New Delhi: Delhi Christian Chorus (DCC), the city’s oldest performing choir, began in 1965 when a group of enthusiastic singers drawn from various churches of Delhi got together and sang in the courtyard of New Delhi YMCA. This year, the 58th year of the choir, DCC will be performing at the Cathedral Church of the Redemption on North Avenue on Sunday.
The weekly practices for the Christmas concert started in August, a few months after it presented its Easter concert. “The purpose of the choir is to provide quality music in the capital of India. It is the only group that has, for five decades, constantly and consistently presented sacred music for the music lovers of Delhi,” said Dr Royall S McLaren, director DCC. “Our selection consists of 1,500 traditional, contemporary, modern, very modern, folk, spiritual and classical choral compositions. DCC has since introduced over a hundred new composers to city audiences.”
Among the many VVIPs that have heard the singers were former PM Indira Gandhi and a first lady, besides ministers and senior bureaucrats. “Many singers trained at DCC are today performing at the international level or are leading their own groups in different cities,” said McLaren. “In fact, Zorah Shaw, founder director of Capital City Minstrels, was lead soprano and pianist of DCC for several years.”
The soloists are drawn from the ranks and young artists on instrument support are encouraged and provided with a platform to display their newly acquired skills. The membership of the choral group is totally voluntary, and singers come from various backgrounds, irrespective of their faith, spiritual leanings and cultural backgrounds.
In these 58 years only two directors have led and moulded DCC. Its founder director, Richard Smyth, now 91, was the former presbyter-in-charge of Centenary Methodist Church, Lodi Road, and has since moved back to the US but keeps in touch with the choristers.
From the time it started, close to 3,000 people have been part of DCC, including many foreigners. Embassy representatives from Canada, USA, Nigeria, New Zealand too have been part of this choir.
McLaren said, “We also raise funds and while a very small portion of the proceeds is used to cover the cost of putting up such concerts, a major part is given to organisations and institutes dedicated to the care and upliftment of the poor, needy, sick, aged, forsaken and other such less fortunate sections of our society. In the present world of total turmoil, chaos and hatred, Delhi Christian Chorus stands committed to spreading the Christian message of universal love, peace and brotherhood. We try to touch hearts with our music.”
