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{{Short description|Indian concert pianist and conductor (1970–2022)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2022}}
{{Use Indian English|date=December 2018}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Neil Nongkynrih
| image = Shri Neil Herbert Nongkynrih.jpg
| caption = Nongkynrih in 2020
| image_size =
| birth_name = 
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1970|07|09|df=yes}}
| birth_place = Jaiaw Langsning, [[Shillong, Meghalaya]], India
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2022|01|05|1970|07|09|df=yes}}
| death_place = [[Mumbai]], [[Maharashtra]], India
| occupation = [[Pianist]], [[songwriter]], [[keyboardist]], [[music teacher]], [[Conducting|conductor]], [[Central Board of Film Certification]]
| genre = [[Classical music|Classical]], [[Pop music|pop]], [[jazz]], [[Hindustani classical music|Hindustani]], [[Folk music|folk]], [[opera]]
| years_active = 1987–2022
| instrument = Piano, keyboard
| website = {{URL|http://www.shillongchamberchoir.com/}}
}}

'''Neil Nongkynrih''' (9 July 1970 – 5 January 2022) was an Indian [[concert pianist]] and [[Conductor (music)|conductor]]. He founded the [[Shillong Chamber Choir]] (SCC), which won the reality show ''[[India's Got Talent]]'' in 2010.<ref name="OK North East">{{cite web|url=http://www.oknortheast.com/2014/07/neil-nongkynrih.html |title=Neil Nongkynrih – the North-East-India's Chopin |work=OK North East |date=11 July 2014 }}</ref> He was awarded [[Padma Shri]], the fourth highest civilian award of India in 2015.<ref>[http://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ians/owe-my-padma-shri-to-god-shillong-chamber-choir-founder-ians-interview-115012700427_1.html Owe my Padma Shri to god: Shillong Chamber Choir founder], ''[[Business Standard]]''</ref>

==Early life==
Nongkynrih was born in Jaiaw Langsning, Khasi Hills district, in the then state of [[Assam]] (now [[East Khasi Hills district]], [[Meghalaya]] state) to A. H. Scott Lyngdoh, a former state minister of Meghalaya, and Elvirial Nongkynrih.<ref name="OK North East"/> His grand- aunt introduced him to works by [[Mozart]] and [[Beethoven]] at an early age. Most of his initial lessons in music were from his sister, Pauline Warjri, a jazz musician. In 1988, against his father's wishes, he moved to the United Kingdom to study music.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://archive.indianexpress.com/news/bach-in-the-hills/505101 |title=Bach in the hills |work=[[The Indian Express]] |date=23 August 2009 |access-date=11 July 2014}}</ref>

== Career ==
Nongkynrih studied music at [[Trinity College of Music|Trinity College]] and [[Guildhall School of Music]] in [[London]]. He performed in numerous shows as a concert pianist in United Kingdom.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-metroplus/beyond-the-chamber/article2702491.ece |title=Beyond the chamber |work=[[The Hindu]] |date=10 December 2011 |access-date=11 July 2014}}</ref> Nongkynrih was also teaching music in [[Oxfordshire]] in addition to the concerts. One of his students was [[Philip Selway]], a member of the [[British popular music|British]] band [[Radiohead]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.british-school.org/our-community/alumni/alumni-achievers/465.html |title=Neil Nongkynrih |website=British-school.org |access-date=11 July 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714223027/http://www.british-school.org/our-community/alumni/alumni-achievers/465.html |archive-date=14 July 2014 }}</ref> He returned to India in 2001 and started teaching [[piano]] in Shillong. In the same year, he founded the [[Shillong Chamber Choir]] (SCC).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tehelka.com/all-together-now-and-with-feeling |title=All Together Now And With Feeling |work=[[Tehelka]] |date=16 October 2010 |access-date=11 July 2014}}</ref>

Nongkynrih worked on a wide variety of musical genres ranging from Western and Indian classical music to Bollywood and pop medleys. He wrote an opera in [[Khasi language|Khasi]], the native language of Meghalaya, with the intention to revive the dialect. The opera, titled ''Sohlyngngem'', is based on a tragic Khasi folktale which was woven into musical lingo by Nongkynrih and his team.<ref>{{Cite news|date=21 June 2015|title=Khasi opera work on: Shillong choir founder|language=en|newspaper=The Times of India|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/guwahati/Khasi-opera-work-on-Shillong-choir-founder/articleshow/47750570.cms|access-date=23 February 2020}}</ref>

===Shillong Chamber Choir===
{{Main|Shillong Chamber Choir}}

Nongkynrih came back home to [[Shillong]] in India in 2001 after fourteen years in Europe leaving behind a potential career as a classical pianist there. In a later interview he referred to the violence in the region and said he had heard the sounds of the guns early in 2001 and decided that he wanted to replace it with the sound of music.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Dutta|first=Aiyushman|date=27 June 2015|title=The Shillong experiment|url=https://www.livemint.com/Leisure/ja7XvmBeCmOhrnJtUd7k7M/The-Shillong-experiment.html|access-date=23 February 2020|website=Livemint|language=en}}</ref> From a small beginning he attracted a group of ordinary young people who made their debut as the Shillong Chamber Choir. The group covered music from folk to opera, from rock to jazz, and even included Hindustani classical and reinterpreted versions of Indian cinematic music.<ref>{{Cite web|date=24 November 2017|title=I was the first person to be allowed to play Bollywood songs at St Paul's Cathedral, Kolkata: Neil Nongkynrih|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india-today-conclave-east-2017/story/india-today-conclave-east-2017-neil-nongkynrih-shillong-chamber-choir-padma-shri-music-1093712-2017-11-24|access-date=23 February 2020|website=India Today|language=en}}</ref>

The choir shot to national fame after it won the reality talent show, [[India's Got Talent]] (Season 2) in October 2010, on [[Colors TV]], part of the [[Got Talent]] franchise, where it performed western chorals, as well as choral-style revamps of [[Hindi]] film ([[Bollywood]]) classics.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Shillong Chamber Choir wins India's Got Talent Khoj 2|url=https://www.sify.com/movies/shillong-chamber-choir-wins-iindias-got-talent-khoj-2i-imagegallery-bollywood-kkfkCqcihchsi.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200223050038/https://www.sify.com/movies/shillong-chamber-choir-wins-iindias-got-talent-khoj-2i-imagegallery-bollywood-kkfkCqcihchsi.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=23 February 2020|access-date=23 February 2020|website=Sify|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=3 October 2010|title=Shillong Choir wins 'India's Got Talent Khoj 2'|url=https://www.news18.com/news/india/indias-got-talent-2-349624.html|access-date=23 February 2020|website=News18}}</ref> Under Nongkynrih's direction, the choir participated in the 6th [[World Choir Games]] held at [[Shaoxing]] [[China]] ([[Shanghai]]) in July 2010 and was awarded Gold in all three categories viz. Musica Sacra, Gospel and Popular.<ref>{{Cite web|date=30 July 2010|title=Bollywood aided Shillong choir's gold run|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india/bollywood-aided-shillong-choir-s-gold-run/story-ULUBAg8ECS9fGFfKCi1BwI.html|access-date=23 February 2020|website=Hindustan Times|language=en}}</ref> The choir also performed for [[Barack Obama]] and [[Michelle Obama]], the [[President of the United States|US President]] and [[First Lady of the United States|first lady]] at the time, during their visit to India in 2010.<ref>{{Cite news|agency=PTI|date=30 October 2010|title=Shillong Chamber Choir to perform for Barack Obama|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/music/Shillong-Chamber-Choir-to-perform-for-Barack-Obama/article15798201.ece|access-date=23 February 2020|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> The choir also worked on several projects, albums and collaborations. Nongkynrih's version of "[[Vande Mataram]]" was sung by the SCC on [[National Geographic]] during a live telecast covering the launch of [[Chandrayaan-2]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Shillong Chamber Choir to honour Chandrayaan 2's moon landing by singing Vande Mataram|url=https://www.timesnownews.com/lifestyle/trending/article/chandrayaan-2-landing-songshillong-chamber-choir-to-honour-chandrayaan-2s-moon-landing-by-singing-vande-mataram/483688|access-date=23 February 2020|website=www.timesnownews.com|language=en}}</ref>

The SCC has performed extensively in India and has toured parts of the world. Over the years, Nongkynrih worked on revamping the Choir's repertoire with many new compositions and out of the box medleys apart from the opera ''Sohlyngngem'' that he was working on.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Singing opera in Khasi: The Shillong Chamber Choir – Toko Anu in conversation with William Richmond Basaiawmoit|url=https://indianculturalforum.in/2019/10/25/singing-opera-in-khasi-the-shillong-chamber-choir/|access-date=23 February 2020|website=indianculturalforum.in|language=en-US}}</ref>

=== Collaborations and social causes ===
Nongkynrih collaborated with various artists. Some of his collaborations with international orchestras included the London Concertante, the [[Vienna Chamber Orchestra]]<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Shillong Chamber Choir|url=http://www.easternpanorama.in/index.php/cover-story/62-2010/october/1155-the-man-behind-the-scenes|access-date=9 January 2022|website=Eastern Panorama|language=en-gb}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=6 January 2022|title=Neil Nongkynrih trained the Shillong Chamber Choir to be selfless. Not just in their music|url=https://theprint.in/opinion/neil-nongkynrih-trained-the-shillong-chamber-choir-to-be-selfless-not-just-in-their-music/796617/|access-date=9 January 2022|website=ThePrint|language=en-US}}</ref> and the [[Fitzwilliam Quartet]] in Switzerland.<ref name="ShillongTimes-20220109" /> His choir also performed with other artists, such as [[Boman Irani]] and [[Hariharan (singer)|Hariharan]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=5 January 2022|title=Shillong Chamber Choir's founder Neil dies|url=http://www.nagalandpost.com/shillong-chamber-choir-s-founder-neil-dies/247914.html|website=[[Nagaland Post]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Boman Irani sings in a choir|url=https://www.dnaindia.com/entertainment/report-boman-irani-sings-in-a-choir-2286390|access-date=10 January 2022|website=DNA India|language=en}}</ref> A collaboration with [[Zakir Hussain (musician)|Zakir Hussain]], [[Usha Uthup]] and [[Shankar–Ehsaan–Loy]] led to a best-selling Christmas music album in 2011.<ref name="ShillongTimes-20220109" />

Under the SCC banner, Nongkynrih worked on projects which have contributed to notable social causes. These include:

* Collaboration with tabla maestro [[Zakir Hussain (musician)|Ustad Zakir Hussain]] for 'The Foundation' of which actor [[Rahul Bose]] is the founder.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://thefoundation.in/equation-3.html|title=The Foundation|website=thefoundation.in|access-date=23 February 2020}}</ref>
* Performances at the [[Gateway of India]] in remembrance of the 26/11 terror attacks in 2012 & 2013.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.nagalandpost.com/emissaries-of-peace-from-ne-performs-at-the-gateway-of-india/178679.html|title=Emissaries of peace from NE performs at the Gateway of India|date=25 November 2012|website=Nagaland Post}}</ref>
* Sang for 'Saath Hai Hum Uttarakhand' - a [[StarPlus|Star Plus]] fundraiser for the Uttarakhand flood relief.<ref>{{Citation|title=Shillong Choir open Saath Hai Hum Uttarakhand telethon|url=https://www.ndtv.com/video/news/news/shillong-choir-open-saath-hai-hum-uttarakhand-telethon-286988|access-date=23 February 2020}}</ref>
* Performed with [[Amitabh Bachchan]] at the [[Global Citizen Festival]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sentinelassam.com/news/shillong-chamber-choir-to-perform-for-a-global-cause/|title=Shillong Chamber Choir to perform for a global cause|date=19 November 2016|website=The Sentinel|language=en-US|access-date=23 February 2020}}</ref> and Jodhpur One World Retreat.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.news18.com/news/movies/amitabh-bachchan-to-perform-with-shillong-chamber-choir-in-jodhpur-975030.html|title=Amitabh Bachchan to perform with Shillong Chamber Choir in Jodhpur|date=20 March 2015|website=News18|access-date=23 February 2020}}</ref>

=== Other projects ===

==== Central Board of Film Certification====
Nongkynrih was made a member of the board of India's [[Central Board of Film Certification]] (CBFC) in 2017.<ref>{{Cite web|date=13 August 2017|title=I've great passion for films: Neil|url=http://theshillongtimes.com/2017/08/13/ive-great-passion-for-films-neil/|access-date=23 February 2020|website=The Shillong Times|language=en-US}}</ref>

====World Choir Council====
Earlier, in 2012, Nongkynrih was appointed by the [[World Choir Council]] for a four-year term on the council.<ref>{{Cite web|date=June 2012|title=Neil appointed India rep to World Choir Council|url=http://theshillongtimes.com/2012/06/02/neil-appointed-india-rep-to-world-choir-council/|access-date=23 February 2020|website=The Shillong Times|language=en-US}}</ref>

====''Sohlyngngem'' – the opera ====
One of Nongkynrih's major projects included an opera titled ''Sohlyngngem'' which was based on a tragic [[Khasi language|Khasi]] folktale. Even though excerpts from the opera have been performed earlier, three pieces from the opera were performed by the SCC at the [[MTV India]] Music Summit in 2019, held in [[Jaipur]] which was a highlight of the three-day musical event. At the time, he was still working on the opera, which was expected to be performed by the SCC in its entirety upon completion.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Nair|first=Malini|date=19 October 2019|title=Giving Khasi language its due with an opera|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/art/giving-khasi-language-its-due-with-an-opera/article29743923.ece|access-date=23 February 2020|issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

====Home school – Shillong Chamber School====
Nongkynrih also started a home school at his residence in Shillong for children from the region. Director [[Urmi Juvekar]] made a documentary on Nongkynrih's life, titled ''The Shillong Chamber Choir and the Little Home School.''<ref>{{Citation|title=The Shillong Chamber Choir and the Little Home School (full movie)|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ivMJUNZAS4Y|language=en|access-date=10 January 2022}}</ref> The documentary was exhibited at a few international movie festivals.<ref>{{Citation|last=www.oberon.nl|first=Oberon Amsterdam|title=The Shillong Chamber Choir and the Little Home School {{!}} IDFA|url=https://www.idfa.nl/en/film/0df67b99-f87f-4856-ad8e-8f123287a153/the-shillong-chamber-choir-and-the-little-home-school|access-date=23 February 2020}}</ref> The school was later named the Shillong Chamber School and had about 20 students in attendance as of 2016. The school's curriculum various arts like music and drama, in addition to the traditional school curriculum. The students of the school have performed with the SCC and the European Concert Orchestra in Mumbai for a Christmas Concert and also before [[Rajiv Bajaj]] and cricketer [[MS Dhoni]] at a private event in Pune.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Balasubramanian|first=Malavika|date=22 December 2016|title=A very choral Christmas|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/music/A-very-choral-Christmas/article16920697.ece|access-date=23 February 2020|issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

== Honours ==
Nongkynrih was awarded the [[Padma Shri]] (the fourth highest civilian award of India) in 2015 for his contribution in the field of arts through his music.<ref>{{Cite web|date=9 April 2015|title=Neil Nongkynrih receives Padma Shri award|url=https://www.sentinelassam.com/news/neil-nongkynrih-receives-padma-shri-award/|access-date=23 February 2020|website=The Sentinel|language=en-US}}</ref> Some of his other awards included:

*Honorary doctorate for his contributions in the field of music, [[NIT Meghalaya]], 2021<ref>{{cite web|date=24 September 2021|title=NIT Meghalaya to confer honorary doctorate on Shillong Chamber Choir founder Neil Nongkynrih|url=https://www.outlookindia.com/newsscroll/nit-meghalaya-to-confer-honorary-doctorate-on-shillong-chamber-choir-founder-neil-nongkynrih/2166089|access-date=5 January 2022|publisher=Outlook India}}</ref>
* [[Padma Shri]], 2015<ref>{{cite web|date=26 January 2015|title=SCC founder Nongkynrih conferred Padma Shri|url=http://www.theshillongtimes.com/2015/01/26/scc-founder-nongkynrih-conferred-padma-shri|access-date=26 January 2015|work=The Shillong Times}}</ref>
* U Tirot Sing Award, 2011<ref>{{cite web|date=27 January 2011|title=Republic day celebrated in the state|url=http://www.megipr.gov.in/pr.asp?dt=27-01-2011|access-date=9 January 2022|publisher=Department of Information and Public Relations}}</ref><ref name="pdma">{{cite web|title=Padma Awards 2015|url=http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=114952|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150128022143/http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=114952|archive-date=28 January 2015|access-date=25 January 2015|publisher=Press Information Bureau}}</ref>
* Forbes Person of the Year, 2010–11<ref>{{cite web|date=28 December 2010|title=The Shillong Choir: A Unique Note|url=http://forbesindia.com/article/person-of-the-year-10/the-shillong-choir-a-unique-note/20702/1|access-date=11 July 2014|publisher=[[Forbes (India)]]}}</ref>
* Member, World Choir Council<ref>{{cite web|date=1 June 2012|title=Shillong choir founder named to World Choir Council|url=http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/detailsnew.asp?id=jun0112/at04|access-date=11 July 2014|publisher=[[The Assam Tribune]]}}</ref>
*Member, Central Board of Film Certification, India, 2017–2022 <ref>{{Cite web|title=CBFC Board Reconstituted|url=https://pib.gov.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=169928|access-date=23 February 2020|website=pib.gov.in}}</ref>

== Death ==
Nongkynrih died at a hospital in Mumbai on 5 January 2022, at the age of 51.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Shillong Chamber Choir founder Neil Nongkynrih dead|work=[[Press Trust of India]]|url=http://www.ptinews.com/news/13023820_Shillong-Chamber-Choir-founder-Neil-Nongkynrih-dead.html}}</ref><ref name="ShillongTimes-20220109">{{cite news |title=Meghalaya bids tearful adieu to Neil Nongkynrih |url=https://theshillongtimes.com/2022/01/09/meghalaya-bids-tearful-adieu-to-neil-nongkynrih/ |access-date=9 January 2022 |work=[[The Shillong Times]] |date=9 January 2022}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Padma Shri Award Recipients in Art}}
{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Nongkynrih, Neil}}
[[Category:1970 births]]
[[Category:2022 deaths]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian conductors (music)]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian conductors (music)]]
[[Category:21st-century pianists]]
[[Category:Indian pianists]]
[[Category:People from Shillong]]
[[Category:Alumni of Trinity College of Music]]
[[Category:Indian music educators]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Padma Shri in arts]]

Neil Nongkynrih - Revision history

Sarada22: starting new details