Report & Pics: Priya Saldanha, Shirthady/Kuwait & Noel Cutinha
Daijiworld Media Network - Kuwait
Kuwait, May 10: Following the success of the mega Konkani singing talent hunt show 'Gulf Voice of Mangalore' during the last three seasons, ‘Youth Recreation Center’ organized the preliminary rounds of ‘Gulf Voice of Mangalore Season 4’ on Friday May 9 at Avanti Palace Restaurant second branch located at Hisham Center, opposite to Rehab Complex at Tunis street, Hawally.
After the final registration process, the event started at 10:15 am with the formal introduction of ‘Gulf Voice of Mangalore Season 4’and its founder organizers Lawrence Pinto and Louis Rodrigues by Rita Rodrigues. Organizing committee members Wilson Saldanha and Rita Rodrigues were present on the dais. Organizer Lawrence Pinto extended a warm welcome to the audiences and participants.
Judges for the day’s competition - Kuwait’s famous music maestro and 'A R Rehman of Konkani' fame Adrian Gomes, professional musician Joe D'Souza and Gladys Noronha who is a singer, composer, story writer and music teacher by profession - were introduced by Rita Rodrigues. The judges were then escorted to the dais by Wilson Saldanha and presented with bouquets. Judging files were then handed over to the judges by the organizers. All the three judges are well-known personalities of Kuwait in the music field.
Wilson Saldanha briefed about the competition format, workshop for the participant, judging procedures and introduced Diany Coutinho- founder of Agnesian Alumnae Kuwait (AAK) as the judging coordinator who monitored totaling procedure of marks along with the judges and Noel Cutinha.
The competitions were held separately for male and female contestants. The numbering sequence was done by lots during registration before the program. Winner of Gulf Voice of Mangalore Season 3 Orson D’Souza picked the lots and male singers were chosen to sing first. Vote of thanks was proposed by Wilson Saldanha Shirthady. The program was well compered by Rita Rodrigues. Kuwait’s well known guitarist Joy Fernandes gave guitar to most of the contestants voluntarily, as he has done in the previous three auditions of GVOM. He was honored with flower bouquets by organizers. His service was extended to such a level that out of 41 contestants, 21 were trained and provided guitar by him.
It was a tough time for judges to choose 12 semifinalists among the total 41 contestants which is a record number comparing to previous three seasons. Names of the preliminary round winners, who will move on to the semi-final round of Gulf Voice of Mangalore, are given below (badge number wise):
Male:
Morvine Quadras (#1)
Hywel Pinto (#2)
Amith Roland Menezes (#3)
Marcus Denis Almeida (#4)
Rilson D’Souza (#17)
Roshan Alwyn Olivera (#20)
Female:
Renita Raina D’Mello (#1)
Geramine Sunita D’Souza (#4)
Shaila Lobo (#5)
Marina Samson Veigas (#14)
Nirmala Noel Machado (#17)
Kavita Maragararet Noronha (#19)
These singers from the preliminary rounds will be competing in the semi-finals to be held on September 19 (Friday) at The American International School (Kamil Al-Rayes auditorium) Maidan Hawally. One each successful contestant of male and female categories will be chosen to go to Muscat for the finals to continue their hunt for the coveted title, along with ten other contestants from Oman, UAE, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Qatar. The finals will be held on November 7 this year.
The main idea behind this show is to provide a platform to Konkani singers residing in the Gulf. There are many singing talents sprinkled all over GCC who do not get the right break to showcase their talents. This competition will open new doors for them and enable them to bring out their hidden talents.