The Shillong Chamber Choir
Show: Voices Over
Genre: Multiple
Nov 15, 7:30 pm;
Venue: The Music Academy
Fifteen talented, young people came together over a decade ago to share their love for music. And the Shillong Chamber Choir was born. Leading them was Neil Nongkynrih, the choir’s founder, composer, and “its heart and soul”.
Having shot into the limelight after winning India’s Got Talent in 2010, the group has had encountered several highs — performing for The Obamas at The Rashtrapati Bhavan, sharing stage space with the Vienna Chamber Orchestra and the Fitzwilliam Quartet, and making a Christmas album in 2011, which became the highest-selling non-cinematic music in the country. And, of course, winning three gold diplomas at the 6th World Choir Games (2010) in China.
This group will grace the stage as part of The Hindu Friday Review November Fest 2014. Returning to Chennai after nearly three years, the Choir is ready to go classical, pop, hip hop, and filmi once again. Says tenor William Richmond, “Besides some time-tested numbers, we have thrown in a couple of Tamil songs too. Hope we get the pronunciation right!” Like last time, the Choir will be backed by a Chennai Band.
What makes the Choir tick? “I guess it’s the deep friendships we share and the passion for music. And yes, we have a dynamic leader in Neil, who keeps us together.”
Neil is an accomplished pianist himself, having trained in London for more than a decade. He has several awards to his credit, and yes, has trained Radiohead’s Philip Selway. So, get set for some Bach, Beethoven, S.D. Burman and A.R. Rahman!
Excerpts from an interview with Neil:
On the Choir’s return to Chennai…
Usually I never travel with the Choir. But I wanted to be in Chennai as I found the audience here musically intelligent. People have an inherent love for music. So performing for such an audience is always a pleasure.
On the Choir’s sustaining power…
The Choir has grown organically, slowly… like a tree. It has been a healthy growth. Yes, ‘India’s Got Talent’ brought us into the limelight. But our work got harder as we had to keep it up and get better and better. Ours is a story of patience, perseverance and a strong belief in our talent, and the music.
On choosing songs for a show…
It’s like shopping for a dress. You feel the fabric, try it out, check the price and only then do you buy it. The same works for a song. We try out a song, verify the suitability of the lyrics and see how it fits into a choral arrangement. And then work on it. We are a ‘family band’. So, no vulgarity or violence in the songs we choose.
On the strong musical presence in the North East…
I guess it is the influence of the church. We all start young by singing at church and soon music becomes an extension of our lives.
Web: www.thehindu.com/novemberfest
Facebook: Friday Review November Fest 2014
Twitter: @frnovfest
