Friday 10 / October / 2025
Muscat: The “Voice of the Season 2025” competition kicked off at Al-Murooj Theater in Salalah as part of the Sarb Season Cultural Festival. The event is organized by the Dhofar Center for Culture, Heritage, and Creativity in collaboration with the General Directorate of Culture, Sports, and Youth in Dhofar Governorate, along with several governmental and private entities. The festival will continue until November 27.
In his opening speech, Kamel bin Hamad Al-Kathiri, Director of the Dhofar Center for Culture, Heritage, and Creativity, emphasized that the festival embodies the authentic spirit of Dhofar and the richness of Omani cultural heritage. He noted that the center’s vision is to make culture a bridge for intergenerational communication and a space for creativity and innovation.
He explained that the launch of the “Voice of the Season 2025” competition represents an artistic and cultural initiative that brings together Gulf talents in a contest that highlights vocal abilities without the use of musical instruments—preserving authenticity while aligning with the spirit of the times. He affirmed the center’s belief in a unified Gulf cultural message that transcends geographical boundaries and unites communities around values of love and heritage.
The opening ceremony featured a poetry segment and a distinguished vocal operetta. Winners of the first and second places in the first round of the competition featuring eight contestants were also announced.
A total of 32 contestants from Oman and other Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries are participating in the competition, presenting various styles of traditional vocal performance before a specialized jury in the fields of vocal arts and chanting. Entries are evaluated based on precise artistic criteria that focus on vocal performance without the use of musical instruments.
Top winners will receive valuable prizes, and audience members will enjoy raffles and giveaways throughout the competition. The event celebrates authenticity and creativity, highlighting Dhofar’s cultural significance at the Gulf level.
The competition is part of the center’s efforts to preserve intangible cultural heritage and promote traditional vocal arts as a shared artistic identity among Gulf communities. It serves as a platform to showcase the diversity of Gulf creativity and celebrate authentic vocal performance that reflects the depth of Arab heritage.
The opening ceremony was held under the patronage of His Excellency Salem bin Muslim Qatan, Deputy Chairman of the State Council, with the attendance of dignitaries, officials, intellectuals, and those interested in the artistic and literary fields.
