Thanks Thanks, I give You Thanks! A Thanksgiving Choral Concert by BMA

Thanks Thanks, I give You Thanks! A Thanksgiving Choral Concert by BMA

Thanks, Thanks, I give You Thanks! A Thanksgiving Service and Choral & Orchestral Concert by Balmatta Musical Association (BMA) Choir and Orchestra conducted by Oscar Weltha in Commemoration of the 90th Anniversary Celebration of the BMA

Mangaluru: The last time that I had witnessed such a large group of singers/musicians in a choral and orchestral concert was the Mormon Tabernacle Choir in Salt Lake City, Utah-USA in 2010. But locally here, on Sunday, 12 February 2017, a Thanksgiving Service followed by a Choral and Orchestral concert at the CSI Shanthi Cathedral, Balmatta, Mangaluru was far by the best concert which was simply unbelievable and enthralled the packed audience in the Church.

To commemorate the 90th Anniversary of The Balmatta Musical Association, the members of the Association invited all music lovers of Mangaluru City to the Choral & Orchestral Concert. The Concert conducted by the young virtuoso Oscar Weltha, is a soul-stirring amalgam of Church Music. Wg Cdr.I.D.Soans, Prof. of Computer Science &Engg., Atria Institute of Technology, Bengaluru, was the Chief Guest, who also released the Anniversary Souvenir. In addition to the Choir, music lovers were treated to a repertoire of instruments – strings, percussion and wind.

The welcome address was delivered by Rev Sydney S Salins- President of BMA, which was followed by a (Prelude-Orchestra) Medley- “The Star in the East”. Rt Rev Dr JS Sadananda recited a prayer, followed by mixed group Choir renditions of ” Enter into His gates”; “Shepherds Abiding”; “If God be for Us”; “Immanuel”. The men exclusive choir gave a Tamil tune arranged by Justus. The Young Voices then sang ” Thanks, Thanks, I give You Thanks”. Chief guest Wg Cdr I D Soans was felicitated by BMA with a Shawl, fruit basket and memento- he also released the Anniversary souvenir.

The list of songs performed by the Choir were- “Wonderful Grace of Jesus”; “Faith of Our fathers”; “The Lord is my Shepherd”; “Great is Thy Faithfulness” and “Make Me a Blessing”. A Tulu prayer song was also sung by the Choir. The Vote of thanks was proposed by Reginod C Soans-secretary, BMA, while the entire programme was professionally compered by Dr Charles V Furtado. The closing prayer and Benediction was done by Rt Rev Dr C L Furtado.

The Balmatta Musical Association had completed 90 years of its glorious history last year. The Balmatta Musical Association (BMA) has been serving the Church in particular and the society at large through its choirs and music. 1926 is a very auspicious year in the history of the Balmatta Musical Association. It was then that several music enthusiasts belonging to the Shanthi Church, Balmatta, formed the BMA in an inaugural meeting in the Balmatta Theological Seminary. By the grace of God and the conscientious efforts of many musicians and music lovers, the BMA has grown from strength to strength and now, is continuing to serve the Church by promoting the musical talents of its members and thereby helping to raise the standard of Church music.

Among the many milestones traversed by the BMA, the most prominent are the Golden Jubilee Concert in 1977, the Diamond Jubilee Concert in 1986, the Platinum Jubilee Concert in 2002, the Concert to celebrate the 80th Anniversary of the BMA in 2006 and the Concert in commemoration of the sesquicentennial celebrations of CSI Shanthi Cathedral, Balmatta, in 2012.

So the members of BMA decided that it was appropriate to organise a Choral and Orchestral Concert to mark its 90th Anniversary. Through its choral and orchestral renditions, the members of the BMA thank the Almighty for all the gracious blessings He has showered upon the BMA and pray that He continues to use the BMA as His instrument for His glory in the years to come. Long live the BMA!