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MTF Project Director Gugs Chishi along with members of Live Now Events and media persons during the press conference at RCEMPA, Jotsoma on October 28.[/caption]
As an introductory to the Hornbill International Music Festival 2017, the state’s audition for the Hornbill International Rock Contest was held on October 28 at Regional Centre of Excellence for Music and Performing Arts (RCEMPA), Jotsoma.
A total of six bands from four districts took part in the audition round today. The bands were – The Great Decade (Mokokchung), Switchblade (Kohima), Radiocity (Kohima), Yellow Beacon (Dimapur), Sweven (Pfutsero - Phek) and Kenny and The Faith Band (Kohima).
The panel of judges for the state’s auditi
on were Thejove, guitarist of Tribal Instinct, Bendang, drummer of Divine Connection and Fung Walling, bassist of Alobo Naga & The Band.
All the bands, both local and outside, will be given two songs each for the audition, while the result for the audition will be declared on Monday, it was informed.
Addressing a press conference before the start of the audition, Gugs Chishi, project director of Music Task Force, said three slots will be given to the local bands for this year’s edition. While he further informed that there is also a chance of opening up wild card entries to local bands, but this will be decided only after the final list of the selected bands.
The entries for outside bands ended on October 27 at 12 PM, however, the exact number of outside bands for the HIRC will be known only after some days, it was informed.
Led by their director Atsung Jamir, members from the Live Now Events, the managing group for the HIMF and HIRC were also present during the press conference.
The music festival will commence on December 1 evening at Dimapur’s DDSC stadium with the presence of a guest band from Mumbai and will continue till Dec. 10 at Hockey ground, IG Stadium, Kohima, the main venue for the HIMF 2017.
The audition round for the hornbill rock contest will be held from Dec 5 - 7, while the grand finale is scheduled on Dec. 8 evening.
As for the HIRC 2017, the winner will pocket a cash award of Rs. 10 lakh, while the first runner-up and the second runner-up will be given a cash award of Rs. 5 lakh and Rs. 3.5 lakh respectively. Apart from the team prizes, various individual awards will also be arranged by the organisers.
MTF project director Chishi expressed high hope that through the HIMF and HIRC, they will be able to tap the talents of the upcoming musicians in the state.
“This is the platform where Naga musicians to rub shoulders with national and international musicians. The platform is also to encourage and introduce our home grown musicians and also the amateur musicians who definitely deserve space to showcase their talents,” Chishi asserted adding that “the platform provided through HIMF and HIRC will show the rest of the world, the quality and talents of the Naga musicians.”
The final schedule of the entire music festival will only be known after the coordination meeting with the chief minister on October 30, Chishi informed.
Our Correspondent
