Group that was meant to sing at the World Cup closing ceremony on April 2 is yet to receive confirmation; say they need time to practice

The Shillong Chamber Choir, a choir group started in 2001 and based in the North Eastern city has dashed off a letter to International Cricket Council (ICC) president Sharad Pawar seeking clarity on whether they will be performing at Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium on April 2 for the World Cup closing ceremony.



The choir, comprising 15 singers, finds itself in limbo. Spokesman and manager Damon Lyndem claimed that Showtime Event Management along with Maverick Media had approached them to be part of the closing ceremony, and they were required to sing the national anthems of the two countries that played the finals. The choir has yet to receive a written confirmation about their travel plans and schedule, although the World Cup kicked off yesterday.

"We have written a letter (Sunday Mid Day has a copy) to the ICC and faxed it on February 17, because there is little clarity on the issue. We have emails from Showtime Event Management Company, managers of the closing ceremony, inviting us to perform. But if we are to sing on April 2, we need to be informed. Usually at big ticket events, we are told at least two months in advance," said Lyndem on the phone from Shillong.u00a0

The choir that includes mostly Shillong-based singers (one is from Nagaland, and another from Paris) claims to have been practising the national anthems of all 14 participating countries for the last few months. "We have to be well prepared for such a prestigious event," said Lyndem.

Showtime Event Management Company, Managing Director (MD) Michael Menezes said over the phone from Delhi, "Showtime and Maverick suggested that the Shillong Chamber Choir sing the anthems at the closing ceremony. But we are awaiting final approvals from the ICC. Once we receive them, the Shillong Choir will be informed."

Menezes can't comprehend what the preparation fuss is about. "They need to practise just two anthems ofu00a0 countries that reach the finals, in the three days prior to the closing ceremony. If they have been practising 14 anthems, they are being a bit over-enthusiastic, I think. It's difficult to imagine Canada or even Ireland making it to the final (laughs), though I am not degrading any country."