The Dubai Camerata Singers. SUPPLIED

The Dubai Camerata Singers is preparing to hold a special community concert titled “Shukran, UAE: A Concert of Gratitude”, following the strong response to its recently released tribute video dedicated to the UAE. The multicultural community choir said the upcoming live performance will continue the message behind its non-commercial video tribute, “Shukran, UAE: A Tribute of Gratitude,” which featured a moving choral performance of the song I Believe. Founded in 2017, Dubai Camerata Singers is made up of members from different nationalities and backgrounds who call the UAE home. The choir said the concert is designed as a heartfelt thank-you to the country that has provided safety, opportunity and belonging to many expatriates and residents. The upcoming concert will feature a carefully curated repertoire of choral works representing cultures from around the world, reflecting the diversity of the UAE community. Organisers said the performance aims to create a space where audiences can experience unity, reflection and gratitude through meaningful musical storytelling. Dates and venue details are expected to be announced soon. Under the musical leadership of Musical Director and Choir Master Arne Lubasan, the tribute and concert were created to reflect the harmony found in the UAE’s multicultural society. “The musical direction for ‘Shukran, UAE’ was inspired by a deep sense of gratitude and unity. During a time when much of the world feels uncertain, we wanted to reflect the feeling of safety, stability, and coexistence that we experience here in the UAE,” Lubasan said. He added that the choir itself symbolises the country’s diversity. “A choir represents many voices coming together as one, just like the diverse communities that call the UAE home. Our goal was to create something sincere and inclusive, a musical ‘thank you’ that anyone could feel connected to,” he said. The song I Believe was chosen because of its message of faith, hope and unity, values that strongly resonate with the UAE community. The tribute was conceptualised and led by Creative Director and Choir Manager Fermel Fuentes, who said the project was deeply personal for the group. “As Creative Director and Choir Manager of Dubai Camerata Singers, this project, Shukran, UAE: A Tribute of Gratitude, is deeply personal to me and to every member of our choir,” Fuentes told Expat Media. “Since our inception in 2017, we have been more than singers. We are a community of individuals from different nations who found a shared home in the UAE. This tribute is our heartfelt way of giving back through music, expressing gratitude to a country that has given us safety, opportunity, and a sense of belonging.” Fuentes said the choir wanted to tell real stories of sacrifice, hope and resilience. “Through this project, we wanted to tell real stories and to say, with one voice and one heart: Shukran, UAE,” he said. For 18-year-old choir member Natalie Sarah Bunyan, the experience was especially meaningful. “Being part of Shukran UAE was really special. During a tough time for the UAE, it felt meaningful to come together and sing a song full of gratitude and hope to the leaders of this nation for keeping 10 million-plus of us safe,” she told Expat Media. She added that performing with the full choir created one of her most memorable moments. “One unforgettable moment was standing with the full choir, voices blending powerfully. You could feel the unity and positive vibe in the room,” Bunyan said. Other choir members also shared similar sentiments. Rhovi-Kaye Allado-Nasis said, “Every note became a quiet thank you, for the chances we were given, for the dignity of work, and for the dreams we are able to build for our loved ones back home.” UAE-based teacher Diana Rose Collado said joining the choir gave her “a sense of belonging within a diverse and passionate musical community,” while Sly Carlos Carbonell said the tribute reminded him that “compassion can rise above differences.” PIA/Expat Media
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