By Ronald D’Souza & Joe Andrade - Daijiworld Media Network Bahrain
Bahrain, Apr 13: The members of Karavali Konkans Association, held their annual get-together at the South Park Restaurant Party Hall, on 10th April, 2008, at 8.30 p.m. The families of all the members gathered in fellowship in a cozy atmosphere with a crisp Agenda of song, dance and dinner session.
The program commenced with the Entertainment Secretary, Denis D’Silva welcoming the gathering and introduced the Master of Ceremonies, Hillary Tellis to conduct the day’s program.
Hillary Tellis welcomed all and remembered a special person, an ardent supporter of our Association’s cultural programs but no longer in our midst today, the late Johnny Suratkal. At the outset, a minute’s mark of silence in reverence for the dear departed soul, was observed.
This was followed by a singing session by amateur singers in Konkani, Tulu, Kannada and English. Talented singers, Hanna Miranda, Freeda Sequeira, Simon, Ewan Britto gave their voices to the appreciation of the audience. Two young dancers, entertained the audience.
A quick musical game “passing-the-box” was conducted for the young children present and giveaways were given to all the children.
The President, Ronald D’Souza was introduced and addressed the gathering. He informed the members that after the successful staging of DABAZO-2006 in February, 2006, plans of staging a Drama Festival in 2007 with the support and encouragement of Johnny Suratkal did not materialise due to his untimely demise and the year 2007 had inevitably gone in silence.
The year 2008 would see a new dawn with the introduction of a unique talent program ‘GULF VOICE OF MANGALORE’ for budding Konkani singers in October, 2008, for which our Association would be taking active interest. He briefed the members and their families on this forthcoming Konkani singing Talent Competition strictly for amateur singers to be organized by the Youth Recreation Club of Kuwait for the first time in G.C.C. countries, in conjunction with cultural organizations of the region.
Karavali Konkans Association have been nominated to conduct the Bahrain leg of the show, with elimination rounds and the semi-finals for Bahrain competitors. The elimination rounds for which the date and venue will be advised to the contestants will be held in June 2008 and the semi-finals in a grand gala Bahrain program on 9th October, 2008, at a venue to be informed to the eight semi-finalists in due course. From the elimination rounds, 12 contestants will be selected for the semi-finals and the top two from the semi-finals selected by a special jury will be eligible for the final competition to be held in Kuwait on 17th October, 2008 .
The special jury will request the semi-finalists and finalists to sing one among the five songs that would be short-listed by each competitor and advised well in advance to the organisers of the program. “Gulf Voice of Mangalore” singing Competition is an innovative program coined by Louis Rodrigues and Lawrence Pinto and organized by the Youth Recreation Club of Kuwait, co-ordinated by Wilson Saldanha, for the first time in the Gulf region.
The Jury for the competition will comprise eminent singers in the Konkani world of music, including Wilfy Rebimbus, Melwyn Peris, Joel Pereira, Mina Rebimbus, compere Leslie Rego and a troupe of 5 professional musicians.
A detailed letter hand-out from the Association with the Rules and Regulations for the “Gulf Voice of Mangalore” along with the Registration Application form for the participant of the contest was handed out to each member soliciting amateur competitors. The Contestants should complete the registration forms and together with the required supportings submit prior 20th May, 2008.
For further details and information, the following may be contacted:
Ronald D. F. D’Souza, Mobile tel.: (00973)39278607
Joe Andrade, Mobile tel.: (00973)39063953
Ronald D’Souza encouraged members to bring in Sponsors for the cultural event that will show-case new singing talent of the region and support in organizing the program successfully with the co-operation of all concerned, especially the Konkani community.
The Vote of Thanks was given by the Association Secretary, Joe Andrade who thanked all the members and their families for their gracious presence and the Sponsors in particular for their support.
A sumptuous dinner marked the conclusion of the get-together with a determination to make the forthcoming event of the year successful. We wish all the amateur competitors best of luck and the organizing teams in the G.C.C. every success.