Pics by Dayananda Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore
Mangalore, Dec 12: Joyce Ozario (nee Fontes), the noted female Konkani singer who has rendered hundreds of Konkani songs, and is popular for her major hit song 'Abolem', was conferred the 'Konkani Abolem' title on Sunday, December 11 at the 'Global Konkani Music Awards' ceremony organised by Mandd Sobnann at Kalangann.
58-year-old Joyce Ozario is the wife of Eric Ozario, the brain behind Mandd Sobhann, Kalangann and several major Konkani projects, and former president of State Konkani Sahitya Academy.
V Manohar, popular Kannada music director presented her with a shawl, saree, memento and citation amidst huge applause from the packed audience at Kalangann. Roy Castelino, president of Konkani Prachar Sanchalan and Stany Alvares, president of Mandd Sobhann were present on dais.
Titus Noronha, one of the comperes of the event read out the citation and said that Joyce had an inborn talent for singing. At the age of 12 she had been identified by the late Konkan Kogull Wilfy Rebimbus for her voice and encouraged to render songs composed by him. Later, she was also chosen to sing the first ever musical nite by Wilfy Rebimbus.
Joyce who has been singing for more than 47 years, is admired by music lovers from around the globe. She has participated in many baila shows, and Mandd Sobhann musical events organised around the globe and India, especially in the Gulf countries.
The Eric-Joyce couple is blessed with two children. Rashmi, who is married to famous music director Alwyn Fernandes, is a talented singer and has participated in many Konkani shows. Ritesh Kiran, a talented musician, has played the instruments and sung in many shows and audio albums.
"Joyce truly deserves the award, in fact it was due for a long time. She has a mindblowing voice and has the capacity to attract audience," said Rony Monteiro, a Konkani enthusiast based in Canada who attended the felicitation programme.
Joyce has been rendering her voice in musical nites organised by Mandd Sobhann and has also sung in all the eight audio volumes.
A down-to-earth personality, Joyce was congratulated by almost everyone in the audience present during the programme.
In her thanksgiving note, she dedicated her success to all those who had inspired her to sing, specially her father, and her husband Eric.
"I will contiue singing as long as God permits to do so," she said.
Later, speaking to Daijiworld, she said that she would always remain grateful to her fans who have admired her and time and again encouraged her to sing for so long.