A mesmerising ensemble

They were barely a note through the concert and the audience were already in love. It wasn’t completely unexpected as ‘Toccata Live Concert’ is known to put on a good show every time. This year, the concerts is going on at Bishop Cotton Boys’ School.

With a theme of ‘resonance’, they will showcase a 92-member ensemble that includes the 14-member Kenyan Boys Choir and 10 dancers. This year, they are making an effort to bring together African music, which is hardly ever heard, with Western tunes. This potpourri will signal the unification of many nations, voices, talents and cultures.

The concert will be held on August 14 and 15, at 7 pm and August 16, at 3 pm and 7 pm. The founder of the event, Dr Sunil Paulraj, believes in the power of music and is inclusive of local music and talent, wherever he travels. Calling music “magical”, he equates it to medicine and its healing powers. It was in one such concert tour, in Kenya, that he invited the Kenyan Boys Choir to perform with the troupe.

‘Toccata’ is donating medical equipment to Shanti Children’s Hospital in Bagalkot, raising funds for the Reaching Hand Foundation in Bengaluru and an NGO called SRVC, which provides vocational training to the visually challenged. Tickets are available on www.bookmyshow.com and at the venue.