TGLife
Kuwait’s Romeo Braganza and Dubai’s Aviella D’Souza were adjudged best Gulf Goan Male and Female singers in ‘Gulf Voice of Goa’ singing competition. Romeo’s winning song ‘Maria’ received thunderous applause from the home fans while Aviella demonstrated great vocal quality, stage presence and showmanship singing her award winning number ‘Meu Amor’. John Pereira (UAE) with ‘Sopnan Fottoilo’ and Slenzitta D’Cruz (Bahrain) singing ‘Kalliz Velem Chorun’ finished as Runner-ups. The winners and runners-up were awarded cash prizes and gift hampers. A number of celebrity artistes and delegates took part in the five-and-a-half-hour non-stop, pulsating and entertaining show.
The first ever Gulf Voice of Goa Konkani singing competition; a tribute to Goan musician and lyricist Chris Perry, brought together Goans from all walks of life at Khaldiya University Auditorium. The event was the biggest singing competition outside Goa that offered the best platform for aspiring singers to showcase their talent on international stage.
Gurudas Pilernekar, director of Art and Culture, Goa was present as a special invitee along with Tomazinho Cardoz ex-chairman of Tiatr Academy of Goa, Cezar D’Mello, member secretary of Tiatr academy of Goa and Henry Fernandes from Dubai for this event. Konkani stage’s star Jose Rod was a special attraction of the event.
President of Goan Cultural Centre Carmo Santos, the chief co coordinator of the event and well supported by Goan NRIs in the Middle-East; Agnello Fernandes and Bosco Leitao (Kuwait), Simon D’Silva (Doha Qatar), Gabriel Crasto and Francis Correia (Bahrain), Gabby de Chandor (Dubai), and Anthony Lourenco (Muscat) welcomed the gathering.
The main competition was classified for Gulf residents of Goan origin. Two participants from each country, a male and a female, were shortlisted for the finals. The contest consisted of two rounds. The first round was normal singing of one complete song, the second round required singers to catch up with the tempo of music in a one verse-chorus song. Other contestants who contested the final included Aeral Paul Fernandes (Bahrain), John De Sa and Natcey Barretto (Qatar), Maurice Rosario and Velriza Pereira (Oman), and Kuwait’s Zelia Rodrigues. All the participants were felicitated with mementoes.
