By Abdullah Al Tekreeti
UNIVERSITY CITY, SHARJAH – The American University of Sharjah’s Performing Arts
Program hosted its annual Spring Jubilee Concert on March 20, featuring the Arabic Music Ensemble, Applied Voice and Piano students, the AUS choir, and the newly formed Children’s Choir.
Under the direction of Assistant Professor Feryal Qudourah, the concert opened up with the young choir and the rest of the ensembles performing Talaʽ al-Badru ʽAlaynā, a traditional and popular Islamic nasheed that commemorates the arrival of Prophet Muhammad in Madina.
The nasheed also featured several soloists.
Audience members enthusiastically applauded each performance and sang along with everyone on stage.
“The children’s choir is incredible. I did not think they would sing so beautifully and cohesively, especially considering how young they are” said Tuleen Khalil, a Psychology major at AUS.
The event also showcased a variety of performances, including piano solos and duets, theatrical musical pieces, multilingual songs, an Arab orchestra, and instrumental improvisations.
Aleen Anderias, a Mass Communication student and ensemble member, described the experience as nerve-wracking, especially as she and another student sang in French, a language that is outside of her comfort zone to sing in.
“I think we all did pretty amazing that night,” she added.
The concert concluded with a combined performance by all the ensembles, including the children’s choir, of “Just Sing” from the soundtrack of the 2016 movie “Trolls.”
