Parallel to the motivational expression of National Artist for Music and founder of the Philippine Madrigal Singers Andrea Veneracion, “Just Do It,” the Sing Philippines Youth Choir (SPYC) Tour Group “did it” at the Busan Choral Festival and Competition (BCFC) in Busan, South Korea.
Led by Artistic Director and Conductor Mark Anthony Carpio, the SPYC Tour Group won the 2nd Prize and Gold Diploma for the Classical Mixed and Equal Category and Gold Diploma in the Ethnic Category.
SPYC Artistic Director
and Conductor Mark
Anthony Carpio (left)
receives the 2nd Prize
and Gold Diploma for
the Sing Philippines
Youth Choir Tour Group
Organized by the Philippine Madrigal Singers (MADz), the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) through its Cultural Exchange Department and the Andrea O. Veneracion Sing Philippines Foundation (AOVSPF), the SPYC was launched in 2014. To date, the SPYC totals to four batches and 213 singers, from 56 local communities all over the country. The Sing Philippines movement brings to life National Artist Andrea Veneracion’s vision of a nation singing in harmony and united in songs.
In 2019, a tour group was organized from batches 1 to 3 composed of 36 singers who also underwent music camps and outreach concerts, the most recent one held in San Jose Del Monte City in Bulacan last July 18 to 23. The project was a continuation of the group’s choral training that began in 2019 in Batangas and Bohol but was forced to shift to virtual in 2020 due to the pandemic. The creation of a tour group and their continuous training was envisioned to include international engagements that would showcase and recognize their unique artistry to the global choral and music community through tours and participation in festivals and competitions.
Composed of 34 singers from all over the country (20 from Luzon, six from National Capital Region, four from Visayas and four from Mindanao), the SPYC performed the following pieces for the Classical Mixed and Equal Category: “Fest- und GedenksprĂĽche, Op.109: II. Wenn ein starker Gewappneter” by Johannes Brahms; “Draw on, sweet night” by John Wilbye; and “Jubilate Deo” by Saunder Choi.
For the Ethnic/Traditional category, they performed “Tatlong Awiting Pambata: I. Ang Alibangbang” by Saunder Choi, “Dandansoy arranged by Fidel Calalang, and “Three Kalinga Chants” by Nilo Alcala 2nd.
Aside from the competition, the SPYC attended workshops and lectures conducted by two music experts — Bob Chilcot from the UK and Tommyanto Kandisaputra of Indonesia.
The Sing Philippines Youth Choir Tour Group led the Busan Choral Festival and
Competition in Busan, South Korea.
The SPYC delegation also had the rare chance to witness the superb performance of the famous vocal ensemble from the UK, The Swingles, during the opening concert on October 19 at the Sohyang Theatre. Along with other participating choirs, the SPYC had a special outreach concert at the Busan Station on October 22 where they sang “Sing Philippines Sing” composed by Ily Mathew Maniano with lyrics by Joey Vargas.
Another source of pride for the Philippines is multi-awarded Philippine composer and former member of the Philippine Madrigal Singers, Ily Mathew Maniano, who bagged the 1st place in the composition competition of the BCFC for his piece entitled “Amihan”.
There were four other Philippine choral groups who joined the BCFC and won awards as well: Villanueva Chorale of Misamis Oriental, Imusikapella of Cavite, Balanga Choral Artists, and Bataan Peninsula State University Chorale. Other foreign competitors were groups from South Korea, Indonesia, and Singapore.
Despite the geographical distance from each other, SPYC’s patience, hard work and perseverance under Carpio’s exceptional guidance and training since 2019 have indeed paid off. They offer this gratifying triumph to all their families, colleagues, friends, patrons and supporters in the regions and provinces where they come from and most especially to the CCP, CED, MADz and the AOVSPF.
