with his band conducting, teaching, arranging new day to day life music, composing and specially training youngsters. "The Police Band strength was 64 brass band and 30 buglers," he informed, "so one can imagine how tiring it was to train so many people."
Under the leadership of Jerome, the Police Band reached international level by carrying out TV and Radio shows. All the Raj Bhavan VVIP’s dinners and other reception were attended by the Navy Band, but ever since Jerome took over the Police Band, the Navy Band was nowhere to be seen. The then Governor of Maharashtra was very proud of the Police Band because it played the respective country’s music and the national anthem of the visiting dignitaries.
In 1991, for the first time in the history of Police Band, a total of 400 musicians of the Maharashtra District Police Band under the command of Jerome, put up a mass band display ‘Beating Retreat’ at Vallabhbhai Patel Stadium in Mumbai on the occasion of Maharashtra Day celebrations. This work was commended by the then Governor of Maharashtra, C. Subramanium.
In view of his distinguished service rendered and the upliftment of the Police Band to international standards, the Director General of Police conferred on Jerome the Police Seva medal. His quality and self disciplined service was recognized also by the President of India and was bestowed with the prestigious President Police Medal for meritorious service.
Jerome was the only Catholic officer having been awarded by the highest government of India office in the field of music.
For his dedicated service in the police department, Jerome was due to retire in 2001, but due to his outstanding performance and sincerity, the government of Maharashtra granted him extension for one year and a little later granted him another year. He finally retired in December 2003.
After retirement from police department, Jerome served as the conductor of the Goa State Symphony Orchestra at Kala Academy for a brief period till 2009. Now, settled at Paroda, he heads the Symphony school of music at Karali, Paroda and has over 40 students hailing from Panaji, Porvorim, Ponda, Velsao, Majorda, Cansaulim, Sanvordem, Tilamol, Benaulim and Vasco. He plans holding a symphonic orchestra for South Goa annually. He has already conducted musical concerts with complete orchestra (strings, wind, and brass instruments) by students trained under him at Ravindra Bhavan, Margao and Vasco and has gained good feedbacks from parents and music lovers alike.
Apart from this, Jerome's students have performed at the Garcia de Orta, Panaji and also for the 125th Celebration of Tiatr organized by the Tiatr Academy of Goa. He plans to conduct a concert at Kala Academy Panaji, to showcase the talents and skills of his students. He is probably the only person in Goa who can teach and train young students to play in an orchestra, having gained vast experience in teaching all types of instruments.
For his immense contribution in the field of music, (western), Jerome was the recipient of the Goa State Cultural Award 2015-16.