Lipokmar Tzudir ~ The Choir Maestro

Music, for him is the outflow of the best human soul. But growing up, Lipokmar Tzudir never imagined there could be a career in music even as he confesses that it was only after joining Patkai in 1995 that he realized there is such a thing called ‘professional musician’ and that, until then, he thought he wanted to become a Lawyer or an Army or even a Theologian.

And almost with a tone of disappointment, he says, “when I realised that I had some talents in music, I was already 17 years old- too late to compete with others who grew up under professional tutelage. I was full of envy and regret for never having such opportunities and guidance.  Therefore I shoved aside the idea despite spending more time in singing than studying.”

But as they say, it’s never too late to follow a dream, he did resolve to pursue a career in music when he was about to finish studies in Patkai. Yet, with a little tinge of regret, he expresses “I was nearing 22 and felt hopeless, but it was divine intervention that prompted me to embark on something I so love to do.”

And this was how he went on to finish his Bachelor of Music in conducting and composition at Asian Institute for Liturgy and Music, Philippines prior to receiving a Master’s degree in Ethnomusicology from the University of Sheffield, UK. There, he was part of the Holme Valley Singers, which was already a reputed choir in West Yorkshire, United Kingdom, under James Morgan who had led the choir with great style and passion for over 25 years.

Reminiscing on this, he says, “I knew that it was clearly going to be a hard act to follow. This was a choir that had been performing perhaps even before I learned nursery rhymes. But to my utter surprise and Joy, they were a bunch of lovely people: humble, organized and committed. They showed me a lot of love and respect as much as I had for them. And I owe them a fortune for some amazing performances during my one year stint as their Music Director.”

However, he left the choir after a while, and in his words, “with a lot of regret as we were gearing up for a major choral competition (which they won), but looking back at it now, I believe, I made the right choice to come back home to my calling.”

Back home, he is known as the brainchild behind the famed “Mokokchung Chancel Choir”. So, how did this really come about? Not many people perhaps know that he was offered admissions and scholarship for master in Conducting at the Columbus State University, USA, which was scheduled to commence from July 2005.

But since he had been away for more than 5 years in the Philippines, he decided 'why don't I go home and do something with my people before I go to the USA'. That February, he came home with the ambition to train a few singers at home and possibly do a concert before he left for the USA in July.

Recalling the beginning of this venture, he remembers sharing the idea with a friend who gave him a very negative response- “What could you possibly do in 3 months?”  But this served as a driving point for him and I told himself- 'I'll show you what I can do in 3 months' and that's how we started Mokokchung Chancel Choir. By April, they already got an offer to perform in a Choral festival in Delhi.

He speaks kindly of Pastor Bendang Jamir, who helped him go door to door scouting for singers before they managed to assemble about 30 singers. “They were not so talented, nor had any training whatsoever, many were school drop-outs, but one thing I told them was: 'give me your passion and I will help you do great things'- sure enough we got both!”

This is what will does! Even if it takes rehearsing intensively 3 to 4 hours every day as he recalls, “it was literally sweat and tears but by God's grace, our hard work paid off. We stood out in the choral festival and that served as a reckoning moment. I decided to decline the USA offer as I felt it would be unfair to leave the choir behind after all the hard work they endured. It was therefore only in 2007 that I decided to pursue my masters, which eventually was at the University of Sheffield, UK.”

By now, the Mokokchung Chancel Choir has done more than 80 shows outside Nagaland, which, he feels has mostly been rewarding owing to better concert halls and state of the art sound system although there were a few episodes of disappointments with accommodation and travels but those, he says are expected once in a while when you travel with a big group.

“Appreciation and understanding of the choral art has also been more receptive outside Nagaland which unfortunately should be otherwise. When we perform in places like Delhi or Chennai the audiences there look out for new ideas but at home it's just the opposite. Our people look out mostly for familiar ideas, which actually is shallow”, he puts across.

Although the state has been less receptive of his enormous talent, he has certainly come a long way performing for many great events including Asia-Pacific choral symposium at Singapore with the Philippine Chamber Choir in 2002, International Choral Festival at Manila with the Asian Ensemble in 2004, Choral Music of the North-East in Delhi with Mokokchung Chancel Choir in 2005, “Bhakti Utsav” (International singing festival) Nehru Park, New Delhi with Mokokchung Chancel Choir in 2006, Music arranger and Conductor at the first and second Octave Festivals at Delhi and Hydrabad respectively during 2006-2007, Conductor of North-East singers at New York ‘Celebrating India’s 60 years of Independence’ in 2007, Concerts at Brodsworth, Doncaster, Huddersfield, Barnsley: UK, with the Holme Valley Singers as Music Director/ Conductor in 2008, Performed at India premiere of Mack Wilberg’s Tres Cantus Laudendi, in Dimapur and Kohima with the Patkai Chorale in 2009, Concerts in various cities of India with Mokokchung Chancel Choir,  and Patkai Chorale in 2010 and numerous concerts in various cities of India with Nagaland Singing Ambassadors, performed at the International Culture Mix festival with 50 singers from the Scandinavian countries and Nagaland Singing Ambassadors through 2011.

It comes as no surprise that he was awarded the Sangeet Natak Akademi's 'Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar' in 2006, which is a national recognition for contribution in choral music. And then, only recently, the Governor’s Award for excellence in Music but when asked how he feels about this, he wistfully says, “I learned that in 2006 Mr. Abhishek Singh (former DC of Mokokchung) nominated me for the same award. I selfishly and mistakenly felt I deserved it at that time, but when I finally receive it in 2011, I feel there are people who deserve it more than I do.” “We render service to our people and country not for awards or accolades, but once in a while when such honour comes our way, it simply inspires us to do even more”, the music maestro has to say.

Regardless of the many feats he has achieved, when asked what it takes to be where he is today, he simply states, “I cleaned toilets and chimneys, mobbed floors, washed dishes, ran chores for others, besides studying and practicing over sleepless nights and still do, to be where I am now... It is all worth it!” And yes, he never forgets that he was born and raised in Mokokchung town to hardworking parents whose primary goal was to give their four sons decent education despite their meager income.

And just in case we are still thinking Music in Nagaland is more of a hobby that almost everybody is part of in church or something, then, he discards this notion by saying, “to become a musician is much more than interest and hobby. It is a way of life and one needs discipline, focus, commitment, determination and above all else- Talent. Many youngsters jump into the game without realizing their talents and often get burned out when real pressure and competition crops up.”

Music, he also asserts is not about winning competitions or acquiring certificates but an embodiment and manifestation of God's artistry. One can't just take it for granted. “It needs to have a focus or goal. Music helps each one of us find our unique social niche, bringing us together with other folks that share similar interests", he maintains.

He is now entirely committed together with James Shikiye Swu to establish Nagaland Conservatory of Music that will offer bachelor of music degree commencing this July 2012.  “Five years from now, I pray that we will have enough resources to introduce music as a curriculum in all the schools in Nagaland in collaboration with Nagaland State government”, he hopes.

The vibrant youth, who loves watching football and is a diehard fan of Liverpool FC is looking forward to see Nagaland Premier League kickoff besides his thriving music career.