By Gasper Crasto
Kuwait: Slenzitta D’Cruz (Female) and Aeral Paul Fernandes (Male) will represent Bahrain in the First ever GULF VOICE OF GOA Konkani singing competition.
The mega event organized by Goan Cultural Centre is scheduled to take place Friday 22nd February 2019 at Khaldiya University Auditorium, Kuwait.
Organized in aid of the Bahrain Cathedral, the event is supported by well-known Goan NRIs in the Middle-East - Mr. Carmo Santos, Agnello Fernandes and Bosco Leitao (Kuwait), Simon D’Silva (Doha Qatar), Gabriel Crasto and Francis Correia (Bahrain), Gabby de Chandor (Dubai), Anthony Lourenco (Muscat) and Joe Fernandes (Saudi Arabia).
SLENZITTA D’CRUZ:
Children won’t grow up exactly like their parents but will certainly have some character traits of one or both parents.
Slenzitta D’Cruz, daughter of popular Konkani stage artistes Ophelia and Quixote hailing from Cansaulim-Goa, is one such child born and brought up in Bahrain.
Walking in the footsteps of her parents, she has shown remarkable talent in singing and acting.
From a young age since her schooling days, Slenzita has participated in Konkani programs.
Slenzita’s singing prowess in cultural programs caught the attention of Bahrain tiatrists and eventually she was featured in almost in almost every tiatr staged in Bahrain.
The admired youngster was felicitated by CRAB International of Bahrain as upcoming star of the Konkani stage in 2014.
Slenzita, who was crowned Young Goans Club, May Queen in 2017, has travelled to Kuwait earlier to participate in a tiatr, where she was much appreciated.
AERAL PAUL FERNANDES
Aeral, a resident of Bahrain for the last 12 years.
The youngster has had a passion for singing since his childhood, he would scribble some verses and sing them, making up his own tunes.
Aeral was in the church choir from the age of 11.
The atmosphere at his schooling at Don Bosco, Tuem, helped him to learn more about music.
Aeral has written and directed over ten gospel plays and four Konkani skits in his locality in Goa.
Aeral produced his first Konkani songs album, soon after he arrived into Bahrain entitled ‘Dor Ek Dis’. His talent was recognized by the local Konkani program organizers in Bahrain and he was given an opportunity to perform with the visiting cultural group ‘Goenchim Noketram’ in 2009.
The youngster has also presented songs and participated in cultural programs for Bandra Fair, Konkani Harvest Festival, Sacred Heart Church Family Day and at the Annual Day celebrations of Young Goans Club.
Aeral, who was in the Catholic Charismatic Youth Team in Goa for six years, always had a wish to praise God through music. He had his dream fulfilled, releasing his 1st gospel album titled ‘Dawn of Hope’ (Bhorvaxeacho Fanto) on his wedding day on 11.11.11.
The album is available both in English and Konkani.
GULF VOICE OF GOA
The main competition is classified for Gulf residents of Goan origin. 2 participants from each country are shortlisted to sing at the Grand finale that will see the crowning of best Gulf Goan male and female singers.
Apart from the competition, entertaining songs, dances and hilarious comedy skits will be a special feature of the show.
A number of delegates and dignitaries from the Gulf States, Goa, and Kuwait are expected to be in attendance.
A band ensemble with a contingent of musicians led by Kuwait’s Maestro Soccor D’Mello and Goa’s Norman Cardozo will form a fusion of music to energize the evening.
Performing artistes apart from Kuwait artistes include Goa’s Melody King Lawry Travasso, Celebrity singer/musician Velrose Pereira (Oman), Goencho Avaz winner Classy Cardozo (Goa), Rhythmic singer Michael D’Silva (Goa), Celebrated Thomazino Cardozo & Irene Cardozo (Goa), Sanio Fernandes (Dubai), Avers Pereira (Oman), Goencho Tallo (UAE) Winner Florinda Cardozo (Sharjah), etc.