The AUS Arabic choir, Nassim Al Saba, traveled to the ASWATUNA Arabic Choral Festival in Amman and Petra, Jordan, held November 23-28. The students engaged in daily rehearsals of Arabic music, community building and shared improvisation sessions. The festival included five choirs performing Arab music together and individually to an audience of over 1,000. 

Mawwal, or Arab improvisation, was inserted into pieces such as Fog el Nakhel and the Sufi chant "Adinu," and was dedicated to the conflicts in Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan and Palestine. The spirit of the festival was to unite people together for peace and to forget political and social differences. 

The five choirs originated from Jordan, Syria, UK and the UAE, and comprised Muslim and Christian singers. As there are so few choirs in the world who are dedicated to performing Arab music, the experience united the singers and conductors. 

Nassim Al Saba was the most diverse in its make-up of nationalities, representing the diversity of the UAE. The group returned home with greater musical skills, a greater sense of Arabic heritage, strong friendships and unified purpose.

"This experience reminded us that no matter what beliefs we carry or what background we come from, we are inherently the same and can therefore always find a peaceful land that welcomes us all as humans, and it is through singing," said AUS sophomore and soprano Abeer El Sayed.

This trip was an excellent step in preparation for the choir's spring tour to New York City where they will perform at Carnegie Hall, New York University, The City University of New York and at an inter-faith concert in Brooklyn.