Barbados was represented when singers from 142 countries joined voices as Ireland invited the world to sing together in Expo 2020 Dubai's World choir, presenting a special night of song and celebration of Irish music on Expo's Jubilee stage on Thursday, 9 December.
Led by musical director and conductor David Brophy, the Expo World Choir is a signature event for Ireland at Expo and a shining, musical example of how Expo 2020 is bringing the world together. The huge multicultural 'one night only' choir drew from Expo's participating countries, local schools, Irish teachers, the Irish community in the UAE, and Dubai residents.
Cheers rang through Jubilee Park as Brophy read out the names of all countries that applied to be part of the unique performance, which included Irish singer Sinead O'Connor's Nothing Compares to You; U2's I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For; Van Morrison's classic, Brown Eyed Girl; and Josh Groban's You Raise Me Up. Barbados was ably represented by Angela Daniel-Rampersaud and Ann Mellows.
Speaking before the concert, Brophy said: "Singing is one of the central things we do on the planet together... Once you start singing, people want to sing along with you. That's what it's like, and we meet each other and find connections very quickly when we sing."
The 142 participating countries already surpasses the world record of most nationalities to sing in a choir (105)!
The Expo World Choir was supported by 31 instrumentalists, singers and soloists from Ireland's National Concert Hall. A centrepiece of Irelands offering at Expo Dubai, the initiative drew on Irish musical traditions, embracing the world's diversity and bringing it together in harmony.