{ Shillong Chamber Choir } “You’ve got to think digital”

“Financially, the entertainment industry has been the hardest hit in the past year. 100 per cent of the choir’s earnings have been through live shows, not Instagram, Facebook or YouTube. We’ve had to cancel over 20 shows, and immediately reinvent. We had to find a way to stay afloat. The first thing that came to mind was Uncle’s Ark or Uncle’s home delivery. What can we do to serve our community while also keep ourselves occupied? Then the choir – what are we best at? To sing, heal and inspire. Luckily, we were able to stay afloat because we had resources and income saved over the past several years of our existence. We did charity shows but we also quickly set up a virtual studio space,” says William Richmond Basaiawmoit, lead singer of the choir.

They did a fundraiser for the TeamWork Arts campaign called I Believe Art Matters to raise funds for artistees who have been affected due to the pandemic through the course of these several months, and raised about ₹60 lakhs. “People forget about the spotboys, make-up artistees, those who make the instruments, the back-up singers, instrumentalists –thousands of people involved in the entertainment industry who rely on it for a living,” he says.

“You have to go digital, think out of the box, and use our power of art to inspire. I urge all musicians to use their art to heal. Because world needs it now more than ever and art is a great way of giving hope. I think that is our duty as artistees, and musicians. We expect people to give us and donate, but it’s in giving that we receive,” he concludes.

“I URGE ALL MUSICIANS TO USE THEIR ART TO HEAL” —WILLIAM RICHMOND BASAIAWMOIT