Members from the ICI Central Choir.

From Timothy Z. Zote with inputs from Bangalore

Saikot/Bangalore: The 26-member Independent Church of India Central Choir will be in Bangalore from August 13 to 20 for a gospel concert which is being arranged at various churches across the IT capital of India.

The winner of ‘Most Successful Mizo Choir’ and one of the oldest Hmar community’s church choir will showcase their talents in praise of God at the St. Andrew’s Church on August 15 (6.30 pm), at Bethel AG Church on August 17 (6.30pm) and at the Methodist Church on August 19 (6.00pm).

The choir members will be lodged at the Frontier Management Centre and all arrangements have been made by the North East Olive Branch Charitable Trust which is sponsoring the tour. “We are happy that Dr&Mrs Michael Morton of Bangalore for taking the steps in this regards,” the choir leaders said.

The ICI Central Choir is also expected to attend the Bangalore Hmar Christian Fellowship on August 19.

“We are fortunate to have this opportunity and we cannot deny that it is the hand of God that is working right now,” choir members said speaking to Mizonews.net

They will present songs in English, Hmar and Dulian (Mizo).

The ICI Central Choir was started in 1988 and is celebrating its Silver Jubilee next year. They have produced 12 music albums in various languages like Mizo (Duhlian), Hmar, Naga (Lengmei) and Dimasa. They are working on their 13^th Music Video Album now.

An important landmark in the choir’s history came in early 2000s when their songs inspired the Mizos world over, particularty Mizoram where the old and young alike were touched by God through their songs.

The band was given the higest award in Mizo music industry, “Lelte Award”, in 2006 for “Best Successful Choir Conductor” and “Most Successful Choir Award”.

The members of the choir are mostly natives of Tuithaphai valley in Churachandpur distrcit of Manipur. They belong to the Hmar community, one of the largest group of Mizo tribes.

The choir’s leader for the Bangalore Concert is Rev. H.P. Runremthang, Evangelist at Large, who will be accompanied by Youth Coordinator Rev Zothanghrim and conductor Pu Vanlalbel.