Rare sounds of music across cultures
View(s):- Sama International Choral Festival to hit the stage in Colombo
It’s going to be a rare coming together of international musical talent on the local stage. The award-winning Manado State University Choir from Indonesia, the acclaimed Boston-based ensemble VOICES 21C, as well as the Muslim Choral Ensemble (MCE) and World Muslim Choral Ensemble will all be at the Sama International Choral Festival taking place from July 24 to 30 in Colombo.
Leading and sharing their expertise will be artists like Shahid Shahbaz (winner of the Voice of UAE), Nabeel Khan from India (the eighth generation of Sarangi players), Aliraza Shaini (Duff exponent from Iran), and representatives from Buddhist, Hindu, and Christian faiths, who will all collaborate with Artistic Director Professor André de Quadros, Associate Artistic Director and vocal coach Manoj Sanjeewa for MCE and Choral Director of the St. Joseph’s College choir, Francis Almeida.
The festival will also feature a session by cross-cultural consultant and trainer Tasneem Chopra.
It all began in 2017 when the MCE was established with the aim of celebrating the culture and heritage of the Muslims. The young voices once untrained and fresh, have grown immensely over the past six years, capturing the attention of audiences worldwide.
The journey of MCE began humbly in founder Haadia Galely’s apartment, guided by the Boston University’s Artistic Director, Professor André de Quadros and Manoj Sanjeewa. Since then they have literally gone places – to prestigious stages such as the Yale Choir Festival in the US and the London Music Festival.
The second phase of MCE was the formation of the World Muslim Choral Ensemble 2022, driven by the simple desire to create a platform for Muslim and non-Muslims focusing on arts for peace.
The Sama International Choral Festival will see a series of performances, events, and culture-sharing opportunities aimed at bringing Muslims and non-Muslims together, engaging in various unique traditions from around the world.
Outreach programmes have also been planned for the performers with communities who may not have easy access to such cultural experiences. The Sama International Choral Festival will also be a part of the United Nations Global Week to Act4SDGs, focusing on advocating for peace, unity, and harmony through music.
Seen on our cover: A performance of the World Muslim Choral Ensemble last year and above, an early image of the MCE.
The programme:
July 24 – An Nur – Akbar Brothers Auditorium
July 25 –Voices for Peace concert at Shangri-La Colombo
July 30 – Evening of Sufi Music at the Lionel Wendt Theatre
Tickets are available at Paan Paan (Havelock Road) and Shangri-La Colombo.
Call or Whatsapp +94 74 169 9825 for more information
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