The All-India Anglo-Indian Association is all set to usher in the Yuletide spirit this weekend with its annual carol-singing competition Jingle Bell Rockout, with My Kolkata as its digital media partner. The morning of December 3 will see 18 city schools come together on the grounds of The Frank Anthony Public School, singing festive numbers like Jingle Bell Rock, Mary’s Boy Child and We Wish You A Merry Christmas, kickstarting the Christmas season.
‘A time for celebration, unity, togetherness and happiness’
“Christmas is a time for celebration, unity, togetherness and happiness, and that is exactly what we want to foster through Jingle Bell Rock Out. We have many schools participating from all over the city, and not just missionary schools. We hope this helps spread the festive spirit across the city. I’m really looking forward to a day of carols because it’s the only time of the year we get to listen to them,” says Denise O’Brien, the president of the Kolkata branch of the All-India Anglo-Indian Association.
Participating schools
Jingle Bell Rock Out is being hosted by the Kolkata branch for the first time since 2019. Participating schools include La Martiniere for Girls; Loreto Day School, Elliot Road; Calcutta Boys School; Julien Day School, Ganganagar; Our Lady Queen of the Mission School; South City International School; Mahadevi Birla World Academy; The Park English School; St. Sebastian’s School; Garden High School; Grace Ling Liang English School; Loreto Convent Entally; St. Anthony High School; St. Augustine’s Day School; St. Thomas’ Day School, Free School Street; Welland Gouldsmith School, Patuli; and St. Teresa’s Secondary School.
Only live music!
“The event will see each school putting up one group performance and one solo act. We’re excited to see the schools singing the carols differently this year! Even though the bar has been set high, we feel the schools are going to put up even stronger performances this year,” said Nikita Stalkey, president of the association’s youth group in Kolkata. Each school will sing a five-minute medley of Christmas carols followed by a solo performance. All the music at the event will be live — played by either the school’s music teacher or the students themselves.
Jingle Bell Rock Out will be judged by three well-known names from Kolkata’s music circuit – Shane Hyrapiet, Christopher Lobo and Rila Banerjee. “I’m looking forward to seeing the schoolchildren improvise traditional Christmas songs — if they have a rock spin or a reggae vibe, it’ll be a nice change from the usual. I want the students to give the judges a tough time instead of the other way around!” said Shane Hyrapiet.
The event will be streamed. Watch it live here.
