Mumbai:
The Shillong Chamber Choir enthralled music lovers in Mumbai on Saturday, performing their most popular numbers in a two-hour concert.
From popular Hindi songs to Khasi songs to classical music, the choir performed everything and the audience was left spell-bound. Speaking to NDTV just before the concert, Mr. Neil Nongkynrih said, "Coming to our concert is like going to a multi-cuisine restaurant. If you don't like Chinese you can have Indian. If you don't like Indian, you can have continental. We put it together and it works for us."
Founded in 2001, the choir has now travelled across the world to showcase their talent. They performed for President Barack Obama when he visited India and did a special show for NDTV viewers at that time. They have also performed with Vienna Chamber Orchestra and the Fitz William Quartet. Earlier this year, they performed at the opening of '
Kaun Banega Crorepati' season six that impressed superstar Amitabh Bachchan. Winner of many awards, the group did this concert to raise funds for underprivileged children, who are looked after by the Light of Life trust.
The group began the concert with songs in Khasi, which Neil Nongkynrih described as a dying language. They even dedicated a song to the cause they were performing for - helping underprivileged children.
Speaking to NDTV, the choir members said, "Their inspiration was their togetherness and the feeling of creating music together. Another member added, "They did not need to work towards it but it was their life as they had lived and grown up with music."
The next project of the group will be an album with Universal Records and all-India tour with the music trio of Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy.