Bharatiya Vrund Gaan, or BVG: The Indian Choir of England, is representing India at a well-known international musical festival in Wales – the Llangollen International Music Eisteddfod – on July 5.
“We are the unique Indian choir of England. We performed at the reputed venues such as Wembley Arena, The Bridgewater Hall, The Lowry, Southbank Centre, Curve and House of Commons, also performed twice in India,” says Rakesh Joshi, the force behind the choir.
Here are some highlights of BVG:
BVG, the Indian choir for adults and SHIVA, the Indian youth choir are the UK’s first Indian choirs, conceived in 2014.
Over 60 Adults and 30 Youth choir members selected through formal audition and invitation.
The traditional choir is unique, sings in seven Indian languages, includes varieties of music includes Classical raga based Tarana, Vedic chants, folk songs, famous poetry and songs of four seasons.
Rakesh Joshi introduced the concept of the first Indian choir in the UK, for the youth and adults. These singers are from Greater Manchester, Merseyside, Yorkshire, Chester, Tameside, Bolton, Croydon, Harrow and Watford.
Both choirs are managed by BVG Trust advisory committee of the UK.
“We rehearse twice a month in Manchester and in Harrow, north London,” says Joshi.
BVG and SHIVA are the first Indian youth choirs in the UK. Varieties of Indian choral compositions include Raga-based Tarana, Vedic Chants, Indian Patriotic Songs, famous poetry and Songs of four seasons – spring, summers, monsoon and winter.
“Since childhood, I have been singing bhajans and bhakti sangeet [devotional songs]. That always gives me so much peace and connectivity with the divinity. It has helped me feel closer to my inner self and has inspired me to compose new harmonies, new symphonies and new choir songs,” Joshi told iGlobal.
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This annual musical festival, which concludes this weekend, is by day a stage to experience culture from across the world, and by night host to a star studded line up from across the spectrum – from jazz to indie-rock.