UP Los Baños Choral Ensemble wins 1st Asia Choral Grand Prix

UP Los Baños Choral Ensemble

As the lone Philippine choir up against a field, dominated by Indonesians, the UP Los Baños Choral Ensemble made history by bagging the 1st Asia Choral Grand Prix held at the Cultural Center of the Philippines.

UP Los Baños Choral Ensemble

UPLB Chorale Ensemble, conducted by Roijin Galaruan Suarez, beat the strong challenge posed by the five Indonesian choirs namely Brawijaya University Student Choir, e Deum Voice, Paduan Suara Mahasiswa Universitas Padjadjaran, Vocalista Harmonic Choir ISI Yogyakarta, and the St. Louis High School Choir.

The winners of the 4th Andrea O. Veneracion International Choral Festival, as well as the two choirs qualifying for the 2nd Asia Choral Grand Prix, were also announced during the Award/Closing Ceremonies of the festival.

FEU Chorale

FEU Chorale, conducted by Karl Angelo Tangco, emerged as the biggest winners of the 4th Andrea O. Veneracion International Choral Festival bagging a 1st Place finish at the Mixed Choir Category as well as a 2nd Place finish at the Folk Song Categories. The big wins unquestionably qualified the FEU Chorale to the 2nd Asia Choral Grand Prix  2021 to be held in Bali, Indonesia.

Boscorale

The boys choir Boscorale, conducted by Alvin Paulin, once again joined the winners circle by emerging at the top of the Equal Voices Category. Gasps among the audience were heard when the boys were announced to be headed to Bali as well for the 2nd Asia Choral Grand Prix 2021.

The Folk Song Category was won by the Technological Institute of the Philippines Choral Society conducted by Cyro Bon Cloui Moral. They also placed second at the Mixed Choir Category.

At the ceremonies, CCP Vice President/Artistic Director Chris Millado also announced that the Malaysia International Choral Eisteddfod  will be joining the Andrea O. Veneracion International Choral Festival, the Singapore International Choral Festival, and the Bali International Choir Festival thus expanding the Asia Choral Grand Prix circuit.

Here are the complete list of winners of the 4th Andrea O. Veneracion International Choral Festival:

Mixed Choir Category

FEU Chorale

1st Place: FEU Chorale

2nd Place: Technological Institute of the Philippines (TIP) Choral Society

3rd Place: Chorus Vocales Philippines

Equal Voices Category

Boscorale

1st Place: Boscorale

2nd Place: Miriam College High School Glee Club

3rd Place: St. Paul College Pasig High School Chorale

Folk Song Category

TIP Choral Society

1st Place: Technological Institute of the Philippines (TIP) Choral Society

2nd Place: FEU Chorale

3rd Place: Chór Pueri et Puellae Cantores Ploncenses (Poland)

Boscorale extends dominance of Musica FEUROPA with 7th win

Boscorale, Musica FEUROPA 10 Champion

Boscorale extends its dominating streak, winning the Musica FEUROPA 10 choral competition that was held at the FEU Auditorium.

Conducted by Alvin Paulin, the choir is now 7 out of 7, winning every time that they’ve entered this annual competition jointly presented by the Far Eastern University and the Delegation of theEuropean Union to the Philippines. Ever since the High School Category was included in Musica FEUROPA 3 in 2011, Boscorale has always come out on top in that category except in Musica FEUROPA 5 in 2013 when they opted not to compete. And now, they've made history for being the first champions that competed with both High School and Open Categories.

Boscorale’s win nets the choir the cash prize of P100,000 aside from having another Musica FEUROPA championship trophy to add to their expanding collection. They’ve bested 5 other choirs in the finals that were made up of the top 3 qualifiers from the semifinals of the High School and Open Categories which is part of the new mechanics introduced this year.

Philippine Normal University Chorale, 1^st Runner Up

The Philippine Normal University Chorale emerged as the 1^st Runner Up bagging the P30,000 cash prize and a trophy, while the Minstrels of Hope rounded up the podium with a 2^nd Runner Up finish bringing home P20,000 and a trophy. The three choirs that made it into the finals went home with P10,000 consolation prizes are Himig Roseña, Technological Institute of the Philippines Choral Society, and St. Scholastica’s Academy Marikina High School Glee Club.

Minstrels of Hope, 2^nd Runner Up

Showing the swagger that I think has been their signature already, the boys (and a girl to my surprise) of Boscorale delivered a commanding performance of Hinbarra by Michael McGlynn, the required European Union piece and Tangguyob ni Gideon by Eudenice Palaruan, the required Filipino piece. Their second piece climaxed to such an epic finish, a tapestry of richly layered and textured vocals. A slight stumble at the end was not enough to hurt the otherwise extremely strong showing of the overwhelming favorites.

Tutti performance featuring all 6 finalist choirs

I had a few words with Alvin Paulin during the post-competition reception and he said that he was initially scared when he first learned that the finals will have both categories competing against each other. He said that high school choirs do not have the same vocal texture, and level of musicality and maturity compared to that of choirs that are made up of adult members. He also added that their winning record in Musica FEUROPA has served as a motivation for the choir to work harder. But the new rule has definitely made this win a lot harder than in previous years. As for the lone girl member that sparked my curiosity, Paulin informed me that her inclusion to the group was made possible by the Senior High School level in Don Bosco finally open to female students.

Winning conductors Boscorale’s Alvin Paulin, Minstrel of Hope’s Anthony Villanueva,

and Philippine Normal University Chorale’s Luzviminda Modelo

with the Musica FEUROPA organizers and adjudicators

As another Musica FEUROPA ends, I now look forward to the 11^th edition and the start of the competition’s 2^nd decade. Will Boscorale finally be elevated to the Hall of Fame, thus giving the other choirs a fighting chance of winning the title? How much will Brexit and the impending ineligibility of British works affect the competition? And a lingering question of mine has always been, when will I hear a piece in Estonian? Why do I keep on asking when answers could be known in future Musica FEUROPAs. Until then, let’s keep the choral music and singing going.