Kuwait Canara Welfare Association (KCWA) is all geared up to host the semi-finals of ‘Gulf Voice of Mangalore (GVOM) – Season 5’ – a mega Konkani singing talent hunt show on Friday, September 30 at the American International School auditorium from 4:00 pm onwards. One male and one female contestant from Kuwait will be selected on this day who will be participating in the grand finale to be held in Bahrain on, November 11th for the coveted title of GVOM-5.
Kuwait Canara Welfare Association (KCWA) is the premier organization for Mangalorean Catholics in Kuwait and has completed 28 successful years of its existence. KCWA primarily works for the noble cause of educating poor children of our community and extends a helping hand to the needy brethren for humanitarian causes back in India. The association also organizes social and cultural events to support brotherhood, foster fellowship, uphold the culture and to promote welfare of its people residing in Kuwait.
Konkani music field’s noted personalities Alwyn Noronha, Edith D’Souza and Ajith Peter D’Souza will grace the occasion as the judges for the event on September 30th. Mr. Ronald S.A. Castelino (Roy Castelino) – President, Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Academy will be the Chief Guest of the event.
After the competition, visiting artistes Alwyn Noronha, Edith D’Souza and Ajith Peter D’Souza along with the previous 4 GVOM title winners from Kuwait – Vinay Lewis, Gladys Lorena, Orson D’Souza and Morvine Quadros will entertain the audience with their melodious voices and hit Konkani numbers. Rib-tickling comedy by Kuwait’s popular stage artistes & dances by local talents will be the added attractions of the day.
Kuwait’s popular band “Muzik Collective” led by Kiran Gonsalves is all set to leave the audience enthralled with their live music. One of India’s top 10 and well-known lead guitarist Alwyn Fernandes from Dubai will join the band and showcase his brilliance.
The Main Sponsor of the event is Keentech Electrical & Contracting Co.
Initiated by Lawrence Pinto and Louis Rodrigues from Kuwait in 2008, GVOM has become a sensation among Mangalorean’s worldwide. Kuwait’s singing talents have thus far won the coveted title of GVOM in all the four seasons – winner of Season 1 (Vinay Lewis), female title winner of Season 2 (Gladys Lorena), male runner-up of Season 2 (Warren D’Souza), male title winner of Season 3 (Orson D’Souza) and male title winner of Season 4 (Morvine Quadras).
About the judges
Alwyn Noronha
He has been serving as the Choir Master in St. Joseph’s Parish, Bajpe for the past 25 years and is currently the Head Master of the high school section in St. Joseph’s P. U. College in Bajpe.
He has two albums under his wings. One is “Bhangramanni” in which he wrote the lyrics and also gave them life through the melodious tunes. A song from that album titled “Fondar Thujya” has become very popular and over the years has been sung for many singing competitions including GVOM. His second album “Bhogtiponni” is a devotional album which once again has been self-written, tuned and harmonized by him – a first of its kind feat.
Apart from his own, Alwyn has given the harmonization to songs and rendered his voice to many other albums as well. He has won the first place in solo, duet and married duets in singing competitions conducted by Konkani Natak Sabha, Mangalore. He has also trained Bajpe Parish singers who have won overall championship in singing for three consecutive years conducted by Konkani Natak Sabha, Mangalore. He holds vast experience in judging singing competitions like Konkani Natak Sabha, GVOM in Doha (Semifinal) & Muscat (Final) and Late. Wilfy Rebimbus memorial singing competitions among various others. He has also conducted vocal training workshops in Doha and Mangalore.
Edith D’Souza
Born to musician parents, Late. Salvador and Evelyn Machado, Chikmagalur, Edith has sung for the Late. P. H Pinto’s “Modern Konkani Melodies” in the early 80’s, many albums of Melwin Peris and also in various musical Nites. She has lent her voice as the “Alto” for many spiritual albums and is a member of the Angelore parish choir for the past 30 years.
Edith has over the years won many prizes in Konkani singing competitions conducted by Konkani Natak Sabha and in various eastern and western categories at Inter-Bank competitions. She has been a part of the “Mandd Sobhann” group in the “Konkani Niranthari” that set a new Guinness World Record for continuous group singing. She has judged Intercollegiate singing competitions and was also one of the Jury members in the Konkani TV show “Soad” conducted by “Mandd Sobhan”. She was invited by Mangalore Konkans, Dubai to judge the Gulf Voice of Mangalore in 2012.
Ajith Peter D’souza
Born in Pethri, Udupi to Justhine and Robert D’Souza, Ajith currently works as a Supply Chain Coordinator in Dubai.
Over the years he has released four music albums in Konkani titled – ”Tuzo Sangath (Feelings Personified)” in 2010, “Ye Laagim (In My Arms)” in 2011, “Tujhe Vengenth (Feel the Sensation)” in 2012 and “Tem Yenvchea Vella (Into My Heart)” in 2015.
The album “Tujhe Vengenth was nominated for the 5th Global Konkani Music Awards instituted by Mandd Sobhann in all the 6 categories, of which it bagged 4 awards for The Best Singer (Female), Best Lyricist, Best Music Arranger and the Best Music Album award. The album “Ye Laagim (In My Arms)” released in year 2011 was also nominated for 4th Global Konkani Music Awards instituted by Mandd Sobhann in the best album category.
Some of his popular songs are “Hathanth Gevun Hath”, “Whistle Maar”, “Ye Laagim”, “Moga Pavs”, “Chandne Fultana”, “Vollu Ye” which can time and again be heard at events and competitions.
His passions include playing the Keyboard, penning lyrics and poetry and composing songs. He has also judged many musical events in Udupi and outside India. He has served as a judge for GVOM Semifinals in Muscat and Bahrain in the year 2014.
Related News: