This weekend, the Bangalore Chorus is returning to the stage with Big Bang Carnaval, a lively performance blending music and movement. The chorus, led by director Maya Mascarenhas, has evolved over 10 years from a small group into a massive 150-member ensemble. This diverse group ranges in age from four to 60, celebrating music across generations. TAPPING INTO THE UNTAPPED POTENTIALWhat makes the process special for her is the profound change she observes in the young performers. “We have children who walk in too shy even to look up, and by the end, they’re prancing across the stage with full confidence. That’s the joy of it for me, watching that metamorphosis is amazing.” Maya firmly believes in pushing her performers toward excellence. “We’re not interested in mediocrity,” she says. “We encourage them to aim higher, to surprise themselves.” She notes that the children consistently exceed expectations, practising diligently and coming prepared for the group.A 150-PERSON CHOIRDirecting such a large group has been a rewarding challenge for Maya. “The performers rehearse in smaller sections for most of the year. Each group learns their songs separately. Only in the final two weeks do we bring everyone together. That’s when it becomes chaos; the first few rehearsals are wild. But once they start syncing, something magical happens,” she says.
