Shillong Chamber Choir sings tribute to the ‘resilient spirit of Sikkim’

Shillong Chamber Choir regaled a select audience with a mix of different genres of music at Mayfair Resorts, closing the stunning performance with a stunning rendition of ‘Vande Mataram’. This song, which the choir has made its own, is scheduled to be released soon by the President of India at the Gateway of India. Also present at the function was a TNA alumnus and CEO cum Director, Thomson Digital of the India Today Group, Vinay Kr Singh who presented a cheque of Rs 5 lakh to the TNA Alumni Association, which had organized the special performance.

Speaker, KT Gyaltsen and Neil Nongkynrih

TNA ALUMNI ASSOCIATION HOSTS ‘PEACE, PROSPERITY, HAPPINESS’ EVENT
GANGTOK, 01 Dec: It has been more than two months since an earthquake shook the State, changing a number of lives here forever. The state has managed to get back on its feet, while rebuilding efforts and long term planning are still on. As a tribute to these efforts and the spirit of resilience that Sikkim and its people have displayed in the face of such a crisis, the Tashi Namgyal Academy Alumni Association hosted a special charity show ‘Peace, Prosperity, Happiness’ today at Mayfair Resorts.

The show featured winners of “India’s Got Talent Season-2” and ‘the most expensive non-Bollywood item’ according to the Forbes magazine, the Shillong Chamber Choir led by its Director, Neil Nongkynrih. The choir is made up of a young group of 16 singers and 4 musicians, fronted by a 16-year old soloist. Their repertoire includes works of western classical music, Khasi folk songs, Opera, Queen the rock band, and reworked Bollywood classics.
Speaker KT Gyalsten, who also chaired the organising committee of the special show, explained that the performance was organised following the efforts of the State Government and NGOs towards bringing the state back on the path of peace and prosperity. While the proceeds of the show will go towards charity, the show is also meant to send out the message that Sikkim is once again prepared for extensive tourism, he stressed.
The Shillong Chamber Choir was formed by Neil Nongkynrih in 2001, who, on his return from the United Kingdom, noticed that things were very stagnant in Meghalaya. He felt that a lot of talent in the state was getting wasted and was prompted to form the Shillong Chamber Choir to harness these talents.
Speaking to NOW! today, Mr Nongkynrih informed that it was around October that he was asked if he could come to Sikkim for a charity performance.
“We had earlier been approached by NDTV to perform at a fundraising effort for the earthquake victims here and although we were very keen, it could not work out because we had already been booked for another show. But we are happy to be here now and it has all worked out fine,” he said.
Although Mr Nongkynrih has visited the state before, he expressed his appreciation of the warm welcome the entire group received right from the airport. “From government officials to people in general, everybody here is polite and humble, which is perhaps something that Khasis could learn from,” quipped the director.
On winning the India’s Got Talent show, Mr Nongkynrih said, “We have been in this line for a while now, performing all around the country and the world but it was the show that made people aware of our existence”.
The choir performed a special rendition of ‘Vande Mataram’ dedicated to Sikkim today.
“It is a relatively new song in our repertoire and although it has been done by others in the past as well, this is my version for the people of Sikkim,” informed Mr Nongkynrih. The song has been adapted as a bi-lingual using both Hindi and English lyrics. Stating that “we are all God’s children”, the Director also mentioned that it is the children he feels most for in circumstances like the earthquake devastation in Sikkim and so the song is especially for them.
Rishila Jamir, in-charge of publicity as well as a member of the choir, joined the group in 2008. Performing occasionally with the group earlier, she joined the choir fulltime after completing her graduation. Originally from Nagaland, she now lives in Shillong with the group and said “a spirit of oneness, more than singing” is what it means to be a part of the choir.
“We are all very touched and overwhelmed by the hospitality of the people here,” she further expressed.