It was a press conference more dramatic than usual, and on the stage of the Cultural Center of the Philippines at that, a brainchild of CCP vice president and artistic director Chris Millado.
First, the members of the Philippine Madrigal Singers (Madz) led by choirmaster Mark Anthony Carpio, some 30 of them, were seated along one end of the long table, chatting and dining with the media. Suddenly, at a signal, they sang one song and then got up to interpret another composition, in Spanish this time.
And then—voilà—the curtain rose majestically to reveal a 100-voice choir raising their voices in unison along with the members of the Madz.
Applause, needless to say, was deafening.
The event was held to announce a series of choral concerts and workshops that aim to put the Philippines—with its renowned choirs that have won a clutch of international awards—on the map as the center for choral performance in Asia and the Pacific.
The 100 voices came from choirs which have been organized and trained by the Madz: Kilyawan Male Choir and Voces Aurore (led by Carpio); DLSU-Dasmariñas Chorale and Minstrels of St. La Salle (Vell Litan); University of Makati Chorale (Robert Delgado); Corode San Sebastian and PVAD Chorale (Marivic Llamas); and the Philippine Vocal Ensemble (Joel Aquino).
These choirs are members of Madz Et Al, comprising more than 50 choral groups under the direction of alumni conductors of the Madz. Madz Et Al is celebrating its 30th year, while Madz itself is concluding its 50th anniversary.
Choirs galore
The performances at the CCP begin April 1-6 with the Madz Et Al Choral Festival, featuring more than 50 choirs, with seven choirs featured every concert night of the festival. And with new compositions at that, by composers chosen by the conductors.
On June 28-29, the Madz, following goodwill visits to Austria, Italy and the Czech Republic at the invitation of the Philippine embassies, will hold its 50th anniversary closing concert at the CCP. The concert will highlight the Sing Philippines Choir, composed of trained choristers from all over the country.
Want to be a choral singer? Then join the CCP Hands-on Choral Workshop on Oct. 21-25 (call the CCP Artist Training Division at tel. 8321125 loc. 1604). Choristers and conductors from different parts of the country will undergo a five-day intensive training, capped by a concert at the CCP’s Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo on the last day.
This training program has produced winners in national and international choral competitions.
Finally, on July 21-25 next year, the 2nd Andrea O. Veneracion Choral Festival will be held, with choirs from different parts of the world competing in the Folk, Vocal Ensemble and Chamber Choir categories.
The events will showcase “a gold medal of talent,” declared Millado, noting that the choirs trained by the Madz have won medals abroad. “It’s not about winning the gold,” he clarified. “It’s what we nurtured and polished here in gold. That’s where the gold is.”
The idea behind the four-pronged choral festival, Millado said, is that “we are the center of choral performances in Asia and the Pacific.”