Media Release

Kuwait, Sep 3: Kuwait Canara Welfare Association (KCWA) is all geared up to host the semi-finals of 'Gulf Voice of Mangalore (GVOM) - Season 6' - a mega Konkani singing talent hunt show on September 28 at the Sabah Al-Salem Theater, Khaldiya from 3:00 pm onwards. One male and a female contestant from Kuwait will be selected on this day who will be participating in the grand finale to be held in Kuwait itself on November 9 for the coveted title of GVOM-6.

Kuwait Canara Welfare Association (KCWA) is the premier organization for Mangalurean Catholics in Kuwait and has completed 30 successful years of its existence. KCWA primarily works for the noble cause of educating poor children of the community and extends a helping hand to the needy brethren for humanitarian causesback in India. So far KCWA has contributed Rs 4.5 crore towards this noble cause. The association also organizes social and cultural events to support brotherhood, foster fellowship, uphold the culture and to promote welfare of its people residing in Kuwait.

Konkani music field’s noted personalities Ashith Pinto, ShilpaCutinha and Wilfred Fernandes will grace the occasion as the judges for the event on September 28. Wilson Roshan Sequeira (Wilson Kateel), a poet, lyricist and writer; Lloyd Austin Rego Taccode, poet and ArunD’Almeida, station director of Radio Daijiworld will be the guest of honour.

Dr Vincent Alva, a multi-talented personality, well-known orator and presently principal and associate professor in English at Milagres College, Kallianpur will compere the show.

Kuwait’s popular band ‘Muzik Collective’ led by Kiran Gonsalves is all set to leave the audience enthralled with their live music for the competition. One of India's top 10 and well-known lead guitarist Alwyn Fernandes from Dubai will join the band and showcase his brilliance.

After the competition, visiting artistes Wilfred Fernandes, Shilpa Cutinha along with the semifinalists of previous five GVOM seasons from Kuwait trained by Rony D’Cunha and team will entertain the audience with their melodious voices and hit Konkani numbers. ‘Soul Stirrers’, a popular live band of teenagers, will entertain the gathering with the theme ‘Retro’. Rib-tickling comedy by Kuwait's popular stage artistes Lancy Rodrigues and team and dance by Jhankar Dance Academy will be the added attractions of the day.

Initiated by Lawrence Pinto and late Louis Rodrigues from Kuwait in 2008, GVOM has become a sensation among Mangalurean’s worldwide. Kuwait’s singing talents have thus far won the coveted title of GVOM in all the five seasons - winner of Season 1 (Vinay Lewis), female title winner of Season 2 (Gladys Lorena), male title winner of Season 3 (Orson D'Souza), male title winner of Season 4 (Morvine Quadras) and female title winner of Season 5 (Joyline Gonsalves).

The event is sponsored by Land Trades Builders & Developers, Mangaluru and Keentech Electrical & Contracting Co Kuwait. Main sponsor of the event is Vermont Builders & Promoters and Bliss Signature Professional Unisex Salon. Caesars Group of Restaurants, Al-Rathat Est., and Crown Logistics Co are the gold sponsors and United Steel Factory is the pearl sponsor. Khorafi Plastic Industries Co, Al-Habshi Est, Diyab Mohd. Haji Est, Golden Line Construction Materials Co, and Khalil Bahman & Partners are the silver sponsors. Daijiworld is the media partner and Radio Daijiworld is the radio partner of the event.

For further details log on to www.kcwakuwait.org

About the judges

Wilfred Edwin Fernandes

Hailing from a small town of Kinnigoly, Wilfy had great love and devotion for music from his childhood. He started singing from his early primary school and was known for his voice. He has sung in Musical Nites of Victor Concesso and has worked with music maestro Babush in few Nites. Wilfy has rendered his voice for few Konkani hymns albums ‘Anja Saven’, ‘Mestri Jezu’, ‘Havn Tanelan’, and ‘Besavn’ etc.

He wrote lyrics, composed music, trained new singers, sang and directed ‘Jezu Balkaak Kelloyan’, a Konkani Christmas carols album in the year 2005; ‘Jezu Mhaka Zai’, Konkani liturgical hymns in 2013 in support of twin new church building in Abu Dhabi and a Konkani songs album ‘Ye Mhojea Bhangara’ in 2016.

He has judged many singing competitions in India, UAE and Oman, Mangalore Konkans Dubai, and twice to MCCP Oman for GVOM auditions. Currently he is the choir master in Abu Dhabi Church Konkani choir and serves as IT Engineer in Computer Network Systems (CNS) Abu Dhabi.

Shilpa Tejaswini Cutinha

Shilpa holds a master’s degree in Social Work (MSW-PMIR) and also a certified montessori trainer. She is trained in Carnatic Music (Vocals) and currently pursuing training in Hindustani music senior grade (Vocals).

The recipient of Global Konkani Music Award – Best Female Vocalist of the year 2013 and 2016, she produced music albums ‘O...La...Re (A Musical Journey of Love)’ and ‘La Vida (A Song of Life)’, which comprise songs varying in style and creativity. She has sung for over 125 Konkani and Kannada musical and devotional albums. She has also rendered her voice as playback singer Konkani tele-film ‘Manasa’; Konkani movies ‘Nashibacho Khell’, ‘Zanvoy No.1’ and Konkani commercial advertisements.

She has secured first place in light singing competition organised by Sandesha Kalotsava in 1995. She received best singer award at ‘Kala Sangam’ in 1998. She was invited as a guest to the television programme ‘Do…Re…Mi…Fa’ broadcast by Daijiworld24x7. She is a partner in Sennon Productions, a production house that nurtures and promotes Konkani music. She is an active vocal performer at musical events organized by the stalwarts of Konkani Music like Mandd Sobhann, Melwin Peris, Claud D’Souza, Henry D’Souza, Rony D’Cunha etc.

Ashith Glen Pinto

A renowned bass guitarist, Ashith serves as the director for operations and productions at Daijiworld Audio Visual Private Ltd. He occupied the position of a Sound Engineer for 8 years at Sandesha Digital studio and has recorded over 500 music albums, documentaries, jingles etc in Konkani, English and other regional languages. He has judged a number of singing competitions including Gulf Voice of Mangalore twice at Qatar for semifinals and ‘Soad’ in Mangaluru. He has composed and directed music for 10 music albums and one of the albums ‘Swadik Sobdh’ which won the best music album award at the first global Konkani music awards. He has composed title tracks for popular television shows such as ‘Do…Re…Me…Fa’, ‘Thode-Thode Nove-Nove’, ‘Daivik Amrith’, ‘Hasyanso Pavs’, ‘Tara Rum Pum’ on Daijiworld24x7.

He has trained many parish singing troupes for Konkani Natak Sabha singing competition. He has conceptualized and directed popular TV shows like ‘Do…Re…Me…Fa’, and ‘Daijiworld Studio Voice’, most popular current TV shows ‘Mozo Tallo Gaithalo’, ‘Geet Sangeet’ and an upcoming show ‘Thodi Kushithodyo Doshi’.

About the compere

Dr Vincent Alva

Dr Vincent is a well-known orator, motivational speaker, author, poet, music composer, singer and academic resource person. Currently he is the principal and associate professor in English at Milagres College, Kallianpur.

He has published many journals, presented research papers, served as resource person for public speaking, teachers training, personality development, youth programmes etc. He has translated U R Ananthamoorthy’s Kannada novel ‘Samskara’ into Konkani and published books of Konkani columns, short stories and articles like ‘Karandai’, ‘Mellya Petya Bovarim’, and ‘Mellyancho Husko’.

He rendered his service as member of board of examiners a tMangaluru University in 2011, member of board of studies at Mangaluru University from 2012 to 2015. He has edited a book ‘Madhyamadalli Konkani Sahitya Academy’ and was appointed as the member of Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Academy from 2007 to 2010. He has participated in the successful world record attempt ‘Konkani Nirantari’ organized by Mandd Sobhan at Kalangann, Shaktinagar in 2008.