Rohan Vahalia, 13, of Newton, Massachusetts, was selected for the prestigious American Choral Society Director’s Association (ACDA) Eastern Division Convention for 2004. Rohan was the only child of Indian heritage among hundred and fifteen other accomplished children from thirteen eastern states to sing with the ACDA Children’s Choir at the Boston Symphony Hall on February 14, 2204.

After being recommended by the All City Chorus Treble Singer’s Music director, Charlotte Brumit, for taking part in the ACDA chorus, Rohan was selected through a lengthy audition process from many participants from thirteen states, stretching from Maine to Maryland. In all, fourteen children from Massachusetts, and only 4 from Newton, were selected to participate in this chorus.

These children were invited for a convention in Boston from February 11 to February 14, 2004. An internationally acclaimed choral director, Senor Fernando Malva-Ruiz, a native of Spain, trained their voices. Rohan and other children went through grueling 10 hour a day rehearsals for three days. But at the end, it was magical when they all stood in the prestigious Boston Symphony Hall. They all sang beautifully and got a standing ovation from family and friends at a sold out concert. One of the pieces they sang was a Jazz piece and Rohan could not help rocking with the music that had become part of his every breath after long rehearsals.

Rohan loves to sing both Bollywood and Western classical and rock. He is pursuing choir singing besides his many other interests. He has recently won third prize in a writing competition at Curious George bookstore in Harvard Square.

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