Mangalore band wins hearts in Oman

The Hindu

Mangalore, 12 April 2011: A Mangalore music group that played at a programme hosted by the Indian Embassy in Oman a few days ago charmed an audience consisting largely of diplomats.

 

STRIKING A CHORD:‘Elysium’ members receiving a certificate of appreciation from Anil Wadhwa, Indian Ambassador to Oman.

 

The audience included the ambassadors and counsellors of the U.S., Turkey, Korea, Italy, Germany, Malaysia, Afghanistan, Tunisia, Bangladesh, Brazil, Sri Lanka and Egypt.

 

“The Ambassadors of the U.S. and Afghanistan came on to the stage, escorted by the Indian Ambassador, to greet the band. They shook hands with each band member,” said Joel Maxwell, member of the group.

 

Called “Band Elysium”, the team played for three hours on Thursday at the Indian Embassy in Al-Khuwair, Oman. It was the group’s first live international show and the first time that the Indian Embassy had been hosting a rock band from Dakshina Kannada. Since there were diplomats and members of the embassies across the world, the band sang a mixed selection, including semi-classical, modern, ballads and rock. It sang old and new numbers mainly in Hindi and English. They sang an Arabic song for their host country.

 

The Indian Embassy in Oman had hosted a number of cultural shows in the past, showcasing the musical and cultural talents of India. The band members got to know of the opportunity only a month ago and met Anil Wadhwa, Indian Ambassador to Oman, before the programme.

 

The band members, Joel Maxwell, Darryl Mascarenhas, Ashish Palanna, Ashley Michael, Melwin D’Souza and Loy Saldanha, are all from Mangalore.