Dr Tarep Ao at 85 years is the oldest member of the choir. His wife, Achila Tarep, and granddaughter, Jaremdi Wati Longchar, are also part of the choir. “Even though I am not a good singer, I’m happy to be a part of this concert and I’m thankful for the opportunity,” the octogenarian says.
Music and sports are his hobbies. Music attracted me when I was about 19, he says. He had learned tonic-solfa from elders in his village, Mopungchuket. He first sang the ‘halleluyah’ song in 1950 as a member of the Mokokchung Baptist Church Choir.
Dr Tarep was the first National Superintendent at Satribari Christian Hospital. He has also served as deacons in Dimapur, Kohima, and Wokha. He was also captain of the football team in Assam Medical College, Dibrugarh. At present, he is into translating English gospel songs to Ao, and also composing.
Dr Tarep calls it a new experience and says joining the choir has made him feel spiritually uplifted. He says it is probably the first time nine to ten tribes are coming together under one church.
Also joining Dr Tarep in the choir is his wife, Achila. She reminisces the time when she first got attracted to music during her graduation at Calcutta Bible College in 1976. She joined as ambassador for Jesus Team in 1979 and has visited churches in different parts of India. She later joined Dimapur Ao Baptist Arogo (Old) as Associate Pastor (Women). She married Dr Tarep in 1984. Achila says, “I’m very happy to be a part of the concert and to be learning many things.”
Jaremdi Wati Longchar, calls it a ‘good experience’ and ‘a blessing’ to be singing along with her grandparents. Jaremdi teaches Piano in Mountain Music Academy (formerly Furtados School of Music), Dimapur. She is trained under Khyochano TCK Ngully and has a grade 8 in piano from Trinity, UK.
