Flex your vocals with the capital's a cappella groups

Abu Dhabi is seeing a growing number of a cappella groups always looking for new members.

Some of the members of Voices of Harmony, the city's only all-women barbershop singing group. Kelly Brbich and Tiffany Schulze

The house is empty. You pop on your shower cap and turn on the taps. The rushing water feels so good, it makes you want to sing. When your voice starts bouncing off the bathroom walls, your ear drums ping with excitement.

For just a few minutes a day, as you sing your own rendition of Bohemian Rhapsody, you wonder why you don't sing more often. Well, the time to put your vocal cords to good use has arrived. Abu Dhabi is seeing a growing number of a cappella groups and they are always looking for new members.

A cappella, Italian for “in the manner of the chapel”, is the art of singing without instruments.

Groups such as the San Francisco-based The House Jacks and the New Yorkers Rockapella have given this style of singing a contemporary, pop-sounding twist. They use their voices to not only sing lyrics, but also create the sound of percussions bass lines and other instruments.

Last year's Hollywood film Pitch Perfect, starring Anna Kendrick and Skylar Astin, has helped catapult a cappella singing back onto the radar.

For those who can sing perfect pitch, and even those who are less-than perfect, here are a handful of opportunities in the capital to flex your vocal cords.

Voices of Harmony

The city's only all-women's barbershop singing group, Voices of Harmony, do it real a cappella style. With a rock 'n' roll swing, they sing ballads and upbeat songs, including hits such as Hey Mambo and Sway.

The approximately 30-member group, which is made up of an eclectic mix of nationalities and ages, meets once a week – Wednesdays at 7pm – to practise.

They often perform at parties, business events, fund-raisers and bigger concerts. Voices of Harmony, who have unlimited space, are always auditioning for new members and have a membership fee of Dh300 a year, which is for costumes, music sheets and other expenses.

Find Voices of Harmony on Facebook, or call 050 267 4701 or email [e-mail].

Blue Fever

These 15-or-so singers perform a cappella with a jazz twist on modern tunes and old classical rock jams, in multiple harmonies. The group cover everything from The Beatles to Billy Joel and beyond. Songs such as Orange Coloured Sky, Fever and Penny Lane are among those in their repertoire.

The group perform in a limited number of shows and say they do it simply for the love of singing. Earlier this year they performed on Yas Island as part of a 69-piece choir in the opera singer Andrea Bocelli’s concert.

Blue Fever, who have been around since 2007, have limited membership and auditions are required with a commitment to practise regularly. Rehearsals are on Tuesdays from 7pm to 10pm. Membership fees are Dh300 a year and Dh200 for continuing members.

For more information, email [e-mail] or visit the Blue Fever A Cappella Jazz Ensemble Facebook page.

Abu Dhabi Soul

A newcomer to the capital’s a cappella scene, Abu Dhabi Soul are a five-member group who are looking for more voices to chime in.

The five ladies are divided into soprano, alto, tenor, baritone and bass, and sing rhythm and blues, jazz and soul classics, as well as contemporary pieces.

There is no membership fee and the group practises once a week on Saturdays from 2pm to 4pm.

For more information, email [e-mail].

Abu Dhabi Choral Group

Although not an a cappella group, Abu Dhabi Choral Group is the oldest and biggest singing group in the emirate, and are open to anyone who wants to sing. Reading music is not a requirement and neither are auditions.

The group are always busy with new projects. In May this year, they put on a musical of the Adam Sandler film The Wedding Singer and have also done productions such as Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, The Music Man, Show Boat and Anything Goes. They have performed at various locations, including the Armed Forces Officers Club and the National Theatre.

Established in the late 1970s, Abu Dhabi Choral Group rehearse once a week on Mondays at 7pm at Brighton College. The membership fee is Dh100.

For more information, email Alana at [e-mail] or visit www.abudhabichoralgroup.com.

• All of the above mentioned groups were on hiatus over the summer with plans to be back in business this month

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