This choral concert in Goa will banish your climate change blues

Our planet is in deep trouble. You watch television every day and despair sets in when you hear about all the wars and conflict, the effects of climate change and human suffering, in general.

In this atmosphere of anguish, 'Songs for the Earth', a choral concert featuring Child's Play Chorus and the Archangel Voices of St Michael's Church, Anjuna, appears as a harbinger of hope to soothe, inspire and uplift adults and children alike.

The choral concert will take place on November 17, 2024, at the Museum of Christian Art in Old Goa from 6.30 pm to 7.30 pm.

Child’s Play Chorus is part of Child’s Play (India) Foundation, a Goan non-profit that teaches Western classical music to underprivileged children. Archangel Voices of St Michael’s Church is a children’s choir trained by Raj D’Pietro Fernandes, who is well-known in choral circles as an exceptional choirmaster and voice coach.

This is the second collaboration with Raj. The first was at Child’s Play (India) Foundation's annual Christmas concert in December, 2023.

This is the second collaboration with Raj. The first was at Child’s Play (India) Foundation's annual Christmas concert in December, 2023.

Dr Luis Dias, the founder of Child’s Play (India) Foundation, says, “I approached him (Raj) last year to help us with our choral project. He agreed to come on board, and once a week he comes over to train our kids."

"He himself came up with this idea. I am happy that he is also thinking about earth-friendly topics and songs that reflect that,” adds Dr Luis.

Dr Luis Dias is of the same mind as Raj in terms of preserving the environment. It was a gradual buildup to this concert with appropriate songs being selected and the being trained to sing them.

The Menezes Braganza Hall has been Child’s Play India Foundation’s main venue for all their concerts. However, Songs for the Earth will be performed at the , in the outdoor café area which also has a garden and provides the right ambience to echo the theme of the concert.

Chryselle D’Silva Dias, Trustee, Child's Play (India) FoundationMost of the songs are about the environment, but there are a couple that the kids might enjoy like Don’t worry, be happy by Bobby McFerrin, which is an audience pleaser as well.

The norm is two major concerts a year for Child’s Play India Foundation, the monsoon concert and the Christmas concert.

“It’s our 15th anniversary this year so we decided to change it up a bit,” says Chryselle D’Silva Dias, trustee of the non-profit.

“We didn’t have the monsoon concert. Instead, Raj came up with this idea, and he’s been training the children both here in and in Anjuna with the same list of songs,” she continues.

"Most of the songs are about the environment, but there are a couple that the kids might enjoy like 'Don’t worry, be happy' by Bobby McFerrin, which is an audience pleaser as well,” she adds.

After 17 years as a musician in the Indian Army, Raj is now an art teacher at St Michael’s School in Anjuna.

After 17 years as a musician in the Indian Army, Raj is now an art teacher at St Michael’s School in Anjuna. He also trains a bigger children’s choir called Crescendo Children’s Choir that has garnered much attention and acclaim, and leads a band called The K Connexions.

Having Raj on board has been a huge relief to Dr Luis Dias as training multiple choirs and orchestras was quite the task.

“I’m glad I have somebody else, otherwise I would be trying to do it all,” says Dr Luis Dias.

Child’s Play (India) Foundation concerts normally consist of a number of orchestral and choral performances by adults and children.

Chryselle says, “Our concerts tend to be massive with 60-70 children involved. Organising them is not easy. So, we decided to have a standalone concert where the choir will be separate.”

Chryselle D’Silva Dias, Trustee, Child's Play (India) FoundationWhen the kids are free in February or March or during the summer holidays, we could take it on the road, go to different venues like schools and perform there, bringing the message that we have come to talk about the earth and how we must preserve and protect it.

She continues, “The beautiful part about a concept like this is we can have it at any time of the year, it is not seasonal."

"When the kids are free in February or March or during the summer holidays, we could take it on the road, go to different venues like schools and perform there, bringing the message that we have come to talk about the Earth and how we must preserve and protect it,” says she.

Raj’s love for nature stems from being born in the beautiful village of Anjuna. “Seeing being compromised in every corner of Goa, I felt this was the right opportunity to spread awareness through the lovely voices of these children,” he says.

Training the children’s choir was a challenging and wonderful experience for Raj, who says, “Going down to their level, accepting their views and ideas in making the song sound better makes them happy and increases their contribution.”

The songs to be performed on the day are: "No more walks" / "Back to the earth", "Glorious", "Tree song", "Don't worry, be happy", "Save the earth" (original), "Thank you for the music" and "Earth song"/ "Heal the world".

The songs to be performed on the day are: "No more walks" / "Back to the earth", "Glorious", "Tree song", "Don't worry, be happy", "Save the earth" (original), "Thank you for the music" and "Earth song"/ "Heal the world".

DETAILS

WHAT: Songs for the Earth - A children's choral concert

WHERE: Museum of Christian Art, Old Goa

WHEN: Sunday, November 17, 2024

TIMINGS: 6.30 pm to 7.30 pm

FEES: Free entry, on first-come, first-served basis