By Nada Hasanieh
UNIVERSITY CITY, SHARJAH – The American University of Sharjah’s Performing Arts Department returned to live shows, with “Viva Musicale!,” staged in the main auditorium, at 7 p.m., on Nov. 29.
The concert featured solo and duet performances by Dr. Sherri Weiler’s applied voice students, Dr. Albert Agha’s Arabic Music Ensemble, and Dr. Damon Dandridge’s AUS Choir.
Musicians played live after two years of performing online because of Covid-19.
Covid-19 changed how musicians interacted with the audience.
“It was challenging to film and post our videos while singing since we couldn’t see people’s reactions to our performance, their facial expressions, or whether they were happy or unhappy,” said Yara Al Jabi, member of AUS Arabic Music Ensemble.
“Viva Musicale!” was a welcome back for students to experience performing on stage and to see people’s reactions to their performances.
“It was a whole different experience. Nothing can replicate the feeling of performing live on a stage in front of an audience and singers with whom you can interact,” said Maria Abdirahman, Applied Voice Student.
“There is this amazing rush after you perform; everyone claps and tells you how great you did. It’s a great feeling to perform for everyone,” she added.
The choir performed a wide range of choral renditions. The Arabic Music Ensemble performed pieces based on poetry from Andalusian literature. The opening movement of Vivaldi’s “Gloria” and the Spanish folk song “Duermete” were also part of the concert.
Parents and family members with a green status on their Al-Hosn app were permitted to attend the performance.
