Pics: Jerald D’Souza
Media Release
Doha, Jun 10: Qatar’s 12 Mangalorean singers marched into the semi-finals of the 6th edition of Gulf Voice of Mangalore (GVOM), winning the closely-fought auditions organized by Mangalore Cultural Association (MCA), held at the Asoka Hall of the Indian Cultural Centre here on Friday June 8.
The Qatar semi-finals will be held on September 21 at the Holiday Inn Doha wherein the best contestant each from male and female category would move on to the finals to be held under the aegis of KCWA, Kuwait on the 09th of November 2018.
The much-anticipated evening began with the playing of MCA theme song, followed by keynote address and introduction to the evening by Sandeep Noronha. Welcoming the gathering, MCA president Veena Rebimbus Pais wished good luck to all the contestants and encouraged them to give their best performance. She mentioned to the contestants that it was a competition and those 12 who perform better than the rest on the day would be chosen for the semis. The contestants would be judged on their day’s performance and not on their reputation, previous performances or any other reason. She requested all to take the decision of the judges positively as the judges have excelled in the field of music.
This was followed by the introduction of the judges of the evening by Sandeep Noronha. Young musician and Konkani, English and Kannada writer Gladson Almeida, renowned Konkani singer and composer Vishwas Rebimbus and Qatar Konkani community’s spiritual director Fr Anand Castelino were the judges of the evening. They were welcomed with bouquets by MCA president Veena Pais.
The contestants were judged based on rhythm and control over the song, clarity of lyrics, pitch quality, voice culture, and rapport with the audience, expression, general presentation and understanding of genre. It was a great exhibition of melodious and purposeful singing that made judge’s work tough. As the judges agreed later, it was indeed a fabulous performance by all the contestants and choosing the ‘Best 12’ was a tough task. After gruelling and entertaining auditions that had the audience rain in thunderous applause for every performance, following singers were qualified for the semi-finals:
Female Category
Colette Nazareth
Melita Lobo
Eva Wilma Pinto
Rhea Naomi Aranha
Christelle Noella Pinto
Freeda Monteiro
Male Category
Clement Fernandes
Melrick D’Souza
Alphonse D’Silva
Naveen Pinto
Jeevan Ferrao
Naveen D’Souza
Before the results were announced, Fr Anand Castelino spoke on the richness of Konkani culture and encouraged all Konkani people to participate in the cultural activities organised by various associations in Qatar.
MCA general secretary Hema Fernandes proposed the vote of thanks. MCA past presidents Harry Lobo and Arthur Pais and the advisory member Jerry Pinto presented the certificate of participation to every participant. Advisory member Wilfred Fernandes honoured the judges and advisory Felix Lobo honoured the best female and male voices of the evening.
Collette Nazareth was adjudged the best female singer of the evening and Clement Fernandes was the best male singer.
The auditions were compered professionally by Sandeep Noronha.