Media release
London, Oct 1: A well planned Ruby Jubilee of SKA London (South Kanara Association) is all set to present ‘Konkani Sambhram’, a unique event on October 13 at the Beck Theatre, Grange Road, Hayes London - UB3 2UE.
Dr Peter Paul Saldanha, bishop of Mangaluru diocese, who is visiting UK on a special invitation by SKA London, will offer Mass to mark the celebration on same day at 11 am at the same venue. Daijiworld.com founder and managing director Walter Nandalike will also grace the event as guest of honour.
Main attraction of the event will be performances by much talked 'Band Charitra', the international ‘Desi Rock Band’ of young and talented artistes from Mangaluru along with other well-known artistes.
SKA London was formed in 1979 in order to provide a forum for social gathering for people from the South Kanara district of Karnataka in India, whose mother tongue is Konkani. The association currently has approximately 150 families as active members who live in the London area. The Association organizes a few events during the year, such as the annual Christmas dinner and dance, Valentine dinner and dance, Easter celebration two summer picnics, Sports day SKA, Voice of London and Naach London Naach, Charity events and also a celebration of the feast of Mother Mary.
There will be Lunch followed by the cultural programme.
Band Charitra
Charitra, the new generation Desi rock band from India has popular audios and videos tagged to its name. It is young and energetic team with full of passion towards creativity. Each production by Band Charitra is a masterpiece.
Band Charitra has passionate and most promising musicians, who believe in creating music which resonates in the hearts of people. The success achieved in the last few years is a clear manifestation of the hard work of Band Charitra which has been appreciated by the masses.
Loy Valentine Saldanha - Music Director and Producer/Performer/Sound Engineer
A certified engineer in music production and sound design from AR Rahman’s Institute of Audio & Media, Chennai. He started his music career at the age of 10. He initially performed in various Desi rock bands and is the founder Band Charitra.
Melwyn Antony D’Souza - Lead Vocalist/Performer/Lyricist
Melwyn has pursued his degree In Carnatic music, Art Culture. Melwyn is an amazing lead Vocalist/Composer/Lyricist and with his extreme high notes, he is well known to sweep the audience off their seats and bring them to the dance floor.
Patson Pereira - Music Director & Producer / Performer /Sound Engineer
Patson is a qualified sound engineer in Music Production & Audio Technologies from SAE Institute of Audio Engineering, Malaysia.
He started music career at the age of 8. He initially started performing for various shows as a drummer, then gradually as a keyboardist and guitarist, later performed for various bands around the globe.
Ian Sachin Saldanha - Drummer / Percussionist / Backing Vocalist
Sachin found his passion for music at the age of 14. In his tenure of graduation at St Aloysius College, he performed for various occasions.
He began as a session drummer in several top rock bands and has played for a number of hit shows at his early age. Sachin got his first set of drums at the age of 15 and by the age of 16, he was performing with local bands with his batch mates. He then got into Band Charitra, a desi rock band famous for mashup of Bollywood and Hollywood songs.
Rikith Leonard Soans - Bass Guitarist/Backing Vocalist
He acquired the certificate of western music (Grade 5) under Trinity College of London (TLC) in 2012.
Rikith is an unsung hero from the city of Udupi, supporting melody while syncing with the band to bring out the wonders in the world of music. Born and brought up in a family of music, his passion for music started at the age of 7.
Akshada Talaulikar - Play Back Singer / Global Konkani Best Female Singer
Akshada acquired the art of basic singing under the guidance of Pt Sudhakar. Currently she trains and learns from Pt Subhash Prabhudessai, a prominent music teacher in ‘Swarmanch’, Margao, Goa.
She has won tremendous accolades all across, one of which is the prestigious Global Konkani Music Award from Kalangann Mangaluru in the year 2009 as best female singer.
Artistes Accompanying Band Charitra are:
Eric Ozario
Shri Eric Ozario is one of the most prominent figures in the Konkani movement today, He is also one among the leading music composers and singers in the Konkani industry and has to his credit the accomplishment of having composed over a thousand songs. He is an innovator and a trainer and has contributed greatly to the revival of Konkani culture. He is also known to have given over 800 performances all over the world.
He is the Gurkar of Mandd Sobhann – World’s Premier Konkani Cultural Organisation. He is also the recipient of the ‘Karnataka Rajya Prashasti’ (Government of Karnataka) – 1993.
His great contribution and love to the Konkani language has made him undertake the position of Secretary General of Jagotik Konknni Songhotton – JKS (the only global Konkani organisation).
He is the co-founder of Mandd Sobhann and Kalangann – the Konkani Heritage Centre, at Shakthinagar, Mangaluru, and has led the mammoth successful effort to enter Konkani in the Guinness Book of World Records.
Joyce Ozario
Mrs. Joyce Ozario was born in Jeppu in the year 1952 and is known to be one of the sweetest voices among the senior singers in Konkani. She has been in the field of Konkani singing since the age of 10 and has served the Konkani language for the last 55 years. She has been an active participant in inter parish singing competitions, winning prizes in almost every competition.
Her professional singing career began in the year 1971, singing for Wilfy Nites and later on moved to becoming the lead singer of ‘Paradela’ and ‘Rang Tarang Geet Mala’.
Joseph Mathias
The renowned entrepreneur is also a well-known singer, film actor and very well known for soft spoken nature.
Joseph Mathias began as a child singing hymns with his mother at home, in the church and thereafter sang and won trophies and accolades in various singing competitions in the city.
He got his first break at a programme organized by Konkani Association in Dubai and from then on, gained recognition as a singer.
Velia Sibon Lobo
Velita Lobo is a popular Konkani singer and musician, and she is most famous as the winner of ‘Mojho Tallo Gaitalo’.
Velita Lobo currently works as lecturer at St Aloysius Pre-University College, Mangaluru.
Compere : Sheldon Crasta
The programme will be lead by one of the most young and energetic comperes from Mangaluru. He is known for his unique style and spontaneous wit that enables him to keep the audience engaged and interested throughout the course of the event. Thus Sheldon has established himself as one of the most talented comperes of Konkani world. He has also compered musical concerts in India, Gulf, London and Ireland as well as conducted live shows on Daijiworld TV .
Local artistes:
Lanisha and Delisha Vaz
The Vaz sisters, who are known for their awe-inspiring melodious voices are popular names in the Gulf, India, Europe and UK.
"Melodious Konkani Stars" is the recognition that is given to the beautiful and talented Vaz sisters. They have to their credit, their performances, their admirable singing, unique way of blending their voices, outstanding performances and their contribution towards Konkani. So far they have performed in 73 stage shows which include Konkani Tiatrs, Goan &and Mangalurean musical shows, TV shows in the past 5 years in Dubai, Sharjah, Kuwait, Bahrain, Goa, Mangaluru, Paris and London. They have recorded their voices for 16 Konkani CD/DVD/short films. These talented sisters have the ability to sing in Mangalurean & Goan Konkani, English, French and Kannada.
Ancita D’Souza
She is renowned and melodious singer among the Konkani community in the UK and has performed for various shows and concerts.
Jovita Shainy D’Souza
Jovita just started her singing career recently and got in fame as she won the title of SKA Voice of London which was held on September 8 on the occasion of nativity feast.
The show will also have dance performance from ‘Desi Naach’ and Rib tickling comedy from the local artistes of UK.
Entry for the Ruby Celebration is through entry passes. To collect entry passes kindly contact:
Sunil D'Cunha - 07894995160
Loy D'Souza - 07920423947
Wilfred Menezes – 07590574429.