Media Release
Doha, Jun 16: Mangalore Cricket Club (MCC), a renowned organization of Qatar conducted its 12th annual talent competition on May 24 at Skills Development Centre, where more than 60 children participated and showcased their talents in fancy dress, storytelling, singing and dance competitions along with adults who participated in cookery competition. The annual talent competition was open to all MCC members and to the Konkani-speaking Mangalorean community in Qatar.
The evening began with a warm welcome from Preema Fernandes, MCC Membership secretary as the MC of the event. Preema then invited Glen Rohan D'Sa, joint cultural secretary along with his wife Priscilla D'Sa for the opening prayer. The couple led the audience in a brief prayer seeking God’s blessings on all the participants and the success of the event.
Shameen Lewis, vice president of MCC, welcomed everyone and said he was excited to meet every member in person. He thanked the parents and kids for their overwhelmingly positive and supportive response to the talent competition. In his speech, he went on to say that the primary goals of holding these contests are to promote Konkani as a mother tongue, foster children's inherent talents, and help them overcome their stage fear. He asked everyone to take advantage of these opportunities, use this stage to exhibit their talents, and preserve the rich legacy so that the next generation can be proud to support culture.
MC Preema explained the rules of the competitions and introduced the judges of various competitions. Excom members greeted the judges with roses. Vice president Shameen Lewis, and joint secretary Vanessa Saldanha, handed the scoring sheets to judges.
The talent competitions kicked off with the Fancy Dress competition. The judges for the fancy dress competition were Seema D'Souza and Jyoshna Joyline Pinto. Seema D’Souza, a teacher by profession with 29 years of teaching experience holding a BSc BEd degree, works in Birla Public School for the last 15 years. Jyoshna Joyline Pinto was a teacher at the St Aloysius CBSE school. She is particularly interested in learning about and conducting workshops on different forms of arts from various states of India and different types of bottle arts. The children entertained the audience with their creativity, innocence and scintillating performances and gave a tough time to judges to decide the winners.
“Cooking is an expression that crosses boundaries and brings happiness." The cookery contest was held simultaneously where in each participant had to present a dish without the usage of fire. Their unique titles and artistic table presentations of their food were impressive. Melicia Menezes and Denzil Britto were the judges. Denzil Britto, a long-time resident of Qatar, past employee of Qatar Energy, loves gardening, listening to vintage music, passionate of experimenting new cuisines especially the customary cuisine of Mangalore and enjoys spending time with his family and friends,. Melicia Menezes, resident of Qatar for the past 23 years at employed h Amiri Flight at present. Her interests include cooking, painting, and drawing and a winner of "Best Personality Award” from Davar's College of Commerce, Mumbai." Judges witnessed great participation, creativity and had a tough time judging the presented dishes.
The next competition was Konkani Storytelling and Elocution Competition for kids in various age groups and Pick & Speak competition for adults. The judges were veterans Sunil D'Silva and Victor Correa. Sunil DSilva resident in Qatar for 32 years, member of MCC since its inception who has served as president for two terms and has held various excom positions in different terms, past Committee member of Konkani Speaking Community – Our Lady of Rosary Church, Doha, Qatar and currently works as finance and admin Professional. Victor Correa, the second judge, a well known person hailing from Derebail parish, who has served in Indian Airforce for 16 Years and Southern Railways for 25 years, an active member and been part of many parish and social activities of Derebail Parish. MCC was privileged to have him as a judge during his short visit to Qatar.
Children 6-9 years age group participated in Konkani Story Telling competition, while children 9-12 years category spoke on 'Mujo Mai Ganv' and children of 12-15 years age group spoke on 'Mujya Parisarache Samrakshan' topic in Elocution competition. All participants amazed all audience and judges with their fluency in Konkani language, confident delivery and expressiveness of thoughts and kept all wonder struck and was delight to see all children speaking Konkani and keeping our language alive. They indeed made judges job difficult.
This was followed by solo singing competition for children in various age groups. Judges for singing competition were Christle Pinto and Kirthan Rodrigues both well-known singers from Qatar. Christle Pinto, born and working in Qatar took part in MCC's singing talent competition since the age of 5, and has participated over the years on MCC stage, winner of “Voice of Qatar” title at the GVOM Reality Show in 2018 and was the second runner-up of GVOM finals in Kuwait and is the youngest participant in the history of GVOM. Kirthan Rodrigues, active Konkani choir member of our Lady of Rosary Church, part of choir since childhood, plays Acoustic Rhythm Guitar and who has lend his voice as Tenor singer for konkani Devotional album 'Vedi Bovnthim.'
The children at their young age surprised the audience with their beautiful voices and fluency in Konkani language. The melodious voices transported the audience to another realm.
The most awaited last and final competition of the evening was the solo dance competition. The judges for the solo dance competition were Dr Reema Sequeira and Naveen D'Souza. Dr Reema Sequeira a pediatric dentist by profession is a trained Bharatanatyam dancer for over 6 years, 1st runner-up in the preliminary round of Gulf Naach Baila held in Doha in 2017, a passionate dancer and believes that if you dance with your heart your feet will follow. Naveen D'Souza hailing from Permannur parish, interested and participated in various acting, dancing, singing, and elocution competitions, has actively participated in Permannur Parish youth activities and has shown leadership qualities, participated at international level singing competitions: Soad International, GVOM and MTG and a winner of GCC Baila Naach Competition and awarded Gulf Baila King in 2017.
The children displayed their dancing talents by swaying on entertaining music which left the audience mesmerized. The audience took it upon themselves to whole heartedly cheer up the participants all along and keep their spirits up. It was a feast to the eyes with their entertaining dance performances on Konani songs.
The hall was jam-packed with encouraging parents and enthusiastic children dressed in colorful dresses, full of confidence prior to their performances. The response to the competitions was overwhelming and it was heartening to see the enthusiasm and creativity of the participants.
The judges in their comments were in all praise for the quality and the professionalism of the items that were presented and were of special praise for the children. They congratulated MCC for their efforts at promoting mother tongue Konkani and for providing the Konkani speaking Catholic community of Qatar, especially the children, a platform to showcase their talents.
The judges were honoured with a memento by the advisors of MCC.
Treasurer Anup D'Souza proposed a vote of thanks thanking everyone who made this evening so successful with their contributions and support.
Shawn Tauro and Verina Mascarenhas manned the timer’s desk.
Joint cultural secretary Glen Rohan D'Sa along with Sunitha D'Souza and Flavia managed the registration desk and lots.
Backstage was supported by Ex com members and MCC volunteers. Refreshments and snacks for the audience was taken care by Christen Lobo. The pictures and videography of the competition was taken care by Vijay D'Souza.
MC Preema Fernandes announced the much-awaited results in her own style and congratulated all winners and participants for a spectacular evening of talents display. Founder member and advisor Jerald D'Mello along with Advisors Sunil D'Silva, Ronald Saldanha, Vivian D'Souza, president Naveen and vice president Shameen gave away the awards and certificates to the winners. She conducted the whole event in her indomitable style.
Mangalore Cricket Club president Naveen D’Souza congratulated the winners and thanked the participants, supporters, the judges, timekeepers and all the well-wishers for their support and encouragement in realizing its motto, 'Yeya, Ek Kutam Bhandyan'.
The results of the various competitions are as follows:
Fancy Dress Solo
Children 0 to 6 years:
1st place: Alden Cutinha
2nd place: Sanuel Jayden D'Souza
3rd place: Niara Vianca D'Souza
Children 6 to 9 years:
1st place: Leora Ivanna Pinto
2nd place: Sienna Machado
3rd place: Raizel Wilona Lasrado
Children 9 to 12 years:
Consolation Prize: Prenia Adel Pinto
Konkani Speaking/Elocution
Children 6 to 9 years:
1st place: Sienna Machado & Ryan Luke Saldanha
2nd place: Noah Jossy Tauro
Children 9 to 12 years:
1st place: Claressa D’Souza
2nd place: Ethan Louie Tauro
Children 12 to 15 years:
1st place: Princia Annie Pinto
2nd place: Leona Merlyn Saldanha
Pick and Speak
1st place: Anil Cutinha
Konkani Singing
Children 0 to 6 years
Boys:
1st place: Sanuel Jayden D'Souza
2nd place: Keith Menezes
3rd place: Aaden D'Souza and Alden Cutinha
Girls:
1st place: Ciara Meghan Fernandes
2nd place: Rachel Vania Rodrigues
3rd place: Elishka Riva Crasta
Children 6 to 9 years:
Boys:
1st place: Raynel Aaron D'Souza
Girls:
1st place: Rebecca Ann D'Silva
2nd place: Rachel Helma Fernandes
Children 9 to 12 years:
Boys:
1st place: Reuben Harsh Fernandes
2nd place: Melshan Pinto
Girls:
1st place: Roselyn D'Silva
2nd place: Franica Menezes
Children 12 to 15 years:
Boys:
Consolation Prize: Leon Ashton Pinto
Konkani Dancing:
Children 0 to 6 years:
Girls:
1st place: Niara Vianca D'Souza
2nd place: Ciara Meghan Fernandes
Children 6 to 9 years:
Boys:
1st place: Noah Jossy Tauro
Girls:
1st place: Raizel Wilona Lasrado
2nd place: Ciana D’Souza
Children 9 to 12 years:
Boys:
1st place: Ethan Louie Tauro
Girls:
1st place: Nicole Dsouza
Children 12 to 15 years:
Girls:
1st place: Nathania Viona D'Souza
2nd place: Sanvia D'Souza & Leona Merlyn Saldanha
Cooking without Fire
1st place: Vijaya D'Souza & Neville Pinto
2nd place: Reena Jenifer Mascarenhas & Fiola Fernandes