"It was really special bringing everyone in the neighborhood together and have people enjoy live music after so long. We wanted the program to be as interactive as possible and seeing people singing and dancing together was magical,” stated soprano Meher Pavri who organized a pop up concert in front of her house in London, Ontario on August 30, 2020. She was joined by tenor David Michael Moote, with Elaine Choi giving accompaniment on the piano/violin/cajón and Noelle DiTosto on his guitar/cajón. They entertained for an hour-and-a-half with familiar songs from The Sound of Music, The Lion King, My Fair Lady and other musicals, Mobedyar Guloo Austin notified Parsiana.
Meher Pavri (above and top) with performers (from l) Noelle DiTosto,
Elaine Choi and David Michael Moote regaling the neighborhood in Ontario with live music
"I’ve lived on the street that we performed on for most of my life and my neighbors are like an extended family,” stated Pavri who felt everyone "really needed this to lift our spirits during such a difficult time for the world. Music has a way of bringing people together, no matter the language.” Having earlier performed with these three professional musicians who are her friends, Pavri was motivated to spread the joy of music in London after seeing Elaine doing porch concerts in Toronto with her husband, Noelle, since the start of Covid-19. Keen to cater "to all ages and music tastes” at the London concert they included some Disney, classics, the Beatles, and lots of theater and opera that are her forte.
While the performers maintained their six feet distance from each other, the flyer announcing the program requested the residents living down the long road to stay on their lawns in their social bubbles (not more than 10 family members and friends coming together). "The public response was incredible,” remarked Pavri who was gratified that many people went up to the performers to express "how much it meant to them to hear live music again.”
A graduate from the University of Western Ontario School of Music, Pavri’s career highlights include: playing Maria in West Side Story (The Lower Ossington Theatre, Windsor Symphony Orchestra, Niagara Symphony Orchestra); roles in the world premiere of The Overcoat, A Musical Tailoring (CanStage, Tapestry Opera, Vancouver Opera), Mozart’s Idomeneo (Opera Atelier)… During the pandemic, she found herself "with no work at all” as the contracts lined up for the year were cancelled. She was scheduled to spend the summer of 2020 with Soulpepper Theatre in Toronto. This was to be followed with the release of Mahabharata at the Shaw festival from August 15 to September 19 when Pavri was due to sing and use her voice to capture stage events. In winter, she was to join the cast of The Sound of Music at the Drayton Festival. With film and television shoots slowly picking up, Pavri who was seen in films like Pixels and Private Eye and the TV series Coroner has been able to gradually return to work. When she is not performing, she enjoys teaching and sharing her love for music with toddlers and their parents through the Amici School of Music.
The pause in her music career "has been devastating, but I am grateful that I am healthy and with my family at this time,” appreciates Meher whose family includes parents, Daisy and Rusi Pavri and siblings, Shernaz, Zarine Bharda and Farzan. From her father who is a trained priest she learnt about Zoroastrianism from a young age that has influenced her lifestyle and values. "Prayer is so important to me and also giving back to the community,” mentions Meher, adding, "I am very thankful to be a part of a wonderful community that has always supported and encouraged all my artistic endeavors from a young age.”