Report and Pictures: Deepak Machado - Mangalore Konkans
Dubai, May 5: Friday May 4 was a day full of excitement and thrill among the Konkani speaking community of Dubai who thronged Dubai Gem Private School to participate in 'Konkani Gayan Spordho 2012'.
The bi-annual Konkani Singing Contest was successfully organised by Mangalore Konkans Dubai to motivate and nurture the budding singing talent among the community members. This event was also conducted to choose 6 best women and 6 best men for the semi-finals of Gulf Voice of Mangalore, which the organisers plan to hold on October 5 this year.
The sheer number of participants in each category proved the enormous singing talent among the Konkani community living here in the UAE.
The competition which was open to all Konkani speaking people, commenced with an invocation hymn at 10 am.
The competition was held in the following categories:
• Female Solo Konkani Singing - 18 years and above
• Male Solo Konkani singing - 18 years and above
• Kids' Konkani Singing - 6 to 8 years
• Young Kids' Konkani Singing - 9 to 11 years
• Young Teens' Konkani Singing - 12 to 14 years
• Youth Konkani Singing - 15 to 17 years
• Duet Konkani Singing (Two Men or Two Women) - 18 years and above
• Mixed Duet Konkani Singing - 18 years and above
• Group Konkani Singing - open to all.
The panel of judges which included Oswald D’Souza from Muscat, Claude D’Souza, Edith D’Souza, Benny D’Souza from Mangalore, did justice to their assignment of choosing the winning competitors. The unique feature of this event was the blend of singers from Mangalore and Goa.
While the participants performed their best and kept the audience spell bound till late evening, the judges who arrived from outside the UAE, commended the contestants for their enthusiasm and appreciated their quality of singing. They were marvelled at the wonderful arrangements and meticulous planning made by the organisers and stated that this is far beyond the standards in other places that they have witnessed. The leadership of James Mendonca, President of Mangalore Konkans Dubai and the team work of the members was particularly acknowledged.
The day’s event was an excellent platform to showcase the hidden singing talents among the young Konkani Speaking people, as the audience saw quite a few new faces on the stage with brilliant performance.
The audience who were there to cheer the participants from the morning, relished the sumptuous lunch hosted by the organisers.
The proceedings of the whole day were efficiently conducted by the two young comperes Roshan D’Silva and Rohith D’Souza, the young and energetic members of Mangalore Konkans Dubai.
Ivan Fernandes, Director of Regent Technologies was felicitated for sponsoring the event. Walter Nandalike of Daijiworld.com was felicitated for his support through the portal.
It may be noted that the morning session which comprised male and female solo was a vital session as this was also to select 6 males and 6 females to the semi-finals of Gulf Voice of Mangalore 2012.
Winners
Female - Solo (18 years and above)
1st Prize : Sabita Mathias
2nd Prize : Thelma D’Souza
3rd Prize : Cresilla Shanthi Rodrigues
Male - Solo (18 years and above)
1st Prize : Jerry S. DeSouza
2nd Prize : Anil Mascarenhas
3rd Prize : Jeevan Edward Vaz
Kids' Konkani Singing ( 6-8 years)
1st Prize : Delisha Vaz
2nd Prize : Jaden Pinto
3rd Prize : Nolan D’Silva
Young Kids' Konkani Singing (9-11 years)
1st Prize : Anne D’Souza
2nd Prize : Alvina Vanessa Mendonca
3rd Prize : Mclean Fernandes
Young Teens' Konkani Singing (12- 14 years)
1st Prize : Calvin Rodrigues
2nd Prize : Anwyn Fernandes
3rd Prize : Nicole Cecelia Pinto
Youth Konkani Singing (15 – 17 years)
1st Prize : Brian Fernandes
2nd Prize : Shanon D’Souza
3rd Prize : Savannah D’Mello and Nigel D’Silva (shared)
Duet Konkani Singing (Two Men or Two Women – 18 years and above)
1st Prize : Santaninho Rodriguez / Jerry S. De’Souza
2nd Prize : Cresilla Shanthi Rodrigues / Nisha Lobo
3rd Prize : Rohan D’Souza / Jeevan Edward Vas and Teena Fernandes / Maria Lourdes Fermamdes (shared)
Mixed Duet Konkani Singing (18 years and above)
1st Prize : Cedric Noronha / Pamila Noronha
2nd Prize : Jerry S. De’souza / Joanna De Souza
3rd Prize : Sabitha Mathias / Anil Mascarenhas
Group Konkani Singing - Open to all
1st Prize : Anil Mascarenhas and Team
2nd Prize : Pamila Noronha and Team
3rd Prize : Santaninho Rodrigues andTeam
A special award was bestowed upon Santaninho Rodrigues, who participated in all possible categories, for his enthusiasm.
The trophies to the winners of the contest were sponsored by Regent Technologies, Dubai.
Selected Semi-finalists for Gulf Voice of Mangalore
Female Category
Sabitha Mathias
Thelma D’Souza
Cresilla Shanthi Rodrigues
NIsha Trisa Lobo
Laila D’Souza
Asha Fernandes
Male Category
Anil Mascarenhas
Jeevan Edward vaz
Robin Godwin D’Souza
Prashanth Sequeira
Preeth Noronha
Alwyn Mendonca
About Mangalore Konkans Dubai
Mangalore Konkans Dubai which is in the 24th year of its inception, has been serving the Konkani Community here in the UAE, India and beyond. In the past 23 years of its existence, Mangalore Konkans Dubai has undertaken both small and big projects, with many more planned for the future, with the purpose of promoting Konkani language and culture and extending financial assistance for medical expenses of the deserving sick and to extend help for higher education of deserving students.
Mangalore Konkans Dubai are now geared up to celebrate their 25th Anniversary and is contemplating on many programs and events during the Jubilee year. Information on this will be published soon.