Shillong Choir singing for peace

Monday, August 14, 2006

Shillong (UNI): While Sri Lanka is on to war, a group of 14 young singers from Shillong left for Colombo today to spread the message of love and peace through music. Selected by the Indian Council of Cultural Research, the group under the banner of Shillong Chamber of Choir (SSC), would perform live at four places in Colombo and Kandy, including a programme on August 15. Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake, Indian Diplomats and other dignitaries, including Indian cricket team, would also be present on the occasion, the sources said.

The choir would also perform at several public places of Colombo in different languages including German, Italian, Hindi and Khasi, the ICCR said. SSC had already performed in several countries like Switzerland London, Poland, ICCR officials informed. The choir had also been invited by President A P J Abdul Kalam to perform at the Rashtrapati Bhawan, they added. SSC even went up to overwhelm the Swiss connoisseurs in Geneva while performing the Khasi folktale of 'Soh Lyngngem', about a girl who turns into a nightingale. ''We are going to Colombo to spread our music of peace, unity and brotherhood,'' said Neil Nongkynrih, an internationally acclaimed musician and pianist. Nongkynrih further added that their four-day performance would showcase their talent with 16 different Khasi songs.