Shillong Chamber Choir

The Shillong Chamber Choir was founded in 2001 by (L) Neil Nongkynrih, a composer, conductor, and pianist from Shillong, India. Nongkynrih's vision was to create a choir that combined Indian and Western classical music, reflecting his own experiences as a musician and his passion for exploring new sounds and styles. Growing up in a family of musicians, Nongkynrih began playing the piano at a young age and studied music at the Delhi School of Music and the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London.[2] After returning to India, he became involved in the music scene in Shillong. Nongkynrih saw an opportunity to bring Indian and Western classical music together and founded the Shillong Chamber Choir with like-minded musicians. The choir's name reflects its roots in Shillong and its focus on chamber music and more intimate performances.[3]

The Choir made their debut performance as a group at the Pinewood Hotel in Shillong on January 14 and 15, 2001, and were mentored by Nongkynrih as their maestro. Since then, the choir has been awarded all three Gold diplomas in the categories Musica Sacra, Gospel, and Popular, which they competed in at the 6th World Choir Games held at Shaoxing, China in July 2010, winning against 400 choir groups from over 82 countries.[4] They were selected to represent India by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations. Their visit was sponsored by The Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region. The Choir mainly gained attention for their choral-style revamps of old Bollywood classics while competing on the reality television talent show India’s Got Talent in its second season back in 2010 and went on to win it. In December 2010, the Choir won the CNN-IBN Indian of the Year – Special Achievement Award.[5] Since their victory on India's Got Talent, the choir has performed across several parts of India and toured many countries as diplomatic representatives for events across the globe. On 8 November 2010, they performed for then President of the United States Barack Obama and his wife Michelle Obama at Indian President Pratibha Patil’s presidential banquet in the Rashtrapati Bhavan.[6]

From 2011 to 2019, the Shillong Chamber Choir continued to gain prominence and recognition for their unique blend of Indian and Western music styles.[7] They collaborated with renowned musicians and performed at various events, establishing their reputation.[8]

In March 2013, the choir performed at a fundraiser organized by actor Rahul Bose’s NGO, The Foundation, in Mumbai. They collaborated with the tabla maestro, Ustad Zakir Hussain, for the performance.[9] They showcased an hour-long recital that featured opera, Bollywood favorites, a tabla-piano medley, and a solo by the Ustad. In 2014, they opened for the grand premiere of Kaun Banega Crorepati 8 at Surat, Gujarat and also opened for the music launch of Shah Rukh Khan’s film ‘Happy New Year’.[10] The same year, they collaborated with the State Election Commission and created a music video entitled Just One to promote voting. They again collaborated with Bachchan for a fundraiser in Jodhpur in 2015 and finally in 2016 for the Global Citizen India Concert in Mumbai which also saw acts like Jay Z and Coldplay.[11]

April 2017 saw the choir perform their melodies at the opening ceremony of IPL in Kolkata. The choir has participated in some of the most notable national events, including the Republic Day in Shillong in 2018. Another noted event was the telecast of their rendition of Vande Mataram- I’m So Proud To Be An Indian during the attempted satellite landing of Chandrayaan 2, which aired live on National Geographic on 6 September 2019.[12]

The Shillong Chamber Choir has been involved in philanthropic efforts, particularly during the times of the Covid-19 pandemic. During the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic, they participated in the I for Indi fundraiser concert, which aimed to provide support to those affected by the pandemic in India.[13] The concert, which was live-streamed, featured various artists and performers like Jack Black, Will Smith and Jonas Brothers coming together to raise funds for Covid-19 relief efforts, including the choir's rendition of popular songs. Their contribution to the concert was appreciated and helped raise funds for the cause.[14]

Apart from participating in the I for India concert, the choir also extended direct support to their local community in Shillong, Meghalaya, by honouring the frontline workers who were tirelessly working to combat the pandemic. They paid tribute to the efforts of doctors, nurses, and other frontline workers, through their music and performances, recognizing their service.[15]

In January 2022, the Shillong Chamber choir faced a significant loss with the sudden demise of their founder, Uncle Neil Nongkynrih, at 51.[16] Uncle Neil was a renowned pianist who led the choir to success. In the same year, they also had the honour of attending the funeral cortege of Queen Elizabeth II, which was borne in the historic church of Westminster Abbey on 19 September 2022.[17] On 19 October 2022, the choir performed at Interpol's 90th General Assembly, representing India globally to international ambassadors.[18] Additionally, the choir's participation in the Coke Studio Bharat in 2023 was also noted.

In addition to their musical pursuits, the Shillong Chamber choir has been involved in philanthropic work, supporting causes such as education and healthcare in their community. The choir has worked with multiple organizations to promote education and cultural awareness and has also worked to raise funds through benefit concerts and other events.[19]

The themes explored by the Shillong Chamber Choir's music range from love and relationships to social issues and spirituality. Their music often reflects the cultural diversity of India, exploring themes related to different regions and traditions. The choir draws their inspiration from different genres of music worldwide, including rock bands like Queen.[23]