By Gasper Crasto / Kuwait
Music, song and dance remain an integral part of the Goan identity anywhere in the world.
As Goans set up home outside Goa, they develop their own unique style. With time, these different styles evolve into great talents. This has created a distinguished identity for many Goans.
One such Goan who has evolved into a recognized talent over the years is Navelim born singer Florinda Cardozo.
Florinda was born in serene place of Aquem-Baixo (Navelim) to Assumption and Peter Cardoz – a family of artistes and musicians.
Florinda is the only pampered daughter among 3 children.
Her father Peter Cardoz was a self-taught musician who plays the guitar and harmonica with ease. Her elder brother Benny Cardoz is a versatile musician, well-known in the music circle - a regular lead guitarist at many musical events and in albums. Her other brother Mario is an ardent music buff too.
From childhood, Florinda was inclined towards music as there was ‘live’ music played in her house almost every day. She and her brothers were inspired by their father’s ability to play and breathe music.
EARLY YEARS
Florinda took up singing at a young age, singing hymns at church choirs and participating in various competitions at school and college events.
Besides singing, Florinda can play the guitar quite comfortably. She took to singing seriously after re-locating to the Middle-East and went on to team up with a trio of musicians (One World) led by famous musician Maestro Ramiro.
For quite a while, Florinda performed as a freelancer with many famous bands in UAE such as ‘Fusion Again’, ‘The Fact’, etc, to name a few.
She featured with bands at many corporate events as well as Christmas and New Year Ball at various 5-star hotels in UAE. She also mesmerized the audience at World Goa Day 2017 organized by St. Michael Goan Community in Sharjah.
THE NIGHTINGALE OF SHARJAH
Florinda has performed in all the 7 Emirates of UAE since 2010 at various corporate events and kept the audience spellbound. Among the Sharjah Parishioners, she is popularly known as the ‘Nightingale of Sharjah’.
Besides being a regular front-line singer at St. Michael’s Church Choir, Sharjah, and the Goan Community Konkani choir since 2008, she has performed at various events organized by the church during Parish festivities and community gatherings.
Florinda has also sung in a few Goan Konkani Albums namely ‘Dubaiche Goykar’, ‘Bahgevont Sam Francis Xavier’, and ‘Christmas Carols’ - an official Christmas carols album by St. Michael’s Church Sharjah in 2012.
Besides, Florinda has featured in a lead role and playback singing for the famous YouTube song titled Facebook from the album ‘Dubaiche Goenkar’.
Recently in January 2019, Florinda was crowned winner of Goycho Tallo (UAE) Singing Competition at Abu Dhabi.
CURRENT STATUS
A Bachelor of Arts from Rosary College, Navelim, Florinda currently works for a German multinational company in Sharjah in the capacity of Admin and Office Manager, since 2013.
WATCH Florinda perform as an entertaining artiste at the Gulf Voice of Goa mega event scheduled to take place at Khaldiya University, Kuwait on 22nd February 2019.
The Competition – a Tribute to Legendary Goan musician Chris Perry will feature a host of celebrity stars and artistes.
The mega event organized by Goan Cultural Centre.
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).
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 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 include:
OVERSEAS ARTISTES:
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)
KUWAIT ARTISTES:
Mario Fernandes
Gracy Rodrigues
Querobina Carvalho
Comedian Nelson
Master Valentino Pinto
Esparansa & Gasper Crasto
Kuwaiti singer - Mubarak Al Rashid
COMPERES:
G.R. Crasto (Bahrain) & Anjali Amonkar (Kuwait)
MUSICIANS:
Succor D’Mello - Lead Guitar
Fredrico D’Mello - Keyboards
Norman Cardozo (Goa) - Organ
Faustino Menezes - Trumpet
Anthony Azavedo (Goa) - Saxophone
Roswyn Fernandes (Goa) - Drums
Menino Fernandes - Bongo
Ross D’Sa - Rhythm
Johny Fernandes - Rhythm
Flaviano Furtado - Bass
Vilma Fernandes – Violin
SHORTLISTED GVoG CONTESTANTS:
KUWAIT FINALISTS:
Romeo Brangaza
Zelia Rodrigues
BAHRAIN CONTESTANTS:
Aeral Paul Fernandes
Slenzita D’cruz
UAE CONTESTANTS:
John Pereira
Aviella D’souza
QATAR CONTESTANTS:
John De Sa
Natcey Barretto
OMAN CONTESTANTS:
Maurice Xavier Rosario
Velriza Pereira
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Flyer Design: Simon Dias – ImagEnations
➡MORE at www.gulfvoiceofgoa.com
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