The 5th edition of Nightingale of Goa Competition, an All
Goa original solo singing competition presented by Pilar Music Academy Pilar
Fathers, Goa Province will be held on April 19 at 6 pm at Ravindra Bhavan,
Margao. The selected singers in three different categories, Juniors (8-12
years), Teenagers (13-19 years) and Youth (20-25 years) will display their
singing talents in Konkani in the presence of the chief guest, noted singer,
Hema Sardesai.
Fr Peter Cardozo, director of the Pilar Music Academy says,
“Our aim is to promote young talent. Many singers are discovered here and they
are further offered to perform in different shows in the state. The competition
was announced nearly four months back. These singers are from all over Goa and
they were selected based on their audition songs. Once they were selected for
their voice, they had to take the help of a music and song composer and
practice an original song. The songs are based on various themes like social
issues and romance. The music arrangement was finalized and we had our final
practice with the band and are all set for the concert.”
Selomy Palha is a 12-year-old from Agassaim who will be
cheered on by the entire family when she takes the stage today. She will be
singing ‘Xrisht’ti’, a song on the importance of nature and the environment. A
student of Fr Agnel Central School, Pilar, she has also been learning the
violin for four years at the Pilar Music school. “Selomy sang cover of the song
‘Sopnam Sopnetalim Hanv’ by Divina for the auditions. After she was selected,
we had to find a music composer and lyricist to write a song that she could
practice and sing. Fr Savio Costa wrote the song and accordingly she has been
practicing it. I correct her if I feel she is not singing properly. This is the
second time she will be participating in Nightingale of Goa and though she is
nervous, this will be a great exposure for her in the Konkani music world,”
says Emmy Palha, mother of Selomy.
Juvency Simoes from Panjim recently won the Voice of
Agnelites which motivated her to participate in this competition. A regular
choir member in the parish of Our Lady of Immaculate Conception Church, Panjim,
Juvency will be singing the song, ‘Dubanvacho Kanto’. “It is a song about a
young girl whose lover doubts her after he sees her with her brother-in-law. I
like singing and since I was in class VIII, I feel my voice has matured over
time. I am very excited about the competition as this is the first time I am in
the finals of the competition and hope I don’t get nervous on stage,” says
Juvency, who answered her Class 12 Science Board exam.
Chandor-based Cifa Fernandes is a member of duo band, ‘The
Melodious Ballad’ with Savio D’Costa and singing for an audience has given her
the confidence of stepping on the stage for the competition. “I will be singing
the song, ‘Music’ which is composed by Rakhi Fernandes, a winner of one of the
previous editions of Nightingale of Goa. Anyone can play music and every occasion
requires music. I first participated in All Goa Singing competition in Sanguem
and since then I have been participating in different competitions. I also
participated in Herald Group’s Goencho Avaz and I was a semi-finalist in 2019
in both, solo and duet category. I am excited but a bit nervous too as it will
be huge audience in Margao,” says Cifa, a BCom graduate from Government
College, Quepem.
The singers will be accompanied by musicians, Nolvert Cota
and Senon D’Souza on trumpet, Semy Braganza on trombone, Jerry Cardoso on
keyboard and Claster Cardoso on violin. The Goan audience will get an
opportunity to witness new songs and upcoming singers bringing their talent to
the stage.
