Silver success for Meghalaya choir
Courtesy: The Telegraph
Meghalaya’s musical tradition has provided the silver lining to India in the grand stage of world music. A Khasi opera, based on a folktale about a young girl who turns into a bird, won over the audience and the judges as the Shillong Chamber Choir earned a silver medal in the folklore category at the World Choir Championships, held from July 7 to 17 in South Korea. The choir, which returned home today, is overjoyed at the feat.
Neil Nongkynrih, director of the 17-member choir, told The Telegraph that they had expected to win the gold medal. “But the silver medal is an inspiration for all of us. This has raised the choir to international standards,” he said. The gold medal went to the former world champion Elfa from Indonesia.
Nongkynrih hoped to win gold medals in all categories in the next competition as they could perform only in the folklore category this time. “It was a great privilege to showcase music written in Khasi, which is now considered one of the dying languages in the world. Winning the silver medal was simply out of the world,” said Damon M. Lyndem, a member of the choir.
The World Choir Championships — also known as Choir Olympics — brings together choir groups from all over the world, including some of the famous bands from Asia, Africa, Europe, North America and South America. The achievement has now placed the Shillong Chamber Choir as one of the leading choirs, not only in India but also in the international circuit.
The choir later participated in “friendship concerts” in other cities of South Korea. Music lovers here are jubilant over the achievement. “We are happy that the choir won accolades in the World Choir Championships,” said Pauline Warjri, the mentor and trainer of Shillong Chamber Choir. According to Warjri, who is Nongkynrih’s sister, the choir could compete only in the first category of folklore as the World Choir Championships ended abruptly because of the swine flu threat.
The Shillong Chamber Choir went with only 17 members and had to compete with other choirs with a strength of upto 80. “Like the Olympics, the choir championship also had different categories and the Shillong Chamber Choir was the first to start the game with Sohlyngngem as the first entry before an international jury and audience,” Damon M. Lyndem added. Sohlyngngem tells the story of a poor girl who loved a rich boy whose mother preferred to get him married to an affluent lady. The grief-stricken girl finally turns into a bird (Sohlyngngem).
Meghalaya’s musical tradition has provided the silver lining to India in the grand stage of world music. A Khasi opera, based on a folktale about a young girl who turns into a bird, won over the audience and the judges as the Shillong Chamber Choir earned a silver medal in the folklore category at the World Choir Championships, held from July 7 to 17 in South Korea. The choir, which returned home today, is overjoyed at the feat.
Neil Nongkynrih, director of the 17-member choir, told The Telegraph that they had expected to win the gold medal. “But the silver medal is an inspiration for all of us. This has raised the choir to international standards,” he said. The gold medal went to the former world champion Elfa from Indonesia.
Nongkynrih hoped to win gold medals in all categories in the next competition as they could perform only in the folklore category this time. “It was a great privilege to showcase music written in Khasi, which is now considered one of the dying languages in the world. Winning the silver medal was simply out of the world,” said Damon M. Lyndem, a member of the choir.
The World Choir Championships — also known as Choir Olympics — brings together choir groups from all over the world, including some of the famous bands from Asia, Africa, Europe, North America and South America. The achievement has now placed the Shillong Chamber Choir as one of the leading choirs, not only in India but also in the international circuit.
The choir later participated in “friendship concerts” in other cities of South Korea. Music lovers here are jubilant over the achievement. “We are happy that the choir won accolades in the World Choir Championships,” said Pauline Warjri, the mentor and trainer of Shillong Chamber Choir. According to Warjri, who is Nongkynrih’s sister, the choir could compete only in the first category of folklore as the World Choir Championships ended abruptly because of the swine flu threat.
The Shillong Chamber Choir went with only 17 members and had to compete with other choirs with a strength of upto 80. “Like the Olympics, the choir championship also had different categories and the Shillong Chamber Choir was the first to start the game with Sohlyngngem as the first entry before an international jury and audience,” Damon M. Lyndem added. Sohlyngngem tells the story of a poor girl who loved a rich boy whose mother preferred to get him married to an affluent lady. The grief-stricken girl finally turns into a bird (Sohlyngngem).
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