Guwahati: They are the sentinels to the nation and no tribute is too high for our defence personnel. In keeping with that spirit, the Shillong Chamber Choir will perform for security forces for the first time at the Republic Day celebrations at Shillong Cantonment on Friday to pay obeisance to the service and sacrifice of the soldiers.

"The conduct of the event, the first by the choir for the services, has been facilitated by Lt Gen. D.S. Ahuja, GOC 101 Area. The musical extravaganza is likely to be attended by approximately 3,500 to 4,000 soldiers and families from the army, air force, Assam Rifles and Central Armed Police Forces," a defence ministry statement said.

Shillong Chamber Choir made its debut at Pinewood Hotel in Shillong on January 14 and 15, 2001, with Neil Nongkynrih, a concert pianist as the conductor, and has scaled performing heights ever since.

Nongkynrih studied at the Guildhall School of Music and Trinity College, London, and worked as a concert pianist for 13 years in Europe, before returning to Shillong and starting the choir with local youth.

The group has 25 members at present, including 15 singers, musicians and soloists, with Nongkynrih as the conductor.

The choir's repertoire includes Western classical numbers by Handel, Bach, Gershwin and Mozart, hits by rock group Queen, Khasi folk songs and opera. It has performed worldwide, including in Britain, Austria, Poland, Switzerland, Sri Lanka, Italy. In India, it has wowed audiences in Delhi, including at Rashtrapati Bhavan, Bangalore, Mumbai and Guwahati.

The group also participated at the sixth World Choir Games held at Shaoxing in China in July 2010 and was awarded the gold medal in all three categories: Musica Sacra, Gospel and Popula.