CHRISTIAN SINGERS SEEK MORE SUPPORT

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Vocalists use World Music Day to promote their art and press for better rewards.

While others celebrated World Music Day yesterday, Christian singers used the event to urge more support to see their art develop and progress.

The nation marked the day with a cultural show at theBangladesh National Academy for Fine and Performing Artsin Dhaka organized by the Musical Organizations Coordination Council of Bangladesh.

World Music Day, or Fête de la Musique, is a music festival that began in France in 1987 and is now held in many countries on June 21.

Minister for information and cultural affairs Abul Kalam Azad was guest of honor and who announced a one-billion taka (around US$13.5 million) budget for cultural events over the next year.

However, Christian artists yesterday complained that there are few initiatives from within Christian circles to promote music and singers.

“Christian organizations need to promote singers more. We need to organize training to take our singers to national level,” said prominent singer Joseph Komol Rodriques.

He said the Catholic Bishops’ Christian Communications Center arranges only two national events over Christmas and Easter, and no training for would-be singers.

“Nowadays fewer parents encourage their children to sing. This should change,” Rodriques added.

Dilip Gregory, a radio singer, said many singers are underpaid.

“There are many organizations spending lots of money on trivial things but they don’t like to reward singers. Even in radio, payments per song performed are not satisfactory, they should increase,” he said.

Popular female artist, Anima D’Costa, however was more philosophical, saying the most challenging thing in music is to survive in the business which is possible only through continuous practice.

Music can also be a very effective tool in spreading Christian values, she added.

Related report

Christian Cultural Academy Seeks To Empower Christian Artists

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