SHILLONG: Minister of State for External Affairs MJ Akbar on Tuesday said Meghalaya’s rich music is making a name for the state and the country in the global arena.
Talking to media persons here on Tuesday, the journalist-turned-politician said the choirs here “are now very much part of Indian Council for Cultural Relations, international music and cultural diplomacy”.
The Shillong Chamber Choir has brought laurels to the state on several occasions by winning and performing in different countries.
The Shillong Chamber Choir, founded in 2001
by Neil Nongkynrih, is a multi-genre choir that won the reality TV show India’s Got Talent in 2010.
In the same year, the choir received three gold awards at the 6th World Choir Games for Musica Sacra, Gospel and Popular Music. It also performed at the Rashtrapati Bhavan for visiting US President Barak Obama and first lady Michelle Obama during their state visit to India.
Recently, even the Aroha Junior Choir won top marks in the International A Capella Group category in Wales.
The choir has students from various schools, communities and churches in Shillong, with a repertoire ranging from sacred, classical music, the folk music of India and of diverse nationalities, regions and cultures, secular works to contemporary, popular and jazz songs.