The Cecilian Choir, from Bengaluru, raises its voice for a cause

The Hindu

23-04-2025

One of Bengaluru's oldest choirs, The Cecilian Choir, will perform for a fundraiser in Bengaluru. Titled Memories Are Made of This, it is a fundraiser for St. Joseph's University Scholarship Programs. The Cecilian Choir was started in 1982 by a group of musicians under the leadership of Reverend Dr Theodore Pereira.
This year, the concert will be held at St. Joseph's Auditorium, and offers financial assistance to students who come from economically weaker sections of society, says Arthur B Pais, President, Cecilian Choir.
The choir, he says, has been around for 42 years. 'We are probably the longest serving choir in Bengaluru and intend to keep this legacy going. All our stage performances are fundraisers.'
Arthur describes each of the choir's fundraisers as a worthy cause and over the years Cecilian Choir has helped raised funds for Multiple Sclerosis Society, Maria Seva Sangha, Abala Ashraya Sangha, Atma Shakti Vidayala Society, The Karunashraya Hospice, St Mary's Orphanage, Sumanahalli Leprosy Rehabilitation Centre, The Association of People with Disability and Jeevarathani Foundation.
'In fact, when Karunahsraya started, we helped raise funds for their infrastructure. The concert was held at Guru Nanak Bhavan,' recalls Arthur.
Besides these, Arthur says some of their memorable performances include the 1999 concert at the invitation of Ministry of Tourism, Israel to perform at the Sherovah Theatre in Jerusalem and at a monastery in Nazareth for the millennium celebrations; and the 2011 concert presented by Indian Council of Cultural Relations (ICCR) and the Bangalore School of Music (BSM); in the presence of the ex-President of India, Pratibha Patil.
'We were the only Choir to have ever sung a song in Kannada at the Rashtrapati Bhavan,' shares the chorister.
St Joseph's University, Arthur says, help students with excellent academic records, high achievers, and differently-abled students. 'The university also has study and residential scholarships, besides giving them midday meals, which most of the time, is the only meal some students get due to their financial situation. That's who we are singing for.'
The first half of the concert, Arthur says, will feature music across eight decades. 'There will be a Broadway musical medley, jazz, ballads and masterpieces, some of which, will be a cappella. The second half includes 'Remember the Cross' an Easter Cantata that intertwines songs from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday in a blended and contemporary setting'.
The choir will be conducted by Deirdre Fernandes-Dominic and will have Rebecca Thomas-Colaco (piano), Justin A Santosh (drums), Eric Samuel (guitar), Pearl Mukadam (bass), Darren Sherwin and Sabarish R (keyboards) and 25 choristers.
Sing in harmony, Arthur said the choir is nothing like a band performance. 'We are a choir and sing in multi-part harmony, which could be either a three, four, six or eight-part. When we say 'harmony', I strongly believe one has to experience it to know how a voice can modulate itself and give you different tones, which leads to a fantastic experience.'
Arthur is a first tenor, and has been singing with the since 2000. 'Becky, (Rebecca) has been with us since 2005. She is a reputed pianist, known world-wide and now is the director of faculty too with BSM (Bangalore School of Music).'
A self taught singer, Arthur took to music as a young boy and started singing in his church choir. 'That is where you get noticed by conductors and are picked up for choral singing. For me, choral singing came naturally and I found it easy to pick it up.'
The concert is on April 26 and 27, at 3.30pm and 6.30pm at St Joseph's University Auditorium, 36 Lalbagh Road. Donor passes/tickets on BookMyShow.