Pinoy choir in Dubai to perform with Andrea Bocelli

By GIAN C. GERONIMO, GMA News

Published March 20, 2013 4:00pm

A choir composed of Filipinos in Dubai, United Arab Emirates has another feather to add in its cap as it is scheduled to perform with renowned Italian singer Andrea Bocelli in the UAE this week.

The Dubai Vocal Ensemble, an all-Pinoy choir based in St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Dubai, will be on stage with Andrea Bocelli on Friday to provide back-up vocals.

Fermel Fuentes, DVE's external coordinator, told GMA News Online: “We just dreamt of watching (Andrea Bocelli’s) concert, and on March 22 at Yas Arena, Abu Dhabi...we are lucky as we are the only Filipino group to be part of his back-up 69 singers of his 10 songs (in his) concert."

Bocelli is in the UAE because of the du World Music Festival, which will run from March 22 to April 6 and in which he and other performers will be singing in various venues, a report of Gulf News said.

According to a history of the DVE provided by Fuentes, the group also goes by the name of Christian Voices Chorale.

Formed in 2004, the choir is the resident chorus of St. Mary’s in the church’s 6 a.m. English mass during Fridays, and also participates in Sunday English Masses and other liturgical services sometimes.

Fuentes describes the 30-member group as composed of "Filipino expatriates who share the same passion of choral singing and offer their service to the church and community through music." Invitation

In a separate email to GMA News Online, Fuentes and another DVE member, Orlando Baldedara, said they became part of the back-up singers through music management group The Fridge Dubai.

They said the company contacted DVE and asked if the group could participate as the accompanying voices to back Bocelli's singing, and they accepted.

"The group was very enthusiastic about this event as no other Filipino group has been handpicked to back for the world famous tenor. Each member already planned their work schedules around the predetermined practice timings in order to avoid being absent for the rehearsals," they said.

"The members only dreamt of watching Mr. Bocelli in the flesh so all were happy to learn that not only will they see Mr. Bocelli but will be performing on stage in front of 10,000 with him," Baldedara and Fuentes said.

They also said most members of the group are experienced singers from the Philippines. Members are alumni of groups such as USA Troubadours Iloilo, DLSU-D Chorale, and Manila Chamber Singers, among others.

Choir of the year

In February, DVE was declared Choir of the Year in a choir festival and competition in Dubai, edging out six other groups.

The Department of Foreign Affairs also noted the victory in one of its press statements.

The DVE was also part of a 24-piece "human orchestra" choir that was scheduled to perform at the Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum International Photography Award (HIPA) ceremony on Monday.

Other notable achievements the DVE has had include being one of the featured artists of music management company Fridge Dubai in 2011 and 2012, as well as being part of the SIKKA 2012 Art Fair organized by the Dubai Culture Arts Authority, and the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature in 2012.

For its next project, the DVE will be the ensemble chorus in an upcoming production of the musical "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street" at the Dubai Community Theatre and Arts center this April. - VVP, GMA News

Tags: dubai, unitedarabemirates, andreabocelli