Shillong Chamber Choir

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Shillong Chamber Choir
Choir
Artists performing at the inaugural ceremony of the 42nd International Film Festival of India (IFFI-2011), at Ravindra Bhavan, in Madgaon, Goa on November, 23, 2011.jpg
Shillong Chamber Choir performing at inaugural ceremony of 42nd International Film Festival of India in 2011
Origin Shillong, Meghalaya
Founded2001
Members11 (eleven singers and musicians/soloists)
Music director Neil Nongkynrih
Chief conductorNeil Nongkynrih
Website www.shillongchamberchoir.com

The Shillong Chamber Choir was founded in Shillong, Meghalaya, in 2001. They received fame after winning the reality talent show India's Got Talent (Season 2) in October 2010 on Colours TV, part of the Got Talent (India) franchise, where they performed choral-style revamps of Bollywood classics. In the same year, they also performed for Michelle and Barack Obama in India.

Contents


The choir consists of 11 singers with varying accompanying ensemble sizes which can go up to even 60 people on stage. They are based in Shillong, Meghalaya, which sits in the North-Eastern part of India. They also participated in the 6th World Choir Games held at Shaoxing China (Shanghai) in July 2010 and were awarded Gold diplomas in all three categories: Musica Sacra, Gospel, and Popular. Besides their musical pursuits, the Shillong Chamber Choir has also been involved in philanthropic work, supporting causes such as education and healthcare in the community. [1]

History

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The foundation

The Shillong Chamber Choir was founded in 2001 by (L) Neil Nongkynrih, a composer, conductor, and pianist from Shillong, India. Nongkynrih's vision was to create a choir that focused on a wide array of genres and have since been renowned for their versatility, which also reflected his own experiences as a musician and his passion for exploring new sounds and styles. Nongkynrih began playing the piano at a young age and studied music at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London. [2] After returning to India, he became involved in the music scene in Shillong. Nongkynrih saw an opportunity to bring Indian and Western music together and founded the Shillong Chamber Choir with like-minded musicians. The choir's name reflects its roots in Shillong. [3]

2001-2010: The Early Years

The Choir made its debut performance as a group at the Pinewood Hotel in Shillong on January 14 and 15, 2002, and was mentored by Nongkynrih as its maestro. Since then, they have been awarded three Gold diplomas in the categories Musica Sacra, Gospel, and Popular, which they competed in at the 6th World Choir Games held at Shaoxing, China in July 2010, competing against 400 choir groups from over 82 countries. [4] They were selected to represent India by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations and the visit was sponsored by The Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region. The Choir mainly gained attention for their choral-style revamps of old Bollywood classics while competing on the reality television talent show India’s Got Talent in its second season back in 2010 and went on to win it. In December 2010, they won the CNN-IBN Indian of the Year – Special Achievement Award. [5] The Choir has performed across several parts of India and the globe. On 8 November 2010, they performed for then-President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle Obama at then-Indian President Pratibha Patil’s presidential banquet at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. [6]

2011-2019: The growth years

From 2011 to 2019, the Shillong Chamber Choir continued to gain prominence and recognition for its unique blend of Indian and Western music styles. [7] The choir collaborated with renowned musicians and performed at various events, establishing its reputation. [8]

In March 2013, They also performed at a fundraiser organized by actor Rahul Bose’s NGO, The Foundation, in Mumbai. They collaborated with the tabla maestro, Ustad Zakir Hussain for the performance, [9] showcasing an hour-long recital that featured opera, Bollywood favourites, a tabla-piano and choral medley, and a solo by the Ustad. In 2012 and 2014, they opened for the grand premiere of Kaun Banega Crorepati season 6 and season 8. [10] In 2014, they also opened the music launch event of Shah Rukh Khan’s film ‘Happy New Year’ and collaborated with the State Election Commission to create a music video entitled Just One to promote voting. The choir again collaborated with Bachchan for a fundraiser in Jodhpur in 2015 and finally in 2016 for the Global Citizen India Concert in Mumbai which also saw acts like Jay Z and Coldplay. [11]

April 2017 saw the choir perform their melodies at the opening ceremony of IPL in Kolkata. The choir has participated in some of the most notable national events, including the Indian Super League in 2016. In October 2018, they collaborated with Gerald Wirth for a 3 city tour to showcase a concert version of Franz Schubert’s opera, Shakuntala in Mumbai, Delhi, and Kolkata. On 26th July 2019, they performed at the 20th Kargil Vijay Diwas event in New Delhi, In the presence of the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi. Another noted event was the telecast of their rendition of Vande Mataram- I’m So Proud To Be An Indian during the attempted satellite landing of Chandrayaan 2, which aired live on National Geographic on 6 September 2019. [12]

2020-Present: Philanthropy for Covid19, The Death of Uncle Neil

The Choir has been involved in philanthropic efforts, particularly during the times of the Covid-19 pandemic. During the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic, it participated in the I for India fundraiser concert, which aimed to provide support to those affected by the pandemic in India. [13] The concert, which was live-streamed, featured various artists and performers like Jack Black, Will Smith, and The Jonas Brothers coming together to raise funds for Covid-19 relief efforts, included the choir's rendition of popular songs. Their contribution to the concert was appreciated and helped raise funds for the cause. [14]

Apart from participating in the ‘I for India’ concert, the choir also extended direct support to their local community in Shillong, Meghalaya, by honouring the frontline workers who were tirelessly working to combat the pandemic. They paid tribute to the efforts of doctors, nurses, and other frontline workers, through their music performances and social services, recognizing their service. [15]

In January 2022, the Shillong Chamber choir faced a significant loss with the sudden demise of their founder, Uncle Neil Nongkynrih, at 51. [16] In the same year, they also attended the funeral cortege of Queen Elizabeth II, which was borne in the historic church of Westminster Abbey on 19 September 2022. [17] On 19 October 2022, the choir performed at Interpol's 90th General Assembly, representing India globally to international ambassadors. [18] Furthermore, Universal Music Group India announced in 2023 of the choir's participation in the Coke Studio Bharat.

In addition to their musical pursuits, the Shillong Chamber Choir has been involved in philanthropic work, supporting causes such as education and healthcare in their community. The choir has worked with multiple organizations to promote education and cultural awareness and has also worked to raise funds through benefit concerts and other events. [19]

Musical style and influences

The Shillong Chamber Choir is known for its innovative approach to music, blending Western classical music with Indian melodies and rhythms. [20] Their repertoire includes various musical genres, including choral arrangements of popular Bollywood songs and classical and contemporary Western pieces. [21] They have also experimented with fusion music, collaborating with artists from different musical traditions to create unique performances. Their repertoire is a variation of different varieties and genres from rock, pop, jazz, and Western music to Bollywood and more. As a choir, they have sung in over 40 languages, from regional to international, including Khasi, French, Latin, Arabic, Ancient Aramaic, Swahili, Norwegian, and Hindi. [22]

Themes

The themes explored by the Shillong Chamber Choir often reflect the cultural diversity of India, exploring themes related to different regions and traditions. The choir draws their inspiration from different genres of music worldwide, including renowned composers like Mozart and rock bands like Queen. [23]

Members

The choral frame of the choir consists of the Sopranos, Altos, Tenors, and Bass.

The Sopranos are Ibarisha Lyngdoh, Patricia Lyngdoh, and Jessica Shaw Lyngdoh; the Altos are Donna Marthong, Rishila Jamir, Keviseno Terhuja, and Dorea Rangad; the Tenors are Sandon Lyndem and William Richmond Dasaiawmoit; and Banlam Lyndem and Riewbankit Lyndem are the bass singers. [24]

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References

  1. ↑ "Shillong Choir hits high note, wins contest – and many hearts". The Indian Express. 4 October 2010.
  2. ↑ Dutta, Aiyushman (27 June 2015). "The Shillong experiment". mint. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
  3. ↑ "Bollywood aided Shillong choir's gold run". Hindustan Times. 30 July 2010. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
  4. ↑ "Shillong Choir wins 'India's Got Talent Khoj 2'". News18. 3 October 2010. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
  5. ↑ "CNN-IBN Reveals Indian Of The Year 2010: Best Media Info". www.bestmediainfo.com. 24 December 2010. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
  6. ↑ "Shillong Chamber Choir to perform for Barack Obama". The Hindu. 30 October 2010. ISSN   0971-751X . Retrieved 10 May 2023.
  7. ↑ Pal, Sanchari (22 November 2016). "The Fascinating Story of the Talented Shillong Chamber Choir That Rocked the Stage with Coldplay". The Better India. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
  8. ↑ "I Made It To The Coldplay Concert And Here Are 15 Things That Happened". IndiaTimes. 20 November 2016. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
  9. ↑ "Zakir Hussain, Shillong Chamber Choir to jam together". TwoCircles.net. 20 February 2013. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
  10. ↑ "Entertainment News | Bollywood News | Hollywood News | Celebrity News and Gossips – NDTV Movies". NDTV.com. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
  11. ↑ "Amitabh Bachchan to perform with Shillong Chamber Choir in Jodhpur". The Indian Express. 19 March 2015. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
  12. ↑ "Shillong Chamber Choir to sing Vande Mataram as Chandrayan 2 lands on moon". Hindustan Times. 6 September 2019. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
  13. ↑ "I For India concert: Highlights". The Indian Express. 3 May 2020. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
  14. ↑ Borah, Prabalika M. (6 May 2020). "Shillong Chamber Choir's William Richmond on their 'I For India' musical medley going viral". The Hindu. ISSN   0971-751X . Retrieved 10 May 2023.
  15. ↑ Rashir, Princess Giri (28 July 2020). "Shillong Chamber Choir honours Meghalaya's COVID-19 warrior". EastMojo. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
  16. ↑ "Shillong Chamber Choir founder Neil Nongkynrih dies at 52 in Mumbai". India Today. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
  17. ↑ "The funeral cortege of Queen Elizabeth II borne on the State Gun Carriage of the Royal Navy travels at Wellington Arch". The Shillong Times. 20 September 2022. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
  18. ↑ "SCC enthralls audience at Interpol conference". The Shillong Times. 21 October 2022. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
  19. ↑ Mukhim, Patricia (6 January 2022). "Neil Nongkynrih trained the Shillong Chamber Choir to be selfless. Not just in their music". ThePrint. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
  20. ↑ "Special service: The Shillong Chamber Choir is now delivering for those who can't step out". The Indian Express. 25 May 2020. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
  21. ↑ Mukhim, Patricia (6 January 2022). "Neil Nongkynrih trained the Shillong Chamber Choir to be selfless. Not just in their music". ThePrint. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
  22. ↑ "SCC enthralls audience at Interpol conference". The Shillong Times. 21 October 2022. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
  23. ↑ Paitandy, Priyadarshini (10 June 2022). "Shillong Chamber Choir's upcoming single is inspired by rail journeys and is a tribute to Uncle Neil, the founder of the choir". The Hindu. ISSN   0971-751X . Retrieved 10 May 2023.
  24. ↑ "Year after Neil's passing, SCC continues wowing the world". The Shillong Times. 5 January 2023. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
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