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The  audience were spellbound when the tender fingers of two little artistes moved on keys of the majestic piano. The concert was by Heba Riyaz Abdulla and her younger brother Adam Riyaz Abdulla, studying in class 12 and 10 respectively, in Dubai International School, United Arab Emirates.

The piano concert, which was held in Hotel Moti Mahal on Sunday was unique as it was a charity concert meant for development of Rotary Navachethana English Medium School in Mangaluru, under an initiative ‘Education for All.’

 Heba said she thought of taking up the programme as a part of her community service project at her institution back in UAE.

In her school vacations, she has now flown down to her fathers’ native place and decided to make it come into reality in coordination with Rotary International.

Though it was part of the curriculum, she and her brother Adam wanted to organise it on a large scale and hence thought they will raise funds for the development of the school through the present concert, and are hopeful of rising Rs 1 lakh.

Heba said funds will go towards improvisation of classroom facilities and providing necessary facilities such as library, for schoolchildren.

Heba and her brother Adam have attained grade eight and grade seven in piano and are being tutored by Maria Peykova in Trinity College. Both have attained grade five in music theory. Heba has to her credit, solo concerts in Dubai. Both Heba and her brother Adam said their parents Riyaz Abdulla and Mona Saeed were supportive in their social endeavour.

Favourite hobby
Other than playing music, she likes dancing and is also being trained in ballet. Adam is a black belt holder in karate and is into judo and kickboxing. Anyway, music is our favourite hobby, they said. The duo presented the concert with a mix of western classical, rock, pop, hollywood and bollywood numbers. The featured western classical pieces were those composed by Beethoven, Mozart and the like.

Included were also movie sound tracks from Fast and Furious 7, Pirates of the Caribbean and Ashiqui 2.

The total funds raised at the event from guests attending and generous donors were close to Rs 1.25 lakh.  The amount will be utilised to provide computers and a printer to Rotary Navachethana English Medium School. Rotary Club Mangalore president Yathish Baikampady was present.