The Prime Note Ensemble (PNE) has established itself as the 1st Filipino a cappella Choir based in Saudi Arabia that is consist of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW).

The choir was founded by its President, Medardo U. Obida and is conducted by Novem G. Cabios. Its members come from widely contrasting backgrounds and diverse musical experience.

Since 2001, PNE has given numerous performances in the area, including concerts for the Saudi Aramco Employee’s Association (SAEA) in Dhahran and participation in the International Concert Committee’s Local Artists concerts that are held at the British School in Al-Khobar; as well as for special functions of the Philippine Embassy in Saudi Arabia and gatherings of different Filipino community organizations.

Daigdig Pinoy (DP): How were you able to budget your time between work and performances?

Dennis Quiambao: The fact is all of us do have full-time jobs and the evening rehearsals are often after a really busy day at the office, with screaming bosses and piling deadlines.  Members who work regular work hours usually finish work at 5pm.  Our regular rehearsals are based in downtown Khobar (where most member are) every other day from 8 to 11 pm during the work week. During Fridays, we rehearse from 12 noon until 4 or 5 in the afternoon.  Nearer concert dates, which we try to do twice a year, reharsals are almost every night during the work week.
 
DP: What are the challenges that you face, when it comes to finances, relationship with each other and professionalism?

Dennis Quiambao:  FINANCES -- ah yes, the choir doesn't earn from the performances. So for big trips out of the KSA, we try to solicit from individuals and companies that support and believe what the choir is doing.  Like any fund raising, it is really difficult to raise funds, especially for all 27 members! So we do end up paying for most of our expenses, majority of which is our airfare.
 
RELATIONSHIP WITH EACH OTHER -- Active singing members are 22 at the moment and each with contrasting (though sometimes complementing) personalities.  We have a great leader in our president & founder, Medard Obida to whom we all look up to.  Like any other organization or group, personality clashes do occur, but one thing holds true for the PNE.  When you join the choir, you not only gain choir experience, but have also acquired (a-choired) a family.  We are one big family and a brotherhood if you like, and we look out after one another.
 
PROFESSIONALISM -- Prospective members are initially accepted in the choir not only if they could carry a tune, but most importantly if they have the right personality to sustain a demanding schedule and to make a commitment to attend every rehearsal and performances.  Punctuality and dedication are monitored and it’s quite a relief to know that generally, members support and believe that having in place a stricter set of rules keeps the choir at its feet. We ourselves are the most demanding critics of our performances and always strive to do much better than the last performance.  
 
For past and present members, the greatest satisfaction & motivation was the opportunity to sing in a choir that strives to attain a high standard of choral singing and working with a dedicated and most patient yet demanding conductor in the person of Novem Cabios.
 
DP: What is your group’s main objective?

Dennis Quiambao: Our initial objective was just to have a group that could do something worthwhile in this OFW-country other than do nightly karaoke singing & socials.  We had a passion for choral singing.  Later on, we realized that thru our singing, we could help people who are in need, through our benefit concerts.  What we never realized was that a "lowly" inexperienced OFW choir could join an international choral competition and win at that, is no small feat. We now want to sing our hearts out to continue to hone our passion for singing, be able to help people in need through our performances and be able to prove that yes, the Filipino can, no matter where he is or whatever his circumstances are.
 
DP: What are the expectations from an award winning choir?

Medard Obida: I expect that our contribution to choral singing in this part of the world would make other people appreciate the beauty of choral music and the satisfaction it bring to both singer and the audience.  Most people find choral singing boring, and we want to change that.

A lot is expected of the choir since it has toured Europe twice, competed in the Musica Mundi and won Bronze & Silver medals and participated in choir festivals.  People who have not heard us perform are intrigued as to what makes us tick and how we sound.  We are always expected to deliver smooth, flawless renditions.  We do the best we can, but at the end of the day, we are not perfect and that's why we continue to strive harder in honing our craft.

DP: Any plans of performing in the Philippines?

Medard Obida: We are already talking of plans and have made initial inquiries with the Cultural Center of the Philippines, for possibilities.  Financials are quite prohibitive but the good thing is that it is "doable", although with our current plans and schedules, we don't see it happening soon.

INTERNATIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS

The choir has gained international exposure when it de-facto represented Saudi Arabia in the 4th World Choir Games in Xiamen, China in July 2006 and received a gold diploma certificate and Bronze Medal in the Male Chamber Choir Category. Its participation made choir history in the World Choir Games, being the very first participation of Saudi Arabia along with Botswana.

In May 2007, the group was invited to perform in one of France’s major choral festival in Nancy, the 14th Festival International Chant de Choral.

In July 2008, the choir won the Silver Medal in the Male Chamber Choir in the 5th World Choir Games in Graz, Austria.

“Competition rules always require that regardless of the choir members' nationality, the country they would have to represent is the country where the choir resides, that is why PNE represents Saudi Arabia in the competitions. Nevertheless, one should realize that at the end of the day, regardless of which country is represented, the fact still remains that the PNE is all-Filipino. This is how the rules work, but regardless, the respect and admiration of the world is accorded to these citizens of the Philippines.” Cited Medard Obida, PNE Founder and President.