PETALING JAYA, April 19 – The award-winning Blue Sky Choir from Mongolia stopped by the Malay Mail newsroom for a short performance yesterday.
The choir arrived on Tuesday and will perform in Malaysia from tomorrow until Sunday.
The 22-member choir sang two songs: Moving Towards a Bright Future, an anthem to end violence against children written by World Vision Mongolia and popular Malaysian folk song Rasa Sayang.
“The kids took five days to learn the lyrics of Rasa Sayang and they had a lot of fun,” said World Vision Mongolia communications officer Otgonkhuu Dashdorj, better known as Bombi.
A former World Vision-sponsored child, Bombi uses his experience as a vulnerable child to connect with the children he works with.
“When I was a child, my life was hard just like theirs and I know how they feel – I like that I get to be a big brother to them,” he said.
Established 14 years ago under World Vision’s Child Development and Protection Programme in Mongolia, the Blue Sky Choir comprises at-risk children from all across Mongolia, including victims of neglect, abuse and economic hardship.
The Light House Centre, the shelter home where many of them seek refuge, was set up to provide these children with basic rights such as education, healthcare and nutrition and also rehabilitates them with their families.
The choir is known for singing uplifting and inspiring songs, and has recorded five albums.
Munguntulga, 15 said the choir helped him discover his hidden talent and gave him an outlet to express himself.
“I made many friends whom are like family to me through the choir and my self-esteem has definitely improved,” he told Malay Mail.
His fellow Blue Sky Choir mate Oyuntulkhuur, also 15, loves Celine Dion and started singing when she was 10.
She said she looks forward to the practice sessions because every word she sings gives her tremendous joy.
As part of travelling choir that has performed internationally in Hong Kong, India, Japan, Korea and the United Kingdom, 16-year-old Ariungegee is no stranger to the choir’s globe-trotting schedule.
“This is my third visit to Malaysia, I’ve been to Taiwan twice and Singapore,” she said.
“I really like having fun with the other children in the choir while learning new skills from our teacher.”
The teacher in question is Tulgadorj, who trains the kids twice a week and the rare privilege of witnessing their transformation first-hand.
“I love working with kids, seven of my students in the choir have gone on to pursue music professionally,” he shared.
The music teacher added that although it can be challenging working with children who have endured a traumatic childhood, the rewards are priceless.
“Sometimes some of them come to practice looking really down but when we start singing, the mood quickly shifts to a happy one.
“Their hearts are very vulnerable so we have to be careful with our words but there’s no denying that music has the power to heal,” said Tulgadorj.
For more information on concert schedules and venues, visit worldvision.com.my.
