Her voice was glowing, her eyes were filled with the stars, her whole personality was radiant for she had tasted the honey-dew and sipped the milk of a musical paradise. Sanya Myla Cotta had stepped across the barriers of entry to a music college in Europe with flying colours, obtaining first place in Leipzig and enthusiastic acceptance at the college of her choice in Nuremberg. And the numerous concerts she attended opened doors to new musical horizons.

The auditions comprised a one hour violin performance of set pieces, another performance on the piano, the second instrument, followed by theory and ear tests. Professor Baldine at Leipzig, reputedly a tough taskmaster, was so taken up with her that he phoned her repeatedly, offering her free tuition for six months till the course’s commencement in January 2006. That’s the Sanya magic. The planned gruelling auditioning tour of Europe came to a happy end in her first two auditions. Success at both places and a choice. Just lucky? Or genius?

True genius is the ability to marshal our most potent resources simply by putting ourselves in a state of absolute certainty. There was never any doubt in my mind that Sanya would sweep the judges off their feet. Often when we see greatness in others we assume they are just more fortunate, blessed with special gifts. In reality, Sanya has utilised a greater depth of her human resources simply because she needs to develop her talent and her acquired ability to scale the heights. There IS no other way for her.

Inspiration is merely the starting point. Perspiration brings success. The secret of success is learning how to associate pleasure with difficult tasks. Her violin takes her to the top of the world – the only place she wants to be. Diligent practice, meticulous attention to detail, her strong determination and stubborn commitment carried her through. Success at any price.

She is fired by the desire to represent Goa overseas and return to share with Goans and in other areas what she has gained overseas both as a concert violinist and teacher. In the early euphoria of concert performances, she is gripped by the excitement of striding the platform but she is open-armed and all-encompassing. She is happy being a member of an orchestra or a chamber group. Her simple humility always shines through.

The quest for placement was an easy step and permitted a luxurious immersing in the musical riches open to her. Her eyes sparkle with her first “live” opera experience – Wagner’s “Tristan and Isolde” at Franfurt. Superlatives flow like molten gold as she recollects the experience. She loves playing Bach so visiting his grave at Leipzig was inspiring. She felt suddenly so close to the composer she adores. The concert at Gewandhaus comprising a Cello suite by Bloch and a Shoshtakovich symphony was mind blowing. Hearing a full symphony orchestra “live” shook her to the very roots of her musical being. She can only gasp limply “it was amazing” and “it inspired me to be a conductor”.

Yes the stunning “Indien” has also hit the posters and the concert platforms. Four concerts as violin soloist accompanied by guitar with works by Granados, Debussy and Carulli have enthralled audiences at Wismar, Friedrichsrode, Machem and Lubmin. Requests for recordings have also come in. There are plans for a sonata recording.

She has already met Midori, a violinist she admired on CDs, and the face-to-face meeting was ‘an amazing experience’. Wolfgang Marschner’s master class brought her accolades from other participants and from the master. The opportunity to study with Vengorow sends her eyes and voice into ecstasy levels. Nigel Kennedy and Julia Fisher, violinists she has seen on DVD, are available in person close to hand.

She chose the violin as the central focus in her life. Whatever we focus on determines how we feel. And how we feel – our state of mind – powerfully influences our actions and interactions. This empowering belief has propelled her to live her life in a way that causes her to consistently feel an immense amount of pleasure in her chosen field.

She has returned to the environment where the enormous wealth of musical enrichment is within her grasp and she is eagerly awaiting the opportunities to step through the many doors open to her. Here everyone feels the music, just keeps talking about it, sharing, exchanging ideas and living it to the full. Knowing Sanya, she will connect to this musical life blood to become not only India’s greatest violinist but also achieve world standard.