Media Release
Bahrain, Sep 12: Konkani Kutam Bahrain and Konkan Singers Club gear up to host the Bahrain semi-finals of 'Gulf Voice of Mangalore (GVOM) - Season 5' - a mega Konkani singing talent hunt show eagerly anticipated by Mangalureans across GCC and India on Friday, September 23 at the Indian Club Auditorium from 5.00 pm onwards.
Gates will be open at 4.00 pm. 6 Male and 6 Female contestants will rally against each other to book a spot in the Grand Finale to be in held in their home turf Bahrain on November 11. At the end of the contest at the Semi Finals only one male and one female contestant will be able to earn a place in the Finals where they will strive to earn the coveted title of being named the 'Gulf Voice of Mangalore'
Konkan Singers Club a social and cultural club established in the mid seventies is one of the oldest expatriate club in Bahrain has come together with Konkani Kutam Bahrain a voluntary association formed with the sole objective of promoting and preserving Konkani language through its various activities. Konkani Kutam Bahrain presently in its 17th Year has been organizing various activities, the most popular and globally recognized is the annual 'Konkani Kutam Prashasti' conferred on individuals who have contributed significantly for the benefit of Konkani language through Literature, Arts, Music and dramatics. Konkani Kutam Bahrain is associated with Gulf Voice of Mangalore for the past 2 seasons and Season 5 will be its 3 consecutive season.
The contestants who will vie for a place in the finals are:
Male Category
1. Aeron Franco
2. Christopher Roshan Lobo
3. Nelson D’souza
4. Ronald Fernandes
5. Wilster Prinson Machado
6. Winston Preetham Aranha
Female Category
1. Laveena Dantis
2. Sachitha Preema Fernandes
3. Soniya Pinto
4. Stephanie Alva
5. Teena Roshan D’souza
6. Vivitha Sonia D’souza
The Gulf Voice of Mangalore – 5 Bahrain Semi Finals singing competition will have music from popular local live band the “Bahrain Beats” and will be judged by few of Konkani music field’s noted personalities and competent adjudicators based in the GCC. Rony D’cunha from Kuwait, Apolinaris D’souza from Muscat and Ajith Peter D’Souza from Dubai will grace the occasion as the judges for the event on September 23.
Rony D’cunha
Ronald Ferdinand D’cunha or Rony D’cunha fondly known as “Konkani’s Dream Boy” is a Well-known singer and Music enthusiast. He hails from Derebail, is based Kuwait and resides with his wife and Son.
Rony is actively involved with EricOzario and ManddSobhan, Rony had the unique opportunity to sing for more than 75 of his shows all over India and the Gulf Countries. Rony’s association with Wilfy Rebimbus continued for 9 years singing for more than 40 of his shows and 12 albums, all over India and abroad.
Rony has sung for all major Konkani composers both Devotional and light music: WilfyRebimbus, Eric Ozario, Henry D’Souza, Lawrence Saldanha, Melwyn Peris, Claud D’Souza, Gratian D’Souza, Late P. H. Pinto ; Late Mick-Max, Mike Simon, Patrao Bros. Wilson Olivera to name the few.
Rony has participated in more than 175 Musical Shows.He has sung for more than 75 albums ,been a play back singer for the movie ‘Bhogsanne. He has also produced an album ‘AmchoManddo’ a remix of old traditional songs. He also Participated in Konkani Niranthari (Guinness Record Event) - in the month of January 2008 as a representative from Kuwait.
He received the Best singer award by ManddSobhan in 1999. Won many awards of Appreciation by Tulu Koota, Kuwait Canara Welfare Association, KaravaliKonkans Association, Bahrain at ‘Dabazzo’ in 2006.
Ajith Peter D’souza
Ajith Peter D’souza, Born in Pethri, Udupi to Justhine and Robert D'Souza, is a MA in English and MBA in HR. He work in dubai and resides there with his wife and daughter, he says music is his passion. The multi talentedAjith is a Music Composer, Lyricist, Singer and a fantastic keyboard player all rolled in one.
Ajith began his musical journey 19 years ago after having gained the knowledge of western and Indian music from musicians like Fr Ben Britto and Fr Paul Melwyn D'Souza. Since then he has been into various aspects of Music. He out as a passionate composer and music director who likes to experiment different aspects of music into Konkani.
Ajith he has released four music albums in Konkani titled –”Tuzo Sangath (Feelings Personified)” in 2010, “Ye Laagim (In My Arms)” in 2011, “Tujhe Vengenth (Feel the Sensation)” in 2012 and “TemYenvcheaVella (Into My Heart)” in 2015. The album “TujheVengenth was nominated for the 5th Global Konkani Music Awards instituted by ManddSobhann in all the 6 categories, of which it bagged 4 awards for The Best Singer (Female), Best Lyricist, Best Music Arranger and the Best Music Album award.The album “Ye Laagim (In My Arms)” released in year 2011 was also nominated for 4th Global Konkani Music Awards instituted by ManddSobhann in the best album category.
Some of his popular songs are “Hathanth Gevun Hath”, “Whistle Maar”, “Ye Laagim”, “Moga Paavs”, “Chandne Fultana”, “Vollu Ye” and many more which can time and again be heard at events and competitions.
He has been part of two musical programmes in Chandana and Udaya TV in 2004 and in 2009 played a role in a Kannada serial Mahayaana in Kasturi Channel. He has also judged many musical events in Udupi and outside India. He has served as a judge for GVOM Semifinals in Muscat and Bahrain in the year 2014.
Apolinaris D’souza
Apolinaris D’Souza – singer, composer & lyric writer, choir leader, Key Board player, composer & publisher of books on most popular devotional hymns & songs, producer of many audio CDs on most popular devotional hymns, active role in cultural, stage & musical shows, best trainer for aspiring achievers in stage competitions, sought after adjudicator for reality shows such as Gulf Voice of Mangalore, ManddSobhann fame 'Sodh' and Global Konkani Music Awards competition and many more.
Since 1970 he has composed many famous hymns in Konkani which are sung during konkany services all over the world. Among many, VandanTukaSomiya, Ye Ye Jezu Mogalla, Jezu Jezu, Sasnaso Vishev Sorvespora Taka Laboi, Thon Amchem Opsitaum, Mondhirant Bithor Soron, Undya Wyna Sovem, etc., He has composed over 100 Hymns in Konkani and English so far and also composed over 100 songs in Konkani and a few in English. He has released 6 audio CDs of hymns and songs .
Apolinaris has won many awards for his active role in the Muscat church for over 2 decades in the field of Music. Honoured by MCCP in 2007 with title “Salmaum Rayachea Kullyecho Sangheeth Sardhaar” meaning “Musician par excellence of the tribe of King Solomon” for his contribution in the field of Music for over 3 decades.
The semifinals will be compered by Kuwait’s popular stage artist Jaison Kenneth Lasrado, who will be compeering for the first time for the Bahrain audience. He is sure to leave the audience in awe with his style and entertaining charisma.
The audience will be treated to fantastic performances by the esteemed judges and to add to it local talents will perform a dance sequence, Rib-tickling comedy by Bahrain’s popular Konkani stage artistes.
Annual Konkani Kutam Bahrain Prashasti' for the year 2016 will be presented during this event.