Striking A Chord: Mentoring young artistes

Advisor to Chief Minister of Nagaland Abu Metha and others with the children of Sunshine Orchestra, Nagaland at the Kohima Orphanage and Destitute Home on July 12.

Sunshine Orchestra, Nagaland Chapter commemorates first year

Morung Express News
Kohima | July 12 

When twenty children aged between 8 and 11 from Kohima Orphanage and Destitute Home were selected to be a part of the ‘Sunshine Orchestra family’ in 2020 under the aegis of AR Rahman Foundation, most of them had little or no knowledge about violins. A year on, Sunshine Orchestra, Nagaland Chapter has shown immense growth and progress.

“20 children from Nagaland, in this Indo-Myanmar border, being taught and mentored by an Oscar and Grammy winner all out of his goodwill is priceless,” said Abu Metha, Advisor to Chief Minister of Nagaland during an event at the Kohima Orphanage and Destitute Home on Monday evening. July 12 commemorates one year of Sunshine Orchestra, Nagaland Chapter.

He said that Dr AR Rahman’s contribution to the state cannot be measured in monetary terms while stating that “we are so thankful to him that he chose Nagaland and has given these children exclusivity and the opportunity” to be trained under his personal initiative. He stated belief that the children would go on to perform on big platforms through Dr AR Rahman.

Metha further told the children to dream big while putting across that “some of the world's greatest personalities were also orphans like you once. They faced greater challenges like you but as you grow up, you also become stronger and better than others.” The best part, he said was that the children belong to a big family and they have so many people praying, supporting and helping them.

He also motivated them by saying that, “if you want to achieve anything in this world, you must be brave.” “When you are brave, you develop courage, and when you are courageous you will be able to overcome anything in life,” he told the children. Reminding them that each person in this world is special, he said, “as long as you work hard and are honest, you will definitely succeed one day.”

On learning the violin over the past one year, he said that they must enjoy the music even while learning. “You are very fortunate to be trained under AR Raman, one of the world's greatest musicians, overseeing your music training. Many people want to get that opportunity and you are very lucky. Enjoy your music, work hard,” he encouraged the children.

Advisor to Task Force for Music & Arts (TaFMA), Theja Meru said that “this music project is very special music project to Nagaland, to the Chief Minister of Nagaland and Dr AR Rahman, under whose guidance the children are being taught by Violinist Nourhe Khate.” He hoped to see them perform on big stages in the days to come and further thanked Abu Metha for always supporting arts and music in Nagaland.

Project Director of TaFMA, Hovithal Sothu told the children to celebrate their achievement for the last one year and commended them by saying, “you have been doing very well.”

Mention may be made here that the Sunshine Orchestra provide free musical training to the socially and economically deprived children with an aptitude in music under the AR Rahman Foundation.