August 08, 2022
35 for EMCC35 | Abram Komara
In this instalment of our #35forEMCC35 series, we spotlight Abram Komara, a former member of the ExxonMobil Campus Concerts (EMCC) Crew! Abram dedicated all 4 years of his uni life to EMCC, dipping his hands into almost every role — from front-of-house, to photography and videography, to stage crew, stage manager, and production manager! Today he is a Mathematics teacher at an international school, and he continues to draw on his EMCC experiences to nurture and guide his students.
How did you first get started with EMCC?
I was a freshman in 2008, when a senior in EMCC Crew recruited me to join. After my first show I knew that this is something that I wanted to continue to do throughout my university life.
What is the most cherished memory you have of your time with EMCC?
I think it’s the time when EMCC invited external and international artists. To be able to work side by side with professional artists and see them in action very closely is a very valuable experience that I cherished. These valuable experiences include Timbre Music Fest on Campusin 2009 and when German acapella group Vocaldente came in 2010.
What has your experience with EMCC taught you about yourself?
Before joining EMCC Crew, my experience with the arts was limited to only choral music. EMCC allowed me to explore almost all areas of performing arts, from dance to classical music to theatre, without any barrier to entry.
How has your EMCC experience impacted you after graduation?
I continue to be involved in ad-hoc arts projects in my spare time! My EMCC Crew experience taught me how to look at the details of a project without losing sight of the bigger picture.
What hopes do you have for EMCC in furthering its arts outreach programme and pushing the boundaries of artistic expression by students?
I hope that EMCC will continue to bring the performances to every nook and cranny of NUS! The arts have the power to surprise and enlighten students’ day and I hope EMCC will continue to do so.
Was there any one project you really wanted to do with EMCC but couldn’t, and would like to see future generations of EMCC crews try?
I would like to see a show where the EMCC Crew themselves are on stage and performing! It could be a show where the crew can showcase the different roles, skills, and talents, putting a (literal) spotlight on the heroes of the dark. That would be something interesting to watch!
About #35forEMCC35
NUS Centre For the Arts is proud to commemorate 35 years of ExxonMobil Campus Concerts (EMCC) through our #35forEMCC35 series. Spotlighting 35 individuals from past and present editions of EMCC, the series showcases how EMCC has complemented these individuals’ academic and professional lives, and their hopes for EMCC in the years to come.