History and construction of the school

History of the Mathieson Music School

also scroll down or click here to see the site and buildings

Anup Kumar Biswas , founder and director

Although Biswas resides in London, where he looks after the fund-raising axtivities of the Mathieson Music Trust, his career as an international cellist takes him all over the world for concerts as well as spending time every year in Calcutta, looking after the administration of the school and selecting new pupils from among the poor children of West Bengal.

Click here for a biography.

The Mathieson Music School was founded by the concert cellist Anup Kumar Biswas in memory of the Rev. Theodore Mathieson, Father Superior of the Anglican Brotherhood of the Epiphany, Calcutta,who died in 1994. Father Mathieson had been involved with the running of an orphanage in Calcutta for over 50 years and had established a unique musical tradition at the orphanage school where boys were taught both Western and Indian classical music. Many went on to enjoy successful musical careers, the most distinguished being Anup Kumar Biswas, whose unique talent Father Mathieson spotted at an early age. When Biswas was 16, Father Mathieson sent this gifted youngster to the Royal College of Music in London, which prepared him for the successful international career he now enjoys.
Towards the end of his life, Father Mathieson became very concerned that after his death the musical aspect of the children's lives would also die. He and Biswas therefore conceived the idea of founding a special music school in Calcutta to continue the tradition the priest had established, and in February 1994, the Mathieson Music School was launched. Anup Kumar Biswas, as the school's director, has diverted much of his time and energy from his career as a cellist to fund-raising and the running of the school to repay his debt to Father Mathieson.

The Rev. Theodore Mathieson

Father Mathieson was involved with the running of an orphanage in Calcutta for over 50 years and had established a unique musical tradition at the orphanage school where boys were taught both Western and Indian classical music. His zeal was the inspiration for the Mathieson Music School.

Click here for a biography

The site and construction of the Mathieson Music School

By 1996 the Mathieson Music Trust had raised sufficient funds to buy three acres of paddy fields in the Bengali countryside, only a few miles away from the teeming slums of Calcutta. Here they drained the marshes and built basic structures to provide classrooms and boarding facilities for both boys and girls.. The building work is still in progress.

The above peaceful rural view, overlooking rice paddies and smallhold farms, is what the children see from the top floor of the new music block.

The gates to the schoolgrounds. Security guards attend the entrance and patrol the grounds round the clock
The first building which was constructed, houses the head teacher's office and a number of classrooms

These temporary buildings were put up as dormitories for for the children. In two sections separating boys from girls, they contain bunk beds, western-style toilets and showers. Future plans include building new permanent dormitories, with separate buildings for girls and boys.

The music block was built 2001. It houses instrument storage rooms, practice rooms, and guest rooms for visiting teachers and gap year students.

Since then an additional top floor has been added to the music block to provide a hall for concerts and to house banks of computers for IT classes.

And not forgetting playtime, the school grounds provide space and equipment for fun and games when the school day is over.

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The gates to the schoolgrounds. Security guards attend the entrance and patrol the grounds round the clock	The first building which was constructed, houses the head teacher's office and a number of classrooms	These temporary buildings were put up as dormitories for for the children. In two sections separating boys from girls, they contain bunk beds, western-style toilets and showers. Future plans include building new permanent dormitories, with separate buildings for girls and boys.
The music block was built 2001. It houses instrument storage rooms, practice rooms, and guest rooms for visiting teachers and gap year students.	Since then an additional top floor has been added to the music block to provide a hall for concerts and to house banks of computers for IT classes.	And not forgetting playtime, the school grounds provide space and equipment for fun and games when the school day is over.