Good bye, Uncle Neil: Shillong Chamber Choir founder Neil Nongkynrih dies at 52

Shillong Chamber Choir founder and noted music composer Neil Nongkynrih died in Mumbai after a brief illness on Wednesday.

The 52-year-old musician led the Shillong Chamber Choir to national fame after a reality TV show about a decade ago.

Neil and the entire Choir were in Mumbai for the past three months on work. Uncle Neil, as Neil Nongkynrih was fondly known to all, was admitted to Mumbai's Reliance Hospital on Tuesday
and passed away on Wednesday evening after a surgery," a spokesman for the group said.

The mortal remains of Neil, who was awarded the Padma Shri, in 2015 would be brought back to his home in Shillong.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday paid tributes to Neil Nongkynrih, saying his creativity will always be remembered.

An alumni of London's prestigious Trinity College of Music and of Guildhall School of Music, Neil came back in 2001 after years of performing and teaching music in England, to set up the Shillong Chamber Choir.

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In 2009, the Shillong Chamber Choir collaborated with the famed Vienna Orchestra for a series of concerts.

The next year, the choir also won Gold awards at the World Choir Games in China.

However, India woke up to this talented choir and its mentor-founder after it won the reality show `India's Got Talent' in 2010.

In 2010, the choir performed for former US President Barack Obama and the then first lady Michelle Obama during their visit to India.

Notably, the choir's version of 'Vande Maataram' was played during the live telecast programme for Indian space rocket Chandrayaan - 2's landing on the moon.