08 July,2026 09:04 AM IST | Mumbai | Devashish Kamble
The Mehli Mehta Music Foundation’s youth choir in performance. PICS COURTESY/MMMF
The academic year has just begun at the Mehli Mehta Music Foundation (MMMF), and they already have visitors. The California State University Fullerton's University Singers, who have performed under the wings of icons like five-time Academy Award-winner John Williams (of Star Wars, ET, and Jurassic Park fame) are now rehearsing a tune from our '90s Bollywood playlist ahead of their performance in Mumbai.
"Nearly a year ago, the group visited us with the idea to collaborate. They'd heard of our young choristers from the Singing Tree Youth Choir, and wanted to have a few sessions at the foundation. Soon, that idea evolved into arranging a performance," reveals Farahanaaz Dastur, honorary director, education programmes.
The California State University Fullerton's University Singers will arrive in the city this weekend
As they return to keep their word, we're in for a melodious cultural exchange. Led by Christopher Peterson, the visitors will bring Western classical, contemporary and American folk songs that originated in the early 1800s. In turn, the Mumbaikars will invite them to harmonise on a familiar song of unity, camaraderie, friendship, yaaron, dosti.
>> The youth choir comprising singers and musicians aged 16 years and above, will join the Fullerton singers in singing the popular 19th century choir tune, Shenandoah.
>> The song of yearning longing for a loved one originated among traders and seafarers in Missouri, and soon became a boatmen's song aka sea shanty.
>> Bob Dylan fans might recognise the song from Dylan's own acoustic rendition from the 1990 album, Down in the Groove.
Mumbai's youth are increasingly turning to choirs to find a community, Farahanaaz Dastur says. The MMMF recently had to expand its youth choir's age bracket to accommodate talent in their twenties.
PIC COURTESY/Wikimedia
>> The highlight of the evening is a rendition of late singer Krishnakumar Kunnath aka KK's '90s hit, Yaaron. The American choristers listened to multiple previous performances by the foundation, and the Bollywood tune struck a deep chord.
>> The youth choir led by Salome Rebello had arranged the choral rendition just weeks before the singer's untimely passing in May 2022. The piece is now a mainstay in their repertoire, as a tribute.
>> With only one day in hand to rehearse together, translations and music sheets have been sent to California, where the group is now rehearsing the nostalgic tune.
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