Clash of the choirs leaves Dubai spellbound

Dubai The language of music is universal. Clichéd as that may sound, how else would you describe the harmony of 20 diverse choirs coming together on a common platform?

From traditional to contemporary, Arabic to Filipino, and school children to adults, different choirs from the UAE came together for the first ever choir festival and competition in Dubai last weekend to celebrate their music.

“The diversity of music we have in the UAE is amazing. There’s so much choir music happening here. We wanted to bring the choirs together so they could share their talent, learn from each other and experience an incredible sense of community,” said Joanna Marsh, organiser and Programme Curator and Resident Composer of The Score. Marsh set up The Score with Artistic Director and Producer Shelley Frost to promote classical music in Dubai. “A choir,” she told the uninitiated, “is any organised group of singers.”

As seven adult choirs made it to the finals of the competition, the Dubai Vocal Ensemble beat tie-breaking runners-up Blue Fever and Nassim Al Saba to emerge as the Winner of The Score Choir of the Year 2013. But that hardly mattered. What did was the electric atmosphere in the Dubai College Auditorium where the event took place, the sheer diversity of the strains and the unlikely camaraderie as the choirs clashed.

The 200-plus music lovers present were treated to a superb cappella performance and interactive choral workshops by globally acclaimed The Swingle Singers.

The choirs were rated for their technical ability, covering tuning, diction, balance, ensemble, dynamics and overall sound. Musical expression, including communication, phrasing, passion, energy, commitment and overall delivery was also considered.

A Filipino singer of the winning 22-member Dubai Vocal Ensemble said: “For us, it was not about the prize. In fact, we didn’t expect to win as the other choirs were so good. We were the last to go on stage, but what an enjoyable evening it was. What more could we have asked with the Grammy-winning Swingle Singers sharing their valuable tips with us.”

Mohammad N. Murad, a Palestinian member of the Nassim Al Saba choir of the American University Sharjah, said his choir was happy to have got the second place because the standard of singing in the contest was high.

But more than that, it was the experience that counted.