A wonderfully musical event called Battle of Bands was organized by Operation Smile’s UAE Students Network (Disha Kouli, Khulood and Juana) at the Abu Dhabi Ice rink garden recently to help raise money in support of the charity. Operation Smile funds surgeries to correct facial deformities like cleft lips and palates among children.
The Battle of the Bands was conceived by members of the charity’s student volunteers who put on a successful music competition pitting some of the country’s best student bands in a creative pursuit while shedding a spotlight on the power of community involvement to support the public.
The competition was intense as the bands battled it out. The winning band was “SAME SAME BUT DIFFERENT”, a large multi-cultural musical band. Below is a gallery of photographs from the event.
“Special Thanks to Operation Smile for creating a student network where kids from different school are able to meet, discuss and put their creative minds into actions. I didn’t know Juana Wais and Khulood Fahim before, if it weren’t for the student network organized by Kyla; I wouldn’t have got this wonderful opportunity to work with my co-organizers” – Disha Kouli, Principal organizer Battle of Bands.
“We conducted this event because we wanted the youths of Abu Dhabi to be aware about what and who Operation Smile is anmd because we really wanted to help the children who were born with cleft lips and palates. The show went on very well despite a few technical issues on microphones and speakers – we managed to raise up to Dh 8,137 which means nine free surgeries for these children. This gives us an immense sense of satisfaction and happiness because we are able to give these children the smile they truly deserve” – Khulood Fahim and Juana Wais, co-organizers Battle of Bands.
WINNING BAND: “Same Same but different”
THE Winner of the Battle of Bands was “SAME SAME BUT DIFFERENT,” a soul funk multi-instrumental band with an “ever-changing membership” made up of students. The band started out as a couple of music teachers who translated English songs to French who then began providing covers for them. “Same Same But Different” is open to new members at all times. The current band comprises:
Thierry Bourgeois, Jena Houari, Patrick Singeot, Stephanie Blondeau, Victor Dubau, Margot Paoli, Sylvian Paoli
Mr.Christophe, Benedicte Artola, Mila Dominguez, David Zilocchi, Mathias Singeot, Zooe Van Tickle
Chiara Zilocchi, Lauryne Baboulin
Julien Guerif, Anais Bazar, Laurant Fossard, Jonathan Geleijns, Jean Yves Carino, Solange Carinino
Benedicte Artola, Jonathan Geleijns
FIRST RUNNER UP: “BORDERLESS”
“Borderless” is a unique band who enjoys pop music and promotes the idea of eliminating world borders through music. All the members belong to different ‘houses’ at their school and there was always fierce competition between them, and so they decided to eliminated all the borders between them in a way.
Bass: Joel
Vocals: Joshuan and Ruhith
Lead guitar: Ian
Acoustic guitar: Velario
Piano/keyboard: Allen
Drums/ bongo: Fazal
THE SECOND RUNNER UP: “DEEDS”
“Deeds” are a group of high schoolers who enjoy making and performing rock music. The band was formed three and 1/2 years ago and the members’ tastes in music vary, but they still manage to write their own original songs. They said the vocalist Phillip writes all the songs. They even called him the “mastermind”.
Bass: Andrew
Guitar/ Vocals/ Songwriting: Phillip
Drums: Sean
Guitar: Dedrick
By Ajir Shujahi
