Bahrain: Lavina Dantis, Cynthia Latha Enter into Final Round
By Joe Andrade
Daijiworld Media Network - Bahrain
Cynthia, Leslie and Lavina
LAVINA DANTIS, was declared the 1st place winner (110 points) and CYNTHIA LATHA D’SOUZA was in 2nd place (103 points), both of whom would fly to Kuwait for the final leg of the Gulf Voice of Mangalore competition which would be held on 17th October, 2008.
Bahrain, Oct 10: The Ramada Palace Hotel auditorium was filled with over 700 Konkani enthusiasts who were all set to watch the kick-off of the Bahrain leg of the GULF VOICE OF MANGALORE Konkani reality singing competition on 9th October, 2008.
The program kicked-off at 8.45 pm with Walter Dantis welcoming the august gathering and introducing the Master-compere Leslie Rego.
Leslie Rego, in his typical buoyant composure gave the audience a brief introduction of the contest and wasted no time in welcoming the first semi-final contestant to the stage taking the bulk of the audience confidently into his stride and through the length and breadth of the reality Singing Competition. The Master compere introduced each contestant announcing the song that they would be singing with poise and good sense of humour. He kept each Contestant on a knife’s edge for a sharp response on his general query over the contest song that had been just sung by them and invited the judges to give their overall analysis on the singer’s performance of their song. The audience played their part by giving the contestants a rapturous applause in encouragement.
The 11 semi-finalist contestants were Sunil Fernandes, Freeda Sequeira, Cynthia Latha D’Souza, Christopher Lobo, Richard Pais, Melba Martis, Winston Aranha, Lavina Dantis, Maxim Sequeira, Ronald Fernandes and Susan Alva who competed in this order and did their very best. The contestants, dressed in their colorful best, added much glitter, glamour and platter to the unique Gulf Voice of Mangalore competition, first of its kind to take place in Bahrain organized by Karavali Konkans Association in co-ordination with the Ramada Palace Hotel.
Karavali Konkans Association were nominated as the organizers of the contest in Bahrain by the organizers of the show in the Gulf, the Kuwait Recreation Club.
The troupe of musicians who gave reality music to the competition were Melwyn Fernandes on drums, Theodore Alvares on the trumpet, Christopher Mascarenhas as the Bass guitarist, Joscelyn Pinto the lead guitarist, Joel Pereira and Richard Monteiro.
The judges for the competition were Wilfy Rebimbus, Joel Pereira and Melwyn Peris, who had indeed a tough taks in selecting the two best contestantswho would go to Kuwait to take place in the finals on 17th October.
With the arrival of The Ambassador of India to the Kingdom of Bahrain, Balakrishna Shetty, who was the Chief Guest on the occasion, at about 10.00 pm triggered a crispy felicitation ceremony that honoured special dignitaries invited to the program on stage including Fr Vincent D’Souza, the Asst Parish Priest of Sacred Hearth Church, Bahrain, Walter Nandalike of Daijiworld.com who arrived Bahrain specially for the occasion, Lawrence Pinto from Youth Recreation Club Kuwait, and Bobin Idicula of the Kims Medical Centre, Bahrain. All of them were honoured with floral bouquets and mementos of remembrance of the occasion capably compered by the Association’s Entertainment Secretary, Nirmala Fernandes.
Walter Nandalike of Daijiworld.com was honoured and bestowed with title 'Konkan Karaval Suputr' by the Karavali Konkans Association as for his dynamic works in the media.
A souvenir was released by HE the Ambassador to mark the occasion. HE the Indian Ambassador then addressed the audience. A Tulu dance performance by Girish Idya and Nishal Gomes choreographed by Chandrakala Suvarna followed by a Konkani song by Hanna Miranda, an up-coming talent were added attraction.
The visiting artistes Wilfy Rebimbus, Meena Rebimbus and Melvin Peris then rocked the stage and the wonderful ambience in the auditorium with a rendition of their nostalgic sing-song musical fiesta in the third and final leg of their program of 7 songs, to which the audience were all ears and in appreciative applause.
The Managing Committee members Cyril Pereira, Denis D’Silva and Joe Andrade of the Karavali Konkans Association along with the President Ronald D. F. D’Souza honoured the musicians with a memento each in remembrance of the program. The Vote of Thanks was the privilege of the General Secretary of the Association, Joe Andrade.
There was an in-house raffle organized with attractive prizes for lucky winners.
The much-awaited announcement of the GULF VOICE OF MANGALORE, Bahrain leg winners was declared at sharp 1.00 p.m. today towards the end of the program to the rapturous joy and applause of the audience matched equally by the enthusiasm of Leslie Rego.
LAVINA DANTIS, was declared the 1st place winner (110 points) and CYNTHIA LATHA D’SOUZA was in 2nd place (103 points), both of whom would fly to Kuwait for the final leg of the Gulf Voice of Mangalore competition which would be held on 17th October, 2008.
LAVINA DANTIS and CYNTHIA LATHA D’SOUZA were then awarded the trophies of the contest for the Bahrain leg and presented with bouquets on winning.
Their joy knew no bounds as Leslie Rego catapulted them on stage gloriously into Cloud 9!! Their months of efforts in preparation had paid-off. They will soon be presented with their tickets to Kuwait for the grand finale competition of the GVOM.
Lavina and Cynthia, Karavali Konkans Association wishes you all the very best in Kuwait. They are confident that they would surely bring back the Grand Finale trophy and the cash prize offered by the organizers.
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