Canadian University Dubai (CUD) is set to unite the musical talents of people of determination and Arab Idol, Mohammed Assaf, in an awe-inspiring gala event at the spectacular Dubai Opera, hosted in aid of Autism Awareness. Tickets are free for members of the public, and available fromwww.cud.ac.ae/music-is-our-voice.
Taking place on Wednesday 17th April, the Canadian University Dubai’s enSEmble – the UAE’s first choir for people of determination – will take to the stage with a symphony orchestra to sing for autism awareness, under the banner, ‘Music is Our Voice’. They will be joined by the 2013 Arab Idol winner, who will also perform his own solo set.
Assaf’s inspirational story of overcoming challenges to realize his musical dream will stand as a fitting accompaniment to the young singing stars that make up Canadian University Dubai’s enSEmble. The choir already has a number of celebrated performance credits to its name, having recently participated in the opening ceremony of the Special Olympics World Games in Abu Dhabi.
Celebrating the unifying power of music, the gala event has been organized by CUD to mark international Autism Awareness month and to contribute to promoting inclusion and understanding as part of the UAE Year of Tolerance.
The concert is expected to bring together a diverse audience of people of determination, their families and support networks, as well as members of the wider UAE community, and in partnership with Red Crescent, all proceeds from the event will be donated to the Autism Awareness campaign.
Speaking about the idea behind the event, Prof. Karim Chelli, President and Vice Chancellor of CUD said, “Among the core values of Canadian University Dubai is the creation of an inclusive learning environment, based on the principles of parity and diversity that are a fundamental part of our Canadian heritage. The University was one of the first in the UAE to enrol students with special educational needs and we are proud to have established the first choir for people of determination.
“Canadian University Dubai’s enSEmble has brought great joy – both to the musicians who are a part of it, and the audiences that have had the chance to witness them performing – and we want to take the opportunity to share this joy with our wider community, while supporting the Autism Awareness campaign. We are all looking forward to an extraordinary and unforgettable evening.”
Jasper Hope, Chief Executive at Dubai Opera commented: “Alongside Canadian University Dubai we are delighted to celebrate the connection, joy and support which music can uniquely deliver, in bettering the lives of individuals with autism spectrum disorder, within our community.”
With a 15% rise in autism diagnosis in the past few years, the event is part of the global campaign to raise awareness of the condition and to promote understanding across the wider community of the special needs and talents of people with the condition.
A limited number of seats for the concert will be available to members of the public free of charge. Visit www.cud.ac.ae/music-is-our-voice for more information.
