The search is on for AOV International Choral Festival entries

The Andrea O. Veneracion International Choral Festival has announced its search for entries as the biennial choral competition returns this July 20-23, 2023, at the Samsung Performing Arts Theater in Circuit, Makati.

The categories in the competition include Folk Song, Equal Voices, and Mixed Choir. Choirs can participate in any or all the categories as long as they fulfill the necessary requirements for each category.

Choirs can submit their application, adressed to Joey Vargas, Festival Director via snail mail at Artist Training Division, Arts Education Department, Cultural Center of the Philippines, Roxas Blvd., Pasay City 1300 Philippines or through email at secretariat@aovchoralfestph.com. The deadline for submission of application is on June 01, 2023.

The application must include: fully accomplished application form; audio/video recording of two (2) to three (3) songs of different genres, recorded within the last six (6) months prior to application; recent profile and photo of the choir taken within the last six (6) months prior to application; and recent profile and photo of the conductor taken within the last six (6) months prior to application.

To be submitted after notice of the choir’s acceptance: repertoire per category; five (5) clear copies of each of the music scores (to be returned after the competition); permit for the use of original/photocopied original scores; and registration fee – US$300 for non-Filipino choirs, and  P10,000 for Filipino choirs.

Two winners from this competition will be chosen to participate in the Asia Choral Grand Prix.

The Andrea O. Veneracion International Choral Festival is produced by the Cultural Center of the Philippines in partnership with the Philippine Madrigal Singers. The choral competition is named after National Artist Andrea O. Veneracion, founder of the world-renowned choir recognized as the first in the world to win the European Grand Prix for Choral Singing twice in 1997 and in 2007.

For inquiries and more details, visit the AOV website at https://aovchoralfestph.com.

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)

12 choirs compete at 4th Andrea O. Veneracion International Choral Fest

With the stakes getting higher and slots for the 2nd Asia Choral Grand Prix up for grabs, the 4th Andrea O. Veneracion International Choral Festival takes place this July 18-21, 2019 the Cultural Center of the Philippines' Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo.

Presented by the Cultural Center of the Philippines and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, this biannual competition will see a total of twelve choirs from the Philippines, Indonesia, and Poland competing in three categories namely Folk Song, Equal Voices, and Mixed Choir.

The twelve competing choirs are Don Bosco Makati – Boscorale, Chór Pueri et Puellae Cantores Plocenses (Poland), Chorus Vocales Philippines, Far Eastern University Chorale, Gloria Patri Singers, Miriam College High School Glee Club, Philippine Normal University (PNU) Kalibnusan Chorale, Philippine Vocal Ensemble, St. Paul Pasig High School Chorale, Technological Institute of the Philippines (TIP) Choral Society, University of Baguio (UB) Voices Chorale, and the Voice of Satya Wacana Christian University (Indonesia).

Aside from the competition, the AOV International Choral Festival will feature a Gala Concert by the Philippine Madrigal Singers with choirmaster Mark Anthony Carpio and also lead up to the inaugural Asia Choral Grand Prix at the final day of the festival.

Members of the jury are Dr. Jason Max Ferdinand (USA), Werner Pfaff (Germany), Digna Guerra (Cuba), David Squire (New Zealand), and Mark Anthony Carpio (Philippines). They will also name the two choirs who will compete at the 2nd Asia Choral Grand Prix to be held in Bali, Indonesia in July 2021.

Here is the schedule for the 4th Andrea O. Veneracion International Choral Festival.

July 18, 2019

5:00 PM Opening Ceremonies

7:00 PM Philippine Madrigal Singers Gala Concert

July 19, 2019

7:00 PM Folk Song Category Competition

July 20, 2019

4:00 PM Equal Voices Category Competition

7:00 PM Mixed Choir Category Competition

July 21, 2019

6:00 PM 1st Asia Choral Grand Prix

8:40 PM Closing and Awarding Ceremonies