EP - Who are your main inspirations that influenced you to pursue music in your life?

NHN - My older sister Pauline. She learnt the piano from the nuns at Loreto Convent and taught me at home. She herself plays jazz and has her own choir. It’s called Aroha.

EP - Can you tell us in brief about your journey in music from your earlier days till today?

NHN - I hated to read music and started to play ‘by ear’ which means just using sound as the guide. Much later in life I started to really go into formal training. This then led me to London where by then I learned not only to play from staff notation but to love it as well. I was at the opera house regularly and besides piano music I began my love affair with opera music from there.

EP - What are the factors that played an important role in you road to success in music over the years?

NHN - Learning the discipline of western classical music with my roots in the east and being in touch with the common man is symbolic of what I do.

EP - What was it like for you to be a member of the World Choir Council?

NHN - It is an honour but I am yet to be an adjudicator in the choir Olympics as that will happen in Latvia next year.

EP - You have also been known to work with many other musicians, how is it that you are able to blend so well with the genres that these musicians follow?

NHN - Being flexible and learning to appreciate other forms of music. I love everything from folk to popular but of course my heart is still in the classical genre.

EP - Now that SCC has risen up to perform around the world in different locations, how do you feel about this marvelous feat that the SCC has accomplished?

NHN - I feel poor and want to improve all the time. Smugness is the enemy to progress and being fresh. I believe my bug is contagious with the other members. We feel challenged all the time and this keeps us on our toes.

EP - What is next for you and the SCC?

NHN - Concerts. Much awaited album or albums if time permits. We’ve been so busy that the very importance of recording has been neglected so we plan to dedicate a few months towards an album or more.

EP - Since the North East is filled with struggling musicians who are trying to make it big for themselves in the music scene what according to you should they do in order to reach the top?

NHN - Be original, in whichever form. And if you choose a career in any art form then be prepared for disappointments. Don’t give up and sooner or later a dawn arises.

EP - What according to your opinion is missing in the music scene of the North East that stifles it from reaching to the peak of the music scene?

NHN - We are known for being tacky. Production has to be on a higher level. The talent is there but guidance and grooming is sorely needed. And of course more discipline.

EP - You have recently been awarded by Eastern Panorama for your contribution to music, how do you feel about your wonderful achievement?

NHN - Very privileged. Thank you Eastern Panaroma. I was not able to be there in person because one of my girls from the choir passed away from Leukaemia. She was only 18 and never complained even till the end.