Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru
Mangaluru, Oct 1: Charles Maurice D’Mello of Kudupu has been chosen for the International Music Day honour presented by Mandd Sobhann in association with Sumell.
Non-Resident Indian businessman and president of the Abu Dhabi Konkani Cultural Organization, Leo Rodrigues, will present the award on October 4, at 6:30 pm at Kalaangann in Shaktinagar. Following this, the 298th Monthly Theatre will feature a musical event titled ‘Vivid Ninad’ by Sumell, led by Raina Sequeira, and the Winter Tone - Bantwal troupes. Businessman and social worker John Suresh will ring the customary bell for the monthly stage programme.
A self-taught musician, Charles has mastered and continues to teach a variety of musical instruments, including the violin, guitar, keyboard, banjo, mandolin, trumpet, saxophone and xylophone. He learned musical notation from Fr Gilbert Gonsalves and gained proficiency in the Konkani language from literary giants V J P Saldanha and Cha Fra D’Costa. Eric Ozario provided him with the opportunity to teach children.
His talent found a prominent platform in the music nites of Henry T D’Souza, Wilfy Rebimbus, Saturnine Moras and the Konkani Natak Sabha. He also had the opportunity to compose music for Vijay Kumar Kodialbail’s Tulu plays. Furthermore, he served as the chief trainer at ‘Sangeetalaya’, an institution founded by Fr Walter Albuquerque for talented underprivileged children.
He is an ‘A’ grade artiste of All India Radio (Akashvani), playing the metallophone. He has served as a choir master for the Kulshekar and Bendoor churches and has also rendered his services to the choirs of Valencia, Jeppu, Milagres, Cascia and Vamanjoor churches.
He has imparted musical training to children in St Aloysius, Ladyhill, St Ann’s, Carmel, Gerosa and Kotekar schools. Prominent stars in the music field such as Alwyn Fernandes, Cajetan Dias, Melwyn Peris and Devaraj were his students.
When Mother Teresa visited Mangaluru, he had the privilege of singing her favourite hymn. Similarly, he holds the distinct honour of participating as a choir musician during the Papal Mass when Pope John Paul II visited Bajpe.
Excelling in the field of sports as well, he has won medals in weightlifting, wrestling and bodybuilding.
Established by Eric Ozario in 2015, the ‘Sumell’ Konkani singing club provides vocal training in Alto, Tenor, Soprano and Bass. Every October, the club celebrates International Music Day and honours seasoned artistes.
To date, Vimala Lobo, Gladys Silver, Charan Das Mallya, Ustad Rafique Khan, the Dsilva brothers (Ronnie and Donnie), Rev. Ben Britto, Oscar Weltha, Roshan Martis, Simon Pais and Niranjan Sunil Kumar have been recipients of this honour.