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    Candlelight Concerts by Fever’s Middle East team lead shares her musical journey

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    Life

    by Sarah Joseph
    2 hours ago

    Candlelight was initially conceived as a classical music series with concerts featuring works by renowned composers, such as Vivaldi, Mozart, and Chopin.
    Now, the ever-growing list of programs includes a wide variety of themes and genres, including tributes to contemporary artists like Queen, ABBA and more. This innovative format provides a unique live musical experience, offering a variety of programs to meet all tastes.
    The Candlelight Concerts Middle East team lead Lina Oudghiri has been passionate about the arts for most of her life.
    Her role as the Candlelight Team Lead in the Middle East allowed her to merge her business acumen with her passion for art. Bringing a fundamentally modern vision to the classical music experience, they have reached a broad audience of age, nationality, and social background, thus promoting diversity in the region’s cultural landscape – a feat she credits as one of her proudest achievements. Under her leadership, Candlelight has seen much success in the Middle East, with the community expanding with each new concert.
    To delve further, Emirates Woman spoke to Candlelight Concert by Fever’s Middle East Oudghiri to learn how her journey began.
    Talk us through your background.
    My background is quite diverse. I was born and raised in Morocco, where I developed a passion for the arts early in life, particularly ballet and contemporary dance. Later, I moved to France to pursue studies in Literature and Business. After university, I entered the world of television and advertising as Client Director for France Televisions Publicite, where I focused on high-quality television and digital programs that positively impact the brands through advertising and sponsorship. I joined Fever in April 2022 to spearhead the Candlelight Concert Series in the UAE and Saudi Arabia, where classical music events were often aimed at a niche audience. As the Candlelight Team Lead in the Middle East, I’ve been able to combine my strategic mindset with my love for the arts.
    You learned ballet and contemporary dance early on – tell us more.
    This passion is the foundation of who I am today. Ballet taught me discipline, to fight for what I loved, to never give up, and to work hard until I become the best version of myself. Discipline allowed me to acquire a certain technique that later would be the basis of my fulfillment in contemporary dance.
    Your role as the Candlelight Team Lead in the Middle East allowed Lina to merge her business acumen with her passion for art – how do you balance both?
    My love for art has given me the demand for excellence. I am immensely proud of what we produce. I have a great affection for the artists we work with, and I consider that each one has contributed to the great structure of Candlelight Middle East. But to ensure Candlelight’s success, we must not forget that it is a business. It is necessary to understand the desires of our audience and the trends, and to manage all the teams involved in this project to ensure its expansion. There is a fine line between artistic intuition and the public’s taste. Fortunately, and this is where the Candlelight model stands out, we benefit from a vast database based on concerts that take place in more than 150 cities worldwide and which alternate between more than 100 musical programs. There is no crystal ball, there is just data that tells us what to play, when, where, for whom, and how!
    Classical music is seen with its innovative format – talk us through the journey of each concert.
    One of our goals at Fever is to inspire our users with innovative experiences by creating new ‘Fever Original’ ideas that we know will interest them. We launched the Candlelight Concerts in 2019 after realizing the need to make classical music accessible to a wider audience, reaching beyond the core demographic of classical music enthusiasts. We started by testing different concepts and quickly found that the audiences who attended were keen on more intimate experiences. They also shared concerns about the length of traditional classical concerts being too long and not knowing how to dress or behave at events which had always seemed more “grand and elite”.

    Candlelight Concerts by Fever offers a variety of programs to meet all tastes – what are some of the most interesting concerts so far?
    We develop Candlelight concert programs by combining recommendations from our dedicated in-house music curation team, the data received by analyzing global metrics, and feedback from audiences and musicians. So far, in the UAE and Saudi Arabia, we have already presented some of our global best-selling programs, including concerts featuring works by renowned composers such as Vivaldi, Mozart, and Chopin and tributes to contemporary artists like Queen and Coldplay. We are also always looking to meet our local audiences’ expectations and create programs that cater to varied tastes. For example, we’ve presented performances in Dubai and Abu Dhabi featuring A Century of Iconic Arabic Music and Indian Music Night which is exclusive to the region.
    The Candlelight Concert Series in the UAE and Saudi Arabia – How did it all begin?
    At Fever, our mission is to democratiSe access to culture and entertainment in the regions where we are present. Classical music is very niche, so the essence of the Candlelight concerts is to bring a fundamentally modern vision to the classical music experience to reach a broad audience of age, nationality, and social background, thus promoting diversity in the cultural landscape. We had seen the experience’s success in many cities worldwide, so thought bringing it to the ever-evolving cultural scene of the Middle East was a step in the right direction. With this in mind, we started with our first concert – Best of Chopin performed by Aldo Dotto. We were sold out after a few days of sales. 1.5 years later we are still sold out to almost all our Chopin’s shows and Aldo is still one of our best artists. And as they say, the rest is history. We had the pleasure of celebrating the UAE with an incredible public concert in the Founder’s Memorial in Abu Dhabi. Over 1,600 attendees immersed themselves in an exclusive musical program, combining piano and traditional Arabic instruments for a rediscovery of the region’s musical legends.
    Candlelight has seen much success in the Middle East, with the community expanding with each new concert. – What lies ahead?
    Our success in the Middle East has been wonderful, and we are looking forward to the exciting possibilities the future holds as we continue to expand our community. We want to diversify our programs further, reach even wider audiences, and contribute to the region’s cultural richness. The journey involves continued innovation and collaboration to make classical music a vibrant and integral part of the Middle East’s cultural landscape.
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      Candlelight Concerts by Fever’s Cello specialist Enkhmaa Tuvshin shares how it began

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      Lifeby Sarah Joseph2 hours ago Candlelight was initially conceived as a classical music series with concerts featuring works by renowned composers, such as Vivaldi, Mozart, and Chopin.Now, the ever-growing list of programs includes a wide variety of themes and genres, including tributes to contemporary artists like Queen, ABBA and more. This innovative format provides a unique live musical experience, offering a variety of programs to meet all tastes.Emirates Woman spoke to Enkhmaa Tuvshin a Cello and Piano Specialist at Candlelight Concerts by Fever to learn how her journey began.Talk us through your background and career.My name is Enkhmaa and I am from Mongolia. I have been playing the cello for 21 years. I obtained my bachelor’s degree from the Korea National University of Arts in Korea. After completing my studies, I returned to Mongolia and worked with the Mongolian Symphony Orchestra, gaining experience at the State Opera and Ballet Academic Theatre. Currently, I am employed at Juli Music Institute in Abu Dhabi as a teacher.You have a passion for teaching cello – tell us how it began.My passion for teaching cello originated from the guidance of my exceptional mentors. One teacher, in particular, conveyed the beauty of sharing knowledge, emphasizing, ‘It is truly rewarding to pass on what you have learned.’ Inspired by this sentiment, I found my calling to start teaching.During your studies in Korea, you performed in many Korean Orchestras and concerts, what prestigious ones did you participate in?I would like to highlight my participation in university orchestra concerts during my bachelor’s degree. I had the opportunity to join the orchestra led by the conductor of the Korea Philharmonic. The experience was invaluable, and I learned a great deal, making it a truly amazing chapter in my musical journey.How important is music in creating the perfect ambiance – how does this add to the experience?Music sets the vibe and amps up the awesomeness. It stirs emotions, creates a mood, and adds something special to any place or event. I’m truly grateful for this candlelight concert – it’s an incredible experience for me. I’d like to sincerely thank the fantastic audience for attending and giving warm applause. I also want to extend my gratitude to those who organized this concert. Your support means a lot.What is most important to you when you are on the stage performing?The importance varies depending on the genre. In classical performances, my focus is on expressing and sharing emotions with the audience. Conversely, when playing pop music, I relish simply enjoying the moment with the audience, fostering a lighter and enjoyable atmosphere.For more information and to purchase tickets visit feverup.com– For more on luxury lifestyle, news, fashion and beauty follow Emirates Woman on Facebook and InstagramImages: Supplied More

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      Candlelight Concert by Fever’s Magdalena Wajdzik on delivering a memorable experience

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      Lifeby Camille Macawili21 mins ago Candlelight was initially conceived as a classical music series with concerts featuring works by renowned composers, such as Vivaldi, Mozart, and Chopin.Now, the ever-growing list of programs includes a wide variety of themes and genres, including tributes to contemporary artists like Queen, ABBA and more. This innovative format provides a unique live musical experience, offering a variety of programs to meet all tastes.Among their line-up of diverse artists is pianist Magdalena Wajdzik. Playing a significant role in each performance, here the talented performer shares her early beginnings and discusses how to enthrall a crowd and deliver a memorable experience through the power of music.What do your first 30 minutes of your day look like, your morning routine?I wake up every day at 5 am and start my morning routine with a refreshing shower. I then proceed to my skincare routine. After that, I tackle my exercise routine, which includes a challenging 5-minute planking challenge. I am proud to say that I have been making steady progress each week by gradually increasing the time I hold the plank. Next, I prepare myself a delicious and nutritious breakfast, usually consisting of overnight oats or chia seeds with berries and nuts, and pack a satisfying lunch for school. I am mindful of the food I consume and make a conscious effort to reduce my meat consumption. Finally, I leave for school early so that I can practice playing the piano with complete focus and mindfulness.Talk to us through your background and career.At the age of 6, my mother signed me up for piano lessons, and music became a significant part of my life. It wasn’t always easy, but after years of practice, I won a prize at a music competition. This achievement changed my mindset, and I started to believe that becoming a professional musician was possible. During my university years, I had an urge to study abroad. I was accepted to the Birmingham Conservatoire, where I seized every opportunity to grow, such as participating in internal and external competitions and concerts. Although some of these were more successful than others, they all contributed to my overall development. I also spent some summers in the US as a pianist. After a few years in the UK, I received a scholarship opportunity in Budapest, Hungary, where I spent two years exploring Hungarian piano repertoire and working with up-and-coming composers. My interest in modern music, particularly the music composed post-1950, grew stronger, and I continue to enjoy working on contemporary classical music. When I moved to UAE, I shifted my career from performing to teaching. However, I still perform occasionally and participate in a few projects such as the Candlelight Concerts. I also support student projects around Dubai as an accompanist or chamber music performer. Although music takes up most of my time, I’ve been a skydiver for the past few years, and I spend my Saturdays (my official day off from music) at Skydive Dubai.Prior to moving to Dubai in 2014, you lived across Europe, the United Kingdom and USA. What lessons did you learn during those times that you apply into your career?I left Poland during my university years and had to quickly adapt to living independently. This required me to develop an understanding of the cultures of the countries I lived in. While living abroad, I made friends from all over the world and learned how to be flexible and adaptable in different social situations. Speaking English as my first language gave me fluency and the ability to teach and mentor others while leaving my mother tongue behind.Where do you get the discipline and motivation to be consistent and are there any practices which have helped you with this?I believe in the power of habit. I remember reading the book with the same title by Charles Duhigg. I always care about producing the highest quality of work. In order to achieve this, I try to be honest with myself. I am my biggest critic, which keeps me driven and motivated. In North London Collegiate School, where I work, I am surrounded by a wonderful and ambitious team that keeps me motivated and devoted to the art of teaching and supporting students in the best way possible. It’s important to mention that my own students keep me motivated. There is nothing better than knowing that my work and attitude have impacted students’ lives in a musical way.What role has mentorship played in your career?I have been blessed to have had a few mentors in my career. They had an important role during my university years but also right after I graduated and started my teaching and performing careers. Thanks to those people, I stayed focused, built my self-confidence, achieved goals and widened my professional network. They also led me to self-discovery and helped me direct my focus to particular areas in music performance and music teaching.Are there any milestones you are most proud of?My milestones have changed over time. When I was younger, a milestone of mine was to visit 50 countries. Another was to finish with the highest degree offered at my university, the Advanced Postgraduate Diploma. What I am really proud of is that despite being so busy with my teaching career, I can still perform and practice piano, and not only that (!) – I am still getting better!What has been the biggest challenge to date, and how did you overcome this?Living as an expat has been my biggest challenge. I have been living abroad for a long time, and I often feel lonely, which affects my mental health. Family is extremely important to me, and I try to overcome the distance and time apart by visiting them whenever possible. We also have regular Zoom calls to stay connected. Prioritizing my family keeps me content and grounded in life.As an educator, your interest lies in brain development and music therapy – why is this important?Every musician has a reason for turning to teaching. At the beginning of my career, my main focus was to make a living. This all changed soon after I began my career in teaching. I find teaching at any level incredibly rewarding, regardless of the speed of progress my students make. This has been an informed decision after diving into the subject of brain development. Understanding the neural processes and how ‘flexible’ and ‘plastic’ (referring to brain plasticity) the brain helps tremendously with patience and choosing the right learning pathways for my students. Music Therapy, for me, can reduce stress and improve quality of life. I am a big supporter and strong believer in the power of music, and I hope one day, music will be the most important subject in students’ timetables.How important is music in creating the perfect ambience – how does this add to the experience?I can’t stress enough how important music is to create the perfect ambience. Music truly accentuates experiences. It can convey a specific mood: calmness, excitement, tension, or suspense. I can relate this question to a soundtrack from a movie. Something that I ALWAYS pay attention to while watching a motion picture. The sound can add emotional depth and help the person experiencing it better direct their emotions.What is the most important to you when you are on stage performing?The stage is the platform for performers. We share an art that is music. It is very important for me to connect with my audience. I always think about what I will play and how to convey those musical messages and ideas. I ask myself a few important questions: am I engaging? Are the music pieces I’m performing varied and balanced enough? Am I able to convey my emotions successfully? These questions help me direct my attention and, therefore, make me try to establish a connection with the audience.– For more on luxury lifestyle, news, fashion and beauty follow Emirates Woman on Facebook and InstagramImages: Supplied More