Dubai: An IT specialist. An architect. A music teacher. A therapist. They’re a few of the diverse voices behind the 16-strong choir Dubai Camera Singers.
The choir recently won the Best Performance award at the Short+Sweet Voices choral competition in Dubai, besting more than 150 other participants. The group wowed judges with their moving rendition of Izar Ederrak by Josu Elberdin and Kruhay by Benny Castillon in the qualifiers.
“Although we have different personalities, we have one passion, and that makes everything okay,” said Fermel Fuentes, a tenor.
Ten members of the group—including himself—were actually members of the same choir in their college days, Fuentes said, adding that their old chemistry made it easier to make the new choir work.
Now, they have found themselves bonding yet again in Dubai and communicating in the language they know best: music.
“As one of the newer chorale groups in the UAE, we feel honoured to have received a warm welcome from our peers and even receive recognition during the Choirfest Middle East 2017 and the recently concluded Short+Sweet Voices,” said Japee Sastrillo, 32.
Sastrillo, a bass singer, says the group’s biggest achievement is the “opportunity to showcase Filipino culture and history through our folksongs written and composed by local artists such as Kruhay which is a piece written in my dialect and tells a history of Panay Island, the same place where many of Dubai Camerata members were born and raised”.
What's fuelling their drive?
“The aim of this group is to promote chorale music, support private and public sectors on their unique initiatives focusing on social responsibilities and charity events. We uphold a sense of volunteerism through chorale music, and we want to support the country’s campaign for the Year of Giving,” said Arne Sunico Lubasan, who leads the 15-voice chamber as conductor.
There's a challenge at every turn, such as finding the time and venue for rehearsals, said Charlotte De la Tonga, who sings alto in the choir.
The Dubai-based music teacher said that despite their busy schedules, however, the group manages to come together for rehearsals.
"We spend a lot of time rehearsing in the evening. For lack of a venue, we sometimes practice in an old squash court," De la Tonga said, "the most important thing is we have fun and we are able to do what we love".
Whatever life throws their way, they're going to keep on singing on a high note, she said. "We just want to sing our lungs out."
