Global Hit

Shillong Chamber Choir

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A youth choir from northeast India that’s gaining a global reputation. It’s called the Shillong Chamber Choir. And it’s planning a US tour for sometime next year. Choir members are troubled and disadvantaged teens who are being given a second chance — through music. Sunita Thakur has more.

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MARCO WERMAN: Finally today a youth choir from North East India that’s gaining a global reputation. It’s called the Shillong Chamber Choir and it’s planning a US tour for sometime this year. Choir members are troubled and disadvantaged teens who are being given a second chance through music. Sunita Thakur has more.

[CHOIR SINGING]

SUNITA THAKUR: The Shillong Chamber Choir is the creation of Neil Nongkynrih. He’s originally from Shillong, the capital of the North Eastern Indian state of Meghalaya. Years ago he left for England to study music and become a concert pianist. But 12 years later tiring of that life he came back. He soon noticed that many young people in Shillong needed help. Some were struggling with drugs while others were emotionally disturbed and needed a place to stay. Nongkynrih started taking them in.

NEIL NONGKYNRIH: The first time was one or two needed a place to stay. I allowed them and things went very well for them. They really changed. And then from there it just went to other people who needed a place to stay.

THAKUR: The former concert pianist offers these young people more than just a roof over their heads. He offers structure, a home school education, even spiritual sustenance, and inevitably given his background musical training.

[CHOIR SINGING]

Nongkynrih never planned on starting a choir. That just happened.

[CHOIR SINGING]

The choir performed locally at first but in the last couple of years they’ve been touring the world from Europe to China and now to America. The 15 youngsters in the choir range in age from their early teens to their late 20s. Each of their stories is different. Nineteen year-old Johan Lyngdoh joined two years ago. He was a drug addict and a dealer who beat up other young people in street brawls.

JOHAN LYNGDOH: I hated myself before and I didn’t want to live life anymore. But now my parents are really happy now. Before they never sleep at night. They always get news that I’m with a gang beating some people. Now no news of such kind of and that’s the main thing that I want to keep them happy as forever.

THAKUR: His story is emblematic of the power this small choir has to transform the lives of its members.

[CHOIR SINGING]

Another choir member is 16 year-old Ebaricha. She’s arguable the most gifted of the group. She’s also a shy girl but determined not to move to fast. Ebaricha has already been offered a recording deal and an opportunity to study music in New York. But she turned both offers down.

EBARICHA: I was too young so I didn’t want to go there yet. Let’s see. I don’t know really. I haven’t decided yet. And what I’ve wanted before for a very long time now I’ve got it. So I love being here as well.

[CHOIR SINGING]

THAKUR: Now Ebaricha and the rest of the Shillong Chamber Choir face a different challenge. As their reputation grows they need to decide what the next step in their young lives might be. For The World this is Sunita Thakur in Shillong, India.

[CHOIR SINGING]

WERMAN: That’s our program today. From the Nan and Bill Harris Studios at WGBH I’m Marco Werman. Thank you for listening.

[CHOIR SINGING]

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