SHILLONG, Jan 5: Renowned concert pianist and the founder, mentor and conductor of Shillong Chamber Choir (SCC), Neil Nongkynrih passed away on Wednesday at 6 pm at the Mumbai Reliance Foundation Hospital.
According to a member of the SCC, Nongkynrih had been in Mumbai with the Choir since September for a shoot. The 51-year-old, who had an ulcer, was taken to the hospital after he complained of pain in his stomach a few days ago.
An emergency surgery was done but as his condition remained critical, he was kept under observation until he breathed his last.
His mortal remains will be brought to Shillong on Friday and his funeral will be held on Saturday.
Nongkynrih was born on July 9, 1970 to former minister AH Scott Lyngdoh and Elvirial Nongkynrih. His love for music started when he was very young. His musical career took off in 1988 when he had left Shillong for Great Britain to study music.
Nongkynrih studied music at the Trinity College and the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London. He did numerous shows as a concert pianist in the United Kingdom.
In 2001, he returned to India and started teaching piano in Shillong. He founded the SCC the same year.
Under his guidance, the SCC had shot to fame by winning the reality show, India’s Got Talent (Season 2) in October 2010.
The choir led by Neil has also collaborated with the globally acclaimed Fitz William Quartet. It has also teamed up with big names from the world of Indian music including Ustad Zakir Hussain, Usha Uthup and Shankar-Ehsan-Loy. Their Christmas album in 2011 became India’s highest selling non-movie music album.
In 2010, the choir performed at the Rashtrapati Bhavan for former US President Barack Obama and the then first lady Michelle Obama during their visit to India.
Notably, the SCC’s version of ‘Vande Mataram’ was played during the live telecast program Indian space rocket Chandrayaan- 2’s landing on the moon.
Nongkynrih was conferred with the Padma Shri in 2015 for his contribution to the field of arts through music.
In a statement, SCC members and management said, “It is with deep sorrow that we, the members and management of the Shillong Chamber Choir, announce the death of our beloved founder and music director, Mr Neil Nongkynrih.”
“Uncle Neil, as he was fondly known to all, passed away suddenly…Uncle Neil was the life force of our world, a towering personality whose music, through the choir he so fondly nurtured, reached the ears of Presidents, Prime Ministers, Ambassadors and some of the biggest names in the worlds of sports, culture, business, music and film,” the statement said.
It added: “The choir joins fans, friends and well-wishers around the world in mourning this tremendous loss.”
