New Delhi

The internationally acclaimed Shillong Chamber Choir announced the release of their new song, “You Came Into Our Lives,” a moving tribute to their late founder, Neil Nongkynrih, affectionately known as Uncle Neil. The release marks what would have been his 55th birth anniversary, a significant moment for the Choir and all who loved and respected his artistic legacy.

A Musical genius from Meghalaya Neil Nongkynrih passed away on 5th January 2022, leaving behind a legacy that continues to inspire and unite. His vision, values, and artistry remain at the heart of the Choir’s music and mission.

Neil Nongkynrih

Neil studied music at Trinity College and the Guildhall School of Music in London. He performed in shows as a concert pianist in the UK. He also taught music in Oxfordshire. One of his students was Philip Selway, a member of the popular and critically acclaimed British rock band Radiohead. He returned to India in 2001 and started teaching piano in Shillong.

His work include, as would be seen in his work with the Shillong Chamber Choir, many genres and styles ranging from Western and Indian classical music to Bollywood and pop.

He wrote an opera in Khasi, a native language of Meghalaya, to revive the dialect. The opera, titled ‘Sohlyngngem’, is based on a tragic Khasi folktale which was adapted into music by Neil and his team.

In 2001, he founded the Shillong Chamber Choir and in due course this music band from the Northeast became famous.

They began as a small group of dedicated singers and musical visionaries, and most importantly, friends and even as a family.

The members of the choir are Ibarisha Lyngdoh, Patricia Lyngdoh, Jessica Lyngdoh, Donna Marthong, Rishila Merang Jamir, Keviseno Terhuja, and Dorea Rangad, Riewbankit Lyndem, Sandon Melam Lyndem, Banlam Lyndem, and William Richmond, the frontman.

In 2015, ‘Uncle Neil’ was awarded the Padma Shri, marking his undeniable significance in the Indian Music Industry. They collaborated with renowned musicians and performed at various events, further adding to their already growing reputation

They have captivated audiences across the globe. Their performances have taken them to perform on the world's biggest stages and in front of World leaders the likes of President Barack Obama and global icons like Tennis legend Roger Federer.

Shillong Chamber Choir (SCC)

They have done collaborations with popular artists like Alan Walker, Boney M, Amitabh Bachchan and Ustad Zakir Hussain, to name a few. They have also experimented with fusion music, collaborating with artists from different musical traditions. Their repertoire is a variation of different varieties and genres from jazz to Western Classical to Bollywood and more. As a choir, they have sung in over 15 languages, including Khasi, French, and Hindi.

They have marked themselves as a symbol of Indian culture’s evolution.

This is no small achievement. This is evidence of contemporary presence, merging the interests of Indian listeners, including the youth, by merging many styles into one. It keeps the flame of Indian musical traditions alive without excluding the influence of international cultures that dominate the Indian listener’s interest today; consequently, it survives and dominates both.

Shillong Chamber Choir has released a heartfelt Tribute Song on the 55th Birth Anniversary of their Late Founder.

With You Came Into Our Lives, the Choir embarks on a new and deeply personal chapter. Originally written by Neil and his friend Deelip Kumar Sahu, the song is a heartfelt reflection on the bonds of love, friendship, and the transformative power of music. It is not only a tribute to Neil, but also the incredible journey he started and the reality it became for the rest of the choir.

“Through this song, Neil, along with choir members, expresses gratitude to friends and family who stood like a rock through their adverse moments in their long and eventful journey”.

Shillong Chamber Choir (SCC)

“Uncle Neil gave us more than music; he gave us purpose, family, and direction towards a meaningful life, especially as young people in the great sea of music and entertainment. This is not just a song; it is our way of saying thank you to the man who shaped us, and to all those who have been part of this incredible journey with us,” shared the Shillong Chamber Choir.

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The group has been less active following the years of Neil’s passing, but this marks their return and, most importantly, that they carry the spark that began with their conductor and mentor. It is a reminder that their movement lives on and will only continue to do so, through the artists that inspired them, their art, and those who are inspired by it and follow, either in the same footsteps or their own.