A delighted Barack Obama was treated to an impromptu serenade by an all-female choir during his visit to the Danish capital of Copenhagen.
Obama was in town for the 2022 Copenhagen Democracy Summit when he heard a choir rehearsing on a balcony opposite Hotel d’Angleterre, where he was staying.
The curious former president called up and asked them what they were doing, to which the girls answered in chorus: ‘We are singing!’
Obama wished the choir to sing for him, to which – with some incredulity – they duly obliged, delighting the first black president and gifting the girls an unforgettable moment.
The Ung Klang choir sang a rendition of the tune ‘In Denmark I was Born’ to the former President, who waved to the group and gestured with his hand to one ear, saying: ‘Wow, that was fantastic!’
The choir is made up of nine women in their early twenties, who are all classically-trained singers and describe themselves as an ‘artistic community’.
Barack Obama was in town for the 2022 Copenhagen Democracy Summit when he heard a choir rehearsing on a balcony opposite Hotel d’Angleterre, where he was staying
The curious former president called up and asked them what they were doing, to which the girls answered in chorus: ‘We are singing!’
Obama wished the choir to sing for him, to which – with some incredulity – they duly obliged, delighting the first black president and gifting the girls an unforgettable moment
The Ung Klang choir, pictured here singing to Barrack Obama, is made up of nine women in their early twenties, who are all classically-trained singers and describe themselves as an ‘artistic community’
A choir member of Ung Klang wrote on Instagram: ‘Today our rehearsals started out completely unexpected and amazing!
‘We have just started rehearsing for our upcoming projects, after which we hear a little street noise from the balcony.
‘Suddenly, former President Obama steps out of D’Angleterre’s basement and catches sight of us. He looks up at us in amazement and asks: ‘Hello what are you doing?’
”We’re singing’, we answer in chorus, to which he replies, ”Oh, let me hear.”
‘We start out laughing a little and think he is not really interested until we can see that he is ready to listen.
One of the group started singing ‘I was born in Denmark’ and the rest joined in, forming a surprising and impromptu serenade for the ‘very impressed’ former Illinois senator.
He asked them about themselves and what they did before getting in his chauffeured car and driving away.
‘One has to say,’ the choir member continued, ‘that this morning was a little more unusual than our regular practice sessions. We have to admit that it just took an hour before we had fallen to the ground again.
Obama stopped and called up to ask what the girls were doing with characteristic endearing charm, and was himself charmed by the serenade they performed for him
‘Great day, great experience.’
Frederik Kurstein, 23, who lives across from the hotel Obama was staying in, managed to capture the moment.
His girlfriend, who is part of the choir, practices there with the other singers and after hearing the commotion outside they ran to the balcony.
Frederik, who works in TV production, said: ‘My girlfriend lives in the apartment, and I live there too.
‘I was just sitting on the balcony and there were lots of police and I knew that President Obama was staying at the hotel.
‘I went inside and suddenly we heard a lot of screaming, so I went out again and that’s when we saw him.’
President Obama was with Obama Foundation Leaders from across Europe to close the 2022 Copenhagen Democracy Summit with a session entitled, ‘Democratic Organizing in the Digital Age’ last Friday.
He then participated in interactive workshops with various foundation leaders focusing on challenges the leaders face in their regions and ideas for high impact advancements.
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