Voices of devotion — a Lenten musical journey across cities
Mendes is the key singer in the choir that is currently led by Celeste Cordo — a noted arranger, producer, conductor, accompanist, and violinist.
The Newman Choir was founded by Fr. J. B. Fernandes in the wake of the 38th International Eucharistic Congress in Mumbai in 1964, where he conducted a choir of 600 voices. Edward Mendes, an engineer who graduated from the Indian Institute of Science (IISc)and quit the profession to become a voice trainer pursued his passion for Western music teaching the Bel Canto technique to aspiring singers.
As part of the lenten outreach activities, Mendes has been instrumental in showcasing the efforts of the Newman choir by bringing performances to churches in Pune, Mumbai and Goa.
In Pune recently, Mendes, who is president of the Fr J B Fernandes Sacred Music Foundation, said that the Newman Choir was set up some six decades ago. “The foundation’s primary aim is to preserve and promote traditional and classical Sacred Music and has showcased the Newman Choir in numerous Sacred Music concerts. We organise an annual lenten outreach and presented a performance, Shadows of the Passion, at St. Patrick’s Cathedral recently. Another one is now planned for March 23 at Church of St. Pius X, Mulund,” he said.
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