Abu Dhabi - One of the founding members Samuel Stephen is still with the group.
Published: Sun 25 Dec 2016, 5:51 PM
Come Christmas, New Year, Easter, parish retreat or St. Thomas Day, the choir group led by Felix Philip is an indispensable part of all the celebrations at St Joseph's Catholic Cathedral in Abu Dhabi.
Leading the charge during one of the Holy Mass at the cathedral will be the Malayalam Choir Group, which will soon mark its 25th year.
"We will complete our 25 years in February 2017," Philip told Khaleej Times, adding that, It was Father Harshel, who formed this choir group in 1992."
"I am with this group for 21 years now. We have at least 15 permanent members - six women and nine men. There are many more members but this group of 15 is together for a long time."
One of the founding members Samuel Stephen is still with the group.
"We will complete 25 years in few months. The unity in this choir group is something rare," Stephen, who is choir co-coordinator, said.
They started with one performance and in due course added more members and numbers. Now, the group got eight cathedral performances a month. They are busy singing devotional songs every Friday and Saturday. The group, claims to be one of its kind, as they are together for a longer period than any other.
Philip pointed out there are as many as three or four choir groups in other churches. "Even in catholic cathedral in other places, you will find many groups because of infighting. We are one happy family and together," he said.
"We practise on most Fridays after the mass. We are not professionals but this is our devotion."
The group has won second place in a competition for choir group run by a Kerala television channel.
"We will be in action after 4 am morning mass on Sunday," he added wishing everyone a 'Merry Christmas'.
This group also goes caroling in Abu Dhabi. They have one act at the Cathedral on Sunday morning.
ashwani@khaleejtimes.com
Ashwani Kumar
Ashwani Kumar is a versatile journalist who explores every beat in Abu Dhabi with an insatiable curiosity. He loves uncovering stories that are informative and help readers form their own opinions.
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