About Us
Our Story
The Madras Guild of Performing Arts is Chennai’s newest ensemble launched in 2022 whose objective is to celebrate music. The Ensemble has two Choirs, the Adults & the Children’s Choir (fondly called #shortz), whose singers of different faiths, backgrounds and skill levels come together purely for the love of music under the direction of Atul Jacob Isaac. The MGPA performs pieces from Gregorian chants, through Baroque, Classical and Romantic Repertoire that includes music from Oratorios, Arias and Musicals.
In 2023, at their debut Concert in February
titled “Lift Every Voice!”, Chennai witnessed an evening that went through genres and eras of music in a refreshed presentation that garnered attention and praise from musicologists worldwide. Exploring vast repertoire, The MGPA collaborated with top versatile artists (singers and instrumentalists) from India and presented their second Concert in September, called “Bring on the Jazz!” that featured Choral renditions from George Gershwin to Manhattan Transfer. Expanding our boundaries, a subset of The MGPA travelled to Barcelona and at an Event hosted by Interkultur, under the Baton of Maestro Eric Whitacre, sang at the world famous Palau De Catalina. In October and November, the Choir presented their annual sacred music Concert, “That Which Is Timeless” at St. Andrew’s Church – The Kirk in Chennai and at St. Mark’s Cathedral in Bangalore.
In 2024, at their third major Concert in April The MGPA presented “A Reason for Hope – Because He Lives”, a unique Gaither music Concert at St. Andrew’s Church – The Kirk.
In October, The MGPA proudly presented the Indian Premiere of Franz Joseph Haydn’s final Oratorio, a masterpiece – ‘The Creation’ with soloists from the United Kingdom, Orchestra from the Gustav Mahler Society of Colombo under the baton of Atul Jacob Isaac.
In 2025, The MGPA rendered their Annual Thanksgiving Concert towards The Kirk’s celebration of mighty 204 years of God’s work
New Official Video
There’s actually nothing official about these videos but we thought we would share some of our favorites with you. Whether on stage, at rehearsal or in the studio, this is what we do!
MGPA – adult CHOIR
An electric mix of voices of diverse background, skill level, faiths who come together for the passion of celebrating all kinds of music.
Children's choir -#THESHORTZ
The next generation of voices, aged from 4 to 17, the #shortz enthral audiences with sprightly renditions under the direction of Atul Jacob Isaac, mentored by Amita Daniel & Nathania Samuel.
The music director
Atul Jacob Isaac is a 29 year old Indian Choral & Orchestral Conductor, Pianist, Piano Accompanist & Pipe Organist. Atul studied Orchestral Conducting and Classical Piano from the world renowned The Juilliard School (New York, Evening Division). Over the Summer of 2022, Atul traveled to the Netherlands and collaborated with world-renowned artists, musicians and vocal coaches in a preparation for a performance of G. Verdi’s Opera, ‘Rigoletto’. In Paris, Atul had the privilege to have a session with Sir Simon Rattle when the London Symphony Orchestra presented a Concert at the Philharmonie De Paris. Atul went on to audition, is now trained and certified in the Viennese style of Orchestral Conducting while striving to achieve the highest artistic tradition of making music from composers like Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert to contemporary composers like Rainer Bischoff. In 2023, he competed as the only Indian in an International Conducting Competition and was awarded a “Recognition of Talent” presented to him unanimously by the Jury & Orchestra in Vienna.
Professionally, he is Faculty in the Performing Arts Department of the American International School, Chennai. Atul is also the Associate Principal Pipe Organist and Piano Accompanist for the Congregation & Choir of St. Andrew’s Church – The Kirk, Chennai.
