Media Release
Pics: Savious Crasta / Shalini Mendonca
Doha, Jun 16: Qatar’s 13 Mangalorean singers marched into the semi-finals of Gulf Voice of Mangalore (GVOM) Season 4, passing out with flying colours in the auditions held at the Asoka Hall of the Indian Cultural Centre here on Friday June 13, 2014 evening.
Though as per the GVOM rules only 6 singers each from male and female categories were to be selected for the semi-finals, there was a tie in the male category. Hence 6 female singers and 7 male singers qualified for the semi-finals to be held at the DPS-MIS school Auditorium on September 26 this year.
The auditions were judged by well-known music maestros Fr Anand Castelino, spiritual director Konkani speaking community Doha Qatar and Marius Pereira, choir master of the Mangalorean Konkani choir of Doha and well-known Konkani singer and composer Veena Rebimbus Pais.
Season 4 of Gulf Voice of Mangalore is being hosted by MCCP Oman.
The evening proceedings began with the playing of MCA theme song which was followed by welcome address by MCA president Arthur Pais. While welcoming the guests and audience Arthur Pais mentioned that only 12 participants will move forward for the semi-finals, adding that this did not mean the others were not good singers, but it’s only that the chosen 12 sang better in the day's audition. He advised them not to get discouraged by the disqualification but to take the competition in a sportive spirit and move forward.
The auditions were officially set on roll melodiously by Preema Pinto, two-time GVOM 1st runner-up (2010 and 2012) from Qatar with the popular number 'Sangeetha', a Wilfy Rebimbus composition on the music track provided by Joswin Pinto.
The contestants were judged based on their voice culture, clarity of words, presentation, ability to maintain pitch and rhythm. It was a fabulous evening as all the contestants were up to the challenge and indeed judges might agree that it was a close contest and choosing the best 12 was tough.
The following singers qualified for GVOM semi-finals:
Female Contestants
Nina Fernandes
Sana Britto
Eva Wilma Pinto
Karen Correa
Jovita Pereira
Prameela Monteiro
Male Contestants
Fredwin D’Souza
Harry Correa
Remy D’Souza
Alphonse D’Silva
Christon D’Souza
Naveen D’Souza
Naveen Pinto
Once the auditions were over, judges were called on to the stage and felicitated by Jason Quadros, vice-president MCA. Fr Anand Castelino briefed the participants about certain common mistakes that were committed while singing and also about how to overcome them.
Benjamin Rebeiro, MCA executive committee member introduced the judges. Wilma D’Souza, sports secretary, MCA, proposed the vote of thanks. Aloysius D’Souza, cultural secretary announced the names of the qualified. MCA advisory committee members Felix Lobo and Wilfred Fernandes along with Arthur Pais presented the certificate of participation to every participant.
Sandeep Noronha compered the auditions in his unique style.
Voice workshop for all singers will be conducted on June 27 at Wyndham Grand Regency Doha by well-known music maestro Roshan Martis from Mangalore. All interested singers are requested to make the best use of this opportunity.