The show is entitled “Serenata … Touching Hearts, Touching Lives” and the choir is composed of 45 children aged eight to 16 from various Filipino schools in Jeddah. The concert will for a third time raise funds to provide college tuition to deserving, less-fortunate youngsters.
In its first iteration in 2006, the concert series donated the funds raised to the people of a flood-ravaged central Philippines village in Southern Leyte province. The following year, it supported four primary schools in different parts of the country.
Other noble causes included helping women and children in conflict zones. Serenata also hosts an annual Christmas fundraiser for distressed Filipino workers in Jeddah. The two-hour concert will feature choral and orchestral arrangements of Filipino folk songs, pop music and Broadway standards.
The concert will begin at 6 p.m. at the American International School of Jeddah. The concert’s major sponsor is Pinehill Arabia Food Ltd. Other sponsors include Pharmaceutical Solutions Industry (PSI), Arabian Superstores Co., Sarawat Superstores) and Sky Freight Forwarders.
Serenata was founded in 2005 by Sylvia de los Santos, Desil Manapat and Louis Bautista. It consists of a string chamber orchestra and a choral group composed of children of Filipino workers in Jeddah. The performers are chosen through a competition that takes place every summer. The choir meets to practice regularly between July and February.
The chamber orchestra was formed in September 2008. It comprises fledgling violinists, violists and cellists. Serenata said the event is an open invitation and donations will be appreciated.
