Morung Express News
Dimapur | October 12
A ‘Classical Gala 2022’ presenting Franz Schubert’s ‘MASS in G’, works by Gustav Holst, Elaine Hagenberg, Jake Runestad, Karl Jenkins, Astor Piazzolla and more by the Nagaland String Orchestra (NSO), Margaret Shishak School of Music (MSSM) Singers and The Nagaland Chamber Choir (TNCC) is all set to take stages in Dimapur and Kohima.
The Dimapur show will be held at Holy Cross Auditorium, Dimapur on October 14 (Friday) and in Kohima it will be held at Capital Cultural Hall on October 16 (Sunday). Both the show starts at 6:00 pm.
The ‘Classical Gala 2022’ has been conceptualised with the aspiration to demonstrate the joy of lifelong learning and to share a wider variety of Western Classical Music, enabling people to experience the power and beauty of large ensemble music and to encourage its growth in Nagaland. The gala also aims to educate and create awareness about classical choral and orchestral music and to promote it to a higher level and broader audience.
The gala attempts to beautifully harmonize major classical groups from Nagaland including the Nagaland String Orchestra (NSO), Margaret Shishak School of Music Singers (MSSM) and The Nagaland Chamber Choir (TNCC).
In a brief, NSO develops musicianship, knowledge of varied musical styles and the ability to play with others to express a common theme or emotion. MSSM Singers have developed a diverse and standard western choral repertoire, performing at different avenues as a collegiate choral group. TNCC’s mission is to promote Naga indigenous music and choral singing, as well as to foster and sustain talent for effective church ministry in Nagaland.
Margaret Shishak School of Music (MSSM) Singers
MSSM Singers (Margaret Shishak School of Music Singers) is an auditioned collegiate choir for Bachelor of Music students at Margaret Shishak School of Music, Patkai Christian College (Autonomous).
They have developed a diverse and standard western choral repertoire, performing at different avenues as a collegiate choral group. The choir performed in the International Hornbill Concert 2017 and 2019 and they also won the Kairos Choral Competition held in ICFAI University. MSSM Singers and Nagaland String Orchestra started to collaborate for annual concerts in November 2018.
The choir in collaboration with Aching Shaiza of Theme Music Institute and sponsored by the Kawai Piano's India, DLF Foundation and SRF Foundation performed in New Delhi at Bipin Chandra Pal Auditorium and at the private residence of Radhika and Kartik Bharat Ram, Shri Ram Foundation. MSSM Singers performed as a guest choir at the 8th North-east India Choral Competition, 2019 in New Delhi.
The choir also performed alongside others, under the baton of the Latvian Conductor, Janis Ozols at the choral festival at Patkai Christian College (Autonomous) on February 12, 2020.
Nagaland String Orchestra (NSO)
Nagaland String Orchestra was formed in July 2018. Based in Dimapur, it started with 14 local string players meeting monthly, working to bring beautiful music to people. The members meet to play because of their love of music. The orchestra develops musicianship, knowledge of varied musical styles and the ability to play with others to express a common theme or emotion.
Nagaland has a growing community of string players and much music has been composed for the 'orchestra', yet few music schools offer ensemble classes.
NSO wants to share the beauty and excitement of playing and experiencing music for 'String Orchestra, and encourage more musicians to participate!
The Nagaland Chamber Choir (TNCC)
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The Nagaland Chamber Choir (TNCC) was founded in 2003 by a few music enthusiasts and trained professionals with Kughaho Chishi as the Director.
Its mission is to promote Naga indigenous music and choral singing, as well as to foster and sustain talent for effective church ministry in Nagaland. The choir comprises of full-time church workers, accomplished musicians, government employees, teachers, entrepreneurs and students. TNCC has employees, performing within the state of Nagaland, India, US, Europe and in the South Asian Countries, reaching out to different communities.
The choir participated in the 4th Asia Pacific Choir Games Colombo 2017 competing in two categories under the open championship viz Gospel/Spiritual category and Folklore Acapella category and won Silver Medals in both the categories. In addition, the Choir also earned Gold Diplomas ( Gold II and Gold I) securing direct entry to the World Choir Games 2023 which is the world's largest international choir competition organised by Interkultur, to be held in Gangneun, South Korea.
Besides the regular concerts, TNCC has initiated collaborative projects bringing together musicians and singers for Handel's Messiah (2014), An Evening with Antonio Vivaldi - Four Seasons and Gloria (2016).
Joey Woch (Principal Violinist)
Joey Woch studied music under late Margaret Shishak and Dr Ren Merry at Patkai Christian College during his pre-university days as well as under Boux Roxas at the University of Santo Tomas, Manila and Phil Valdez at the University of Philippines.
He toured America with D Ren Merry’s Guitar Ensemble in the year 1999 and in 2010, he performed and toured across America, also compete in the GFA’s XXVIIth International Classical Guitar Competition 2010.
Joey has performed in the Baptist World Alliance’s 16th World Youth Conference 2013, Singapore as a guest artist and also gave a series of masterclasses and Concerts at the Calcutta Classical Guitar Festival and Delhi Classical Guitar Festival, 2015; and Bangalore Guitar Festival 2018.
He started teaching guitar at Patkai Christian College in the year 2000 and has been giving private lessons for Classical Guitar and Violin in his own Music Studio, Joey Woch Music Studio since 2005 and also teaches in the Margaret Shishak School of Music, Patkai Christian College (Autonomous) and Nagaland Conservatory of Music. He is the founding President of the Nagaland Classical Guitar Society and is also the Director of Nagaland string orchestra.
Mhonroni Lotha (Conductor)
Mhonroni Lotha is an assistant professor in conducting at Margaret Shishak School of Music, Patkai Christian College (Autonomous), and a member of the Nagaland Choral Directors Association. She directs the MSSM Singers, an auditioned collegiate chamber ensemble, and engages in leading workshops and seminars besides classroom teaching.
Mhonroni has worked as a choir director in Kohima Lotha Baptist Church and currently guest conducts the Nagaland String Orchestra (NSO). She completed her MA in Church Music and graduated with Masters of Music in Conducting from SWBTS, USA in 2017.
While pursuing her studies in the US, she also worked as an Orchestra Music Librarian, conducted children’s and adult church choirs, worked and taught in Summer Music Camps. She participated at the Baptist World Alliance Centenary Congress held in the UK as a member of The Nagaland Chamber Choir in 2005. She was the conductor for The Nagaland Chamber Choir at the Asia Pacific Choir Games held in Colombo, Sri Lanka in 2017 and at The Economic Times Women’s Forum, Mumbai in 2018.
Coordinators
For better preparation of the shows, the gala has two coordinators- Louise Shishak (NSO) and Limawati Pongen (TNCC).
Louise Shishak is the music teacher at Patkai Higher Secondary School. She completed her Bachelor of Music (hons) degree from Sheffield University, UK and then Postgraduate Certificate in Education (Primary Music specialist) in 1996. She taught at primary schools in the UK and then at Woodstock school, Mussoorie, India where she met Zingrin Shishak. She came to Nagaland in 2011, teaching violin and music at school and college level. She continues to teach general music to all ages and is keen to see Nagaland music education grow. She especially enjoys playing viola in orchestra.
Limawati Pongen is a dentist by profession and a musician by passion. He has been the coordinator of The Nagaland Chamber Choir since its establishment in 2003. Limawati is also a worship leader in Dimapur Christian Fellowship. He and his wife are blessed with four wonderful children.
