Voices from Boston and Indonesia at Sama International Choral Festival
View(s):By Shannon Salgadoe
Boston-based Voices 21C, a collective of artists dedicated to the mission of global understanding through music and the Manado State University Choir (MSUC) from Manado, Indonesia, will be the guest choirs at the inaugural Sama International Choral Festival, a week-long series of performances, workshops, and discussions that will take place from July 24 to July 30 in Colombo.
Presented by the Muslim Choral Ensemble (MCE), the festival will feature both local and international talents coming together on the local stage.
The Boston-based Voices 21C, is dedicated to the mission of global understanding through music while the award-winning chamber choir the Manado State University Choir (MSUC) from Manado, Indonesia, has been acclaimed for its artistry and beautiful sound, as well as its capacity to move an audience.
Voices 21C (above) and the Manado State University Choir (below), both directed by Prof Andre de Quadros
The choral performances will be interspersed with appearances by individual artists such as Shahid Shahbaz, winner of The Voice UAE, Iranian percussionists Alireza Shahini, and Nabeel Khan, an eighth-generation Sarangi player.
Launched in 2017, the MCE is the brainchild of executive director Haadia Galely and creative director Professor Andre de Quadros, whose aim was to create a platform for Muslims in Sri Lanka who are passionate about Islamic choral singing. The purpose of this venture is to reach out and spread the message of peace and harmony through the performance of Islamic spirituals such as Zikr, Nashids, Qasidas and Qawwali in various languages.
“My vision was not only about singing. My vision was about using the voices as a tool to drive unity, inclusivity, all of which are now embodied within the choir,” says Haadia. The ensemble is trained by Manoj Sanjeewa, lecturer, music director, composer, and singer at the Visual and Fine Arts University.
Following the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks, a second initiative called Voices for Peace was launched in partnership with Shangri-La Colombo, featuring the MCE who were joined by local and foreign artists. Then followed the introduction of the World Muslim Choral Ensemble (WCME), a large-scale collaboration of local and international artists who came together to celebrate Islamic music while eradicating misconceptions and spreading the continued message of peace, love, and unity.
One important aspect of the festival is the community outreach programmes that will be conducted throughout the week. This includes visits to prisons and orphanages and workshops that will be conducted for schools.
For more information about the scheduled events of the festival, visit www.muslimchoralensemble.com/pages/sama-festival or WhatsApp +94 74 169 9825.
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