Kohima, April 13 (MExN): The Margaret Shishak School of Music (MSSM) singers and Nagaland String Orchestra (NSO), presented a memorable evening of Western classical and choral music at the G. Rio Auditorium in Kohima on April 12, performing a thoughtfully curated programme titled ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’.
The concert featured three carefully structured sets that showcased the musical breadth and artistic discipline of Nagaland’s growing classical music community, drawing appreciation from audiences for both repertoire selection and performance quality.
The evening opened with the MSSM singers, performing Peter Anglea’s Jubilate Deo, Morten Lauridsen’s Sure on This Shining Night, John Rutter’s lively When Daisies Pied, Cedric Dent’s spiritual arrangement He’s Got the Whole World, and Cum Sancto from Gloria by Hyo-won Woo.
The second segment featured the Nagaland String Orchestra performing WA Mozart’s Divertimento in F (Allegro, Andante, Presto), followed by Gustav Holst’s St Paul’s Suite, including the movements Jig, Ostinato, Intermezzo, and Finale (The Dargason).
The concert continued with a combined performance by the MSSM singers and the NSO playing Mozart’s Gloria from the 12th Mass.
Another highlight was Veni, Sancte Spiritus, K.47.
The concert concluded with a moving arrangement of You’ll Never Walk Alone with Climb Every Mountain, arranged by Mark Hayes, featuring tenor Moameren Pongen as soloist.
The MSSM singers are an auditioned collegiate choir comprising Bachelor of Music students from the Margaret Shishak School of Music at Patkai Christian College (Autonomous).
The ensemble has developed a diverse Western choral repertoire and regularly performs across Nagaland and beyond.
The Nagaland String Orchestra, under the leadership of concert director Joey Woch and coordinator Louise Shishak, continues to promote ensemble string performance in the state.
Although currently functioning as a chamber-sized orchestra due to limited availability of violists and cellists, the group has collaborated widely with churches and choral ensembles.
Notable collaborations include performances with the MSSM Singers in Dimapur in 2019, and in 2022 during the Classical Gala Concert alongside the Nagaland Chamber Choir, and participation in the Kohima Sanctuary Choir’s Jubilee Celebration Concert in August 2025.
Sunday’s concert was conducted by Mhonroni R. Lotha, assistant professor in conducting at the Margaret Shishak School of Music and a founding member of the Nagaland Choral Directors Association.
Lotha has conducted choirs nationally and internationally and previously performed with the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra. She completed her Master of Arts in Church Music and Master of Music in Conducting from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, USA.
Joey Woch, concertmaster of the Nagaland String Orchestra, is a violinist and classical guitarist with more than 25 years of teaching experience.
He teaches at the Margaret Shishak School of Music, the Nagaland Conservatory of Music, and his own studio, and is also the founding president of the Nagaland Classical Guitar Society.
Woch was also recently announced as the brand ambassador of Sears Classical guitar at the India International Guitar Festival in Kolkata.
Accompanists for the evening included Ashuni Chakre (piano), Zingrin Shishak (piano), and Kiro Singkam Ch. Marak (keyboard percussion).
