Introducing the power pack six of TNCC
True to the adage that music transcends all ages, TNCC has a rare mixture of not just age but profession, united by one passion – Music, and the primary objective to use God’s-given talent to glorify him. For the Vivaldi concert, a 25 member choir will be lending their voices to create a rich blend of harmonious singing – as they seek to recreate the awe and divine presence of God that inspired Antonio Vivaldi to compose such moving and powerful songs like ‘Gloria in Excelsis’, ‘Domine Deus’, ‘Cum Sancto Spiritu’ etc.
The Vivaldi project has been a wonderful opportunity for the choir to grow professionally. Besides Classical Music, the choir is also comfortable singing a broad spectrum music genre of Sacred Music, Western Gospel, Contemporaries, Spirituals, Broadway and Folk Fusion.
1. Pastor Razo Vasa: Conductor
Has a Bachelor’s Degree in Church Music, majoring in Conducting and Master of Divinity from Singapore Bible College. He was a part of Singapore Bible College Singers and the Hand bells Choir and has performed in numerous concerts in South East Asian countries. Under his initiative, the Handels’ Messiah, a worship concert celebrating ‘Oneness in Christ’ was held in Dimapur in 2014, bringing together singers and musicians from Nagaland and beyond. He is currently serving as a pastor at Dimapur Christian Fellowship. He is married and blessed with three kids. As a musician and a pastor, his approach towards music is firmly grounded on God and worship.
2.Joey Woch : Classical Guitarist/Violinist
Started playing guitar at the age of five. He studied music at Patkai Christian College where he met Dr.Ren Merry who inspired him to begin playing the Classical Guitar. He also studied under classical Guitarists,Phil Valdez and Boux Roxas at Manila,Philippines.
Some of his accomplishments are:
*U.S Tour in 1999
* First Indian Classical guitarist to compete in the prestigious Guitar Foundation of America’s XXVII International Artist competition at Georgia Columbus,USA, and a recital in Greeley,Colorado in 2011
* trained his own Strings ‘Ensemble of guitar and violin players, an ensemble of 50 musicians who performed a concert in November 2012,Dimapur.
* presented a series of recitals as a Guest Artist, teamed up with Norman Villas and performed concerts, conducted workshops and master-classes at Calcutta International Guitar Festival,2016,
*founding president of the Nagaland classical Guitar Society.
Joey has been teaching music since 2000 and has taught in many of Nagaland’s premier music institutions over the years (Margaret Shishak School of Music,Patkai, Nagaland Conservatory of Music, Hope Centre for Excellence among many others). At present, he runs his own music studio “Joey’s Music Studio” where he has been giving private lessons for guitar and violin since 2005.
Zingrin Shishak, assistant professor at Patkai Christian College, is a key member of the Margaret Shishak School of Music (MSSM) faculty. Having been born here in India and brought up at Patkai Christian College, he recently returned home to continue his music career. He completed a Bachelor of Music, Performance major at Wheaton College, USA, and a Masters in Piano Pedagogy from the University of Tennessee. He is an accomplished teacher, accompanist, church musician and performer, having lived and worked both in India and the USA.
Louise Shishak, faculty at Patkai Christian College, teaches music to class 9-12, music education & violin at the MSSM. She completed her Bachelor of Music from Sheffield University, UK and Postgraduate Certificate of Education from Leeds University, UK. Having taught in primary schools in England for 4 years she came to work in India at Woodstock school, Mussoorie, Uttarakhand in 2000. An elementary teacher, but always involved in the music department, she met Zingrin there in 2006, ultimately leading to her joining the Shishak family and coming to settle in Nagaland. (After all Mussoorie is known as the ‘honeymoon capital’ of the Hills!)
It was God’s timing that shortly after the couple arrived in Patkai, the long awaited Bachelor of Music degree program was begun, in July 2014. “We are so glad we can enable students to pursue music education at a high academic level here in Nagaland. It’s a privilege and joy to see quality musicianship and leadership being developed. There is so much passion for music, natural talent, and also a sense of community here, music has great potential to impact society for the better.”
Patkai String Players represent different tribes, decades in age, and both town and village upbringing. Our recently joined tutor Mhathung Odyuo is a great asset, enabling us to play music with cello. It’s a wonderful experience to play music from different times and places together, and develop skills of ensemble playing. As part of the Chamber Music, Patkai String Quartet will be performing Movement 1 of Mozart’s “Divertimento in D” during the Kohima Concert. Louise remarks “Hopefully this will inspire more students to take up viola and cello so we can widen the Classical Music experience available locally. It will be great when more music schools can offer ensemble experiences.” Zingrin will be performing some beautiful Piano music by J.S. Bach.
The opportunities to work with a larger group of proficient musicians enabled by Razo Vasa have been wonderful and valuable experiences for Patkai Students and Faculty, previously in the performance of Handel’s “Messiah” and now in the performance of Vivaldi’s “Gloria”. There is a shared desire to promote quality Western Classical Music, and to give glory to God through our Music. This really enriches the experience of music making for the performers and hopefully for the audience also. Of course it’s a blessing to build relationships within our local musician community.
It is the Patkai String’s joy to perform once again Vivaldi’s “Gloria”. Due to the lack of Western instruments currently available here in Nagaland, Zingrin has been providing the orchestra’s wind section digitally. So the String Orchestra has been wonderfully enhanced. “Together with the beautiful and passionate singing of the Nagaland Chamber Choir, we are privileged and excited to be performing such a celebrated piece of music.
SOLOISTS:
1.Asin Shurhozelie : SOPRANO
Trained under Ms. Ajeen Longchari at the age of 15 years, Asin went on to study under the distinguished Dr. Damien Harron and Susan Bisatt in Leeds College of Music, UK majoring in vocal performance. She enjoys performing Broadway, Classical and Crossover Classical. She has performed across national and international venues including major metropolitan hubs and the UK. In 2005, she was a part of an opera called the Pearl Fishers composed by the acclaimed George Bizet with the Neemrana music Foundation. Asin has also worked with the Delhi Chamber Choir besides other renowned artistes. Pursuing her passion for promoting music, Asin is developing an Academy specialized on performance to be launched later this year.
2.Vini Chishi : SOPRANO
Ms. Vini is a committed and energetic music teacher and a soloist. She started singing from the very early age, inspired by her mother who is a singer. She was born and brought up from Kohima.
Academic:
She did her schooling from Don Bosco Hr. Sec. School, Kohima and P.U. & B.A. from Patkai Christian College and Mount Olive College, respectively. She completed Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from Bangalore Conservatory. She also did her Grade -8 in Voice from Trinity College, London. Music & Drama from Hibernia College, UK.
Performance Experiences:
She started her music career in Sunday school with a Guitar which was presented by her Dad. She later became soloist of the Church Choir of Sümi Baptist Church, Daklane Kohima. She is known for her performance in various programs such as weddings and concerts. She has performed in home state, national as well as international events such as Hornbill Festival, Don Moen’s Choir and John Schlitt during their Concert tour in Bangalore. She has recently joined The Nagaland Chamber Choir.
Working Experiences:
She taught in several Music Schools, Centres and College in Bangalore: The Bangalore Conservatory, Indus International School (the top No. 1 ranking school in India), Ebenezer International School, Bright Public School, Joy Centre, Center for Music Education. Presently she is a Voice Teacher in Patkai Christian College. She also teaches at N.N. Nagi School, Dimapur and Aküvüto Music Centre, WSBAK.
3. Renthunglo Shitiri: ALTO
A graduate of Patkai Christian College, she studied music under Margaret Shishak and Ren Merry. She remembers fondly, when still young, about how Late Dr. Mhabemo Odyuo took a keen interest in teaching her the basics of music and thereby, sowed the seed for the love of music to grow. Having being associated with The Nagaland Chamber Choir (TNCC) for long now, she is grateful to God for placing her in a position where together as a group, glory can be ascribed to God, the Giver of music.
Besides music, she has a passion for teaching which she terms as ‘her calling in life’. She is an assistant professor in English, currently on study leave planning for her doctoral studies. An aspiring writer, she has published a collection of poems,’ Of Life’ and is also associated with the Sunday School Curriculum Project, Nagaland Baptist Church Council (NBCC). Married to Dr. Rendemo Shitiri and a mother to four daughters, she acknowledges the infallible grace of God and the support of her family, for the fulfillment of her God’s given talent and interests. “I have never, ever worked this hard on a song and I hope that people will be supportive and appreciate the time and effort that have been devoted to this project by the musicians and singers.” candidly remarks Renthunglo.