Shillong: Everybody assumed that the Shillong Chamber Choir would flounder after the death of its powerful founder-mentor and pianist, Neil Nongkynrih, last January. But Nongkynrih made sure to leave behind ounces of important life lessons for the choir. Over the past year, the choir has not only survived but also thrived.
Last July, the 11-member group released a new single, The Great Indian Train Journey, embarked on a UK-Norway tour in September-October, performed at the General Assembly of Interpol in Delhi in November, and just finished a project with a major Bollywood production house.
“For us, it was like losing the alpha, a father,” says Kynsaibor Lyngdoh, the choir’s singer-turned-manager. “He [Nongkynrih] was too big a personality, both [in] heart and soul. He was also a very forward-thinking person. He trained us in such a way we could never imagine,” Lyngdoh adds.
The key differentiator that Nongkynrih taught the choir was to constantly innovate and produce a unique sound.
“After he died, the first thought was, ‘What are we going to do?’ But when we had to get back to work [and] hit the road again, we could do it. That’s when we realised [that] he had been training us all these years. Now I know why the upbringing was so rich, like in the Army. He was training our minds to be ready for any occasion,” Lyngdoh recalls.
And just last month, the Shillong Chamber Choir performed medleys of Hindi and English songs, a Gujarati number, and a Khasi piece from Nongkynrih’s opera, Sohlyngngem, at a G20 preparatory event in Gujarat’s Gandhinagar.
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Uncle Neil’s musical army
At the turn of the century in 2001, a new chapter was unfolding in the heart of Shillong. Composer, conductor, and pianist Neil Nongkynrih had just returned from England after 14 years. That same year, he began nurturing and moulding a musical group, the Shillong Chamber Choir, which would later soar to national fame after winning the second season of India’s Got Talent reality show in July 2010.
Three months later, the choir performed for the Obamas at the Rashtrapati Bhavan during their visit to India. From then on, the group leapt from one feat to the next, booked and busy with tours across the globe. Nongkynrih, whom choir members fondly called Uncle Neil, always stood at the helm, guiding and mentoring the group while strengthening their musical prowess – until he could no longer. On 5 January 2022, at the age of 51, Nongkynrih passed away after a brief illness.
The musical genius was mourned throughout the state, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma also extending their condolences. While the public eventually moved on, the choir couldn’t; Nongkynrih’s absence had left an irreplaceable void.
However, amid their tragedy, they remembered what Uncle Neil had made them—accomplished performers and resilient heirs who could secure their choir’s legacy.
Training for posterity
Lyngdoh was 23 years old when he first met Nongkynrih, whom he describes not only as a choir conductor but also as a prolific musician, a genius who was “like a father”.
Now, at the age of 40, Lyngdoh credits Nongkynrih’s strict training for enabling the group to quickly get back on its feet without any difficulty.
The choir’s bass singer, Riewbankit Lyndem, who also composes music for the group, fondly remembers their late mentor as a clever man who could blend different genres to create new melodies.
“He trained us in our strengths. He allowed us to explore our [own] fields. Good leaders prepare others; Uncle Neil was one of them,” says Lyndem.
Nongkynrih always involved members in decisions related to the choir, and they don’t feel that much has changed after his passing.
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Division of labour
Amid the glitz and glamour of the Shillong Chamber Choir’s thriving presence and lasting impact, their way of working remains refreshingly simple. It wasn’t until last year that the group decided to bring on board a Mumbai-based management company, TM Talent Management, to handle their affairs. And it was Nongkynrih who took this decision for the team.
The management company’s role is primarily focused on securing shows, liaising with clients, and handling logistics and commercial aspects. The company consults with manager Lyngdoh before making any final decisions.
The choir retains exclusive creative freedom, with each member overseeing different areas. Lead singer William Basaiawmoit manages choir creatives, including the development of new songs and organising practices. Dorea Rangad, one of the choir’s altos, doubles up as the social media manager, ensuring they stay in sync with current trends and challenges. Patricia Lyngdoh and Donna Marthong are responsible for costume decisions, while Riewbankit Lyndem and three other members compose new music.
But there is no watertight structure to how the group operates.
“The main composers would write, and when we come together for practice, other members give their suggestions. Someone will say, ‘Can you add this?’ Then we will change it,” says Lyngdoh.
The work ethics of commercial bands don’t dominate the Shillong Chamber Choir. They operate more like a close-knit family that stays together, all while delivering stunning performances on some of the biggest musical stages. But the musical ensemble keeps these intricate details hidden from the public eye.
Each member plays a distinct role outside of the stage.
“Sometimes, we think singing is just a shell that brings food to the table so that we can do other things,” remarks Lyngdoh.
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Warmth of ‘Whispering Pine’
Nestled on a sprawling one-and-a-half-acre plot in Shillong lies Whispering Pine cottage, the scenic base where the choir composes, practises, and even records its songs. This serene setting also hosts the Shillong Chamber International School, which shares the same compound. Principal Lyngdoh, and vice-principal Dorea, oversee this “home school” founded in 2016.
When the choir members aren’t touring, they mentor the school’s 29 students, offering lessons in violin, piano, drama, and voice, alongside their regular academics. Though the school is yet to be formally registered, there are plans to adopt the Cambridge curriculum in the future.
“Shillong Chamber Choir is not just a choir anymore; it’s become a life. It’s not just about signing on stage and recording; it’s everyday life,” says Lyndem.
Like most other ideas, setting up the school was Nongkynrih’s brainchild. He had prior experience running a similar venture called The Little Home School, where he taught children not only regular subjects but also music.
“Uncle Neil was somebody [who] never waited; he wasn’t a perfectionist. He would say that himself. He believed that perfectionists wait for the perfect time. ‘I am not like that; I strike when the iron is still hot,’ he’d say. He was very aware of people’s needs,” recalls Lyngdoh.
The group members absorbed and mirrored Uncle Neil’s giving nature. During the Covid-19 pandemic, the choir launched a food delivery service named ‘Uncle’s Ark’, which continues to operate from the Whispering Pine complex. Lead singer Basaiawmoit heads this initiative. A little far from Shillong, in a district called Ri Bhoi, the group also has a farm where it runs a fishery, a piggery, poultry, and grows pineapples.
Far from the allure of city life, the choir prefers to surround itself with the company of children and the simple pleasures of its hometown. With time, the group members realised that Shillong’s rustic, old-world charm fused seamlessly with their performances and individual identities.
“Some people suggested that we should park ourselves in Delhi or Bombay, as it would be easier to get more work. But there were friends who advised against it. They said, ‘Don’t come. There is a beauty of soul, something mystique about you all coming from a faraway land; you bring that with you’,” shares Lyngdoh.
One such friend was Siddhartha Basu, the quiz master and TV producer who invited the choir to participate in India’s Got Talent. He recognised that the group’s strength came from living together, “almost like a community”.
Basu describes them as a devout group who prayed together and called Nongkynrih their “cementing force”.
“What they did was marked by discipline and love. Everyone [in the group] works together harmoniously, and that’s the key to their music,” adds Basu, emphasising how the choir has always respected him like “a family elder”.
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Language of the soul
The group’s devout nature shines through the humility they display in their daily conversations, where words like ‘grace’, ‘soul’, and ‘oneness’ naturally find their way into discussions about their journey to the top.
“It’s by God’s grace that we are still surviving,” says Riewbankit while talking about the uncertain life of singers and creative professionals.
Lyngdoh recalls instances when the group has moved its audiences to tears. Their fusion numbers, reimagining of Indian classics, and Western classical compositions have consistently produced a unique, unbeatable, and unparalleled sound.
“We also don’t know where it comes from. We sound like one. No technical [expertise] can ever bring out that oneness in [our] sound,” he says.
Their spiritual perspective also influences their approach to longevity in showbiz, where they have no plans to slow down. This year, they have been inundated with show requests, booking 15 gigs for the next few months by July.
“As long as you love what you do, you will keep doing it until you are 90. There’s something emotional about singers because they connect with people’s souls. It’s a special bond they create with their audience,” says Lyngdoh.
It is this approach to their career that has not only kept them grounded but also tightly bonded, even 22 years after their debut. It’s a way of life rooted in simplicity and nurtured by their beloved Uncle Neil, whose presence still permeates their everyday lives.
“I still speak of him in the present tense,” says Lyngdoh.
(Edited by Zoya & Prashant)