Filipino choral groups have achieved remarkable success at prestigious international competitions across the globe, bringing home a multitude of awards and accolades, showcasing the exceptional talent and artistry of Filipino singers. Multiple choirs secured top prizes, including Grand Prix wins, demonstrating the Philippines’ dominance in the international choral scene.
The Unstoppable Harmony of Filipino Choirs: A Celebration of Excellence on the Global Stage
The world has once again witnessed the unparalleled talent, dedication, and artistry of Filipino choirs as they triumphed in a series of prestigious international choral competitions throughout 2024. These remarkable achievements not only highlight the rich musical heritage of the Philippines but also reaffirm its place as a powerhouse in the global choral community. From Italy to New Zealand, Filipino choirs have struck a harmonious chord, bringing pride and inspiration to the nation. Here, we recount their extraordinary journey of excellence.
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Los Cantantes de Manila: A Symphonic Victory
Under the baton of Darwin Vargas, Los Cantantes de Manila achieved an unprecedented feat by securing the Grand Prize at the 72nd Concorso Polifónico Internazionale Guido d’Arezzo in Italy. This marks them as the third Filipino choir to win the Grand Prize in this esteemed competition. Their accolades include:
- Grand Prix Winner
- 1st Place in Sacred, Secular, and Obligatory Categories
- Qualification for the 2025 European Grand Prix for Choral Singing
Los Cantantes de Manila also made a strong impression at the 70th Certamen Coral Internacional de Habaneras y Polifonía in Spain, where they secured Fourth Prize in the Polyphony Category.
UP Manila Chorale: Illuminating Poland with Amber Halo
The UP Manila Chorale, led by John Steven Verrosa, emerged victorious at the 59th Międzynarodowy Festiwal Pieśni Chóralnej in Poland. Their crowning achievement was winning the Amber Halo of St. Peter the Apostle, along with gold diplomas in multiple categories.
Global Harmony: Triumphs Across Continents
Europe:
- Imusicapella (Conductor: Tristan Ignacio): Grand Prix Winner at the 29th Béla Bartók International Choir Competition in Hungary and a qualifier for the 2025 European Grand Prix for Choral Singing.
- UP Concert Chorus (Conductor: Prof. Jai Sabas-Aracama): Overall Winner at the Musica Orbis Festivals in Prague, Czech Republic.
Asia-Pacific:
- Sola Gratia Chorale (Conductor: Cyril Punay): Grand Prix Champion at the Singapore International Choral Festival.
- Anima Christi Chorale (Conductor: Joel Boragay): Champion in the Folksong Category at the 13th Bali International Choir Festival.
Americas:
Filipino choirs continued to resonate internationally with their participation in various choral festivals, earning accolades for their innovative repertoire and captivating performances.
Youth and Emerging Talent: The Next Generation of Choral Excellence
The vibrant energy of the Filipino youth shone through in competitions like the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod in Wales, where GC Ensemble claimed top honors in multiple categories. Other youth choirs, such as the Miriam College High School Glee Club and MMSU Nasudi Chorale, garnered gold awards, underscoring the bright future of choral singing in the Philippines.
A Community United in Song
The Filipino choral community, spearheaded by groups like the UP Singing Ambassadors, continues to foster a culture of excellence and camaraderie. As Filipino choirs gain global acclaim, they remain steadfast in their mission to share the richness of Philippine music, culture, and artistry with the world.
Looking Ahead
With numerous choirs qualifying for the 2025 European Grand Prix for Choral Singing, the future of Philippine choral music shines even brighter. These victories are not just milestones but a testament to the unwavering spirit and dedication of Filipino musicians.
Congratulations to all the Filipino choirs who have raised the country’s flag high in the global arena. Mabuhay ang Korong Pilipino! May your voices continue to inspire and uplift the world through music.
CONGRATULATIONS to all the Filipino choirs who have won in various international choral competitions!
We, the UP Singing Ambassadors and the rest of the choral community in the Philippines are proud and delighted to witness your success.
CONGRATULATIONS to the 3rd Filipino Choir to win the GRAND PRIZE in the AREZZO International Choral Competitions!
DARWIN VARGAS, 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒅𝒖𝒄𝒕𝒐𝒓
• Winner, GRAND PRIX
• Qualifier for 2025 European Grand Prix for Choral Singing
• 1st Place – Sacred Category
• 1st Place – Secular Category
• 1st Place – Obligatory Category
——
59th Międzynarodowy Festiwal Pieśni Chóralnej w Międzyzdrojach – POLAND
(June 21, 2024)
UP Manila Chorale
JOHN STEVEN VERROSA, 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒅𝒖𝒄𝒕𝒐𝒓
• Winner, GRAND PRIX
• Winner, Main Prize: Amber Halo of St. Peter the Apostle
Musica Sacra Category
• Gold Diploma – Musica Sacra Category
• Gold Diploma – Mixed Category
Musica Orbis Festivals 2024- Prague, CZECH REPUBLIC
(June 27-July 1, 2024)
Prof. JAI SABAS-ARACAMA, 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒅𝒖𝒄𝒕𝒐𝒓
• Overall Winner – Gold Medal, Unrestricted Category
• Gold Medal- Folklore Category
• Special Prize – Best Stage Performance
Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod – WALES
(July 2-7, 2024)
ELIETESS HAIDEE M. CARIÑO, 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒅𝒖𝒄𝒕𝒐𝒓
• 1st Place – Youth Choirs
• 1st Place – Mixed Choirs
• 2nd Place – Chamber Choirs
• 2nd Place – Adult Folk Song Choirs
World Choir Games 2024 – Auckland, NEW ZEALAND
(July 10-20, 2024)
Colegio de la Purisima Concepcion Chorale
JOFFERSON DELA CRUZ, 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒅𝒖𝒄𝒕𝒐𝒓
• Category Winner – Golden Diploma Level IV
Folkloric and Indigenous Music A Capella Category
—–
Miriam College High School Glee Club
NANCY C. ROMAN, 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒅𝒖𝒄𝒕𝒐𝒓
• Gold (III) Award – Youth Choirs Category
• Gold (IV) Award – Sacred Choral Music A Capella
—–
VINCE LOUISSE D. SALACUP, 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒅𝒖𝒄𝒕𝒐𝒓
• Gold (IV) Award – Sacred Choral Music Category
• Gold (I) Award – Youth Choirs Category
—–
Quezon City Performing Arts Development Foundation, Inc. Concert Chorus
NICK INFANTE, 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒅𝒖𝒄𝒕𝒐𝒓
• Category Winner (Champion) & Gold Award
Category -Mixed Chamber Choirs
• Gold Award Category -Sacred Choral Music with ACO
A Capella Championships 2024 – SINGAPORE
(July 13, 2024)
• Champion – International Category
• Outstanding Soloist – TONI CARM SANTOS BOCTOY
Seghizzi International Competition for Choral Singing 2024 – Gorizia, ITALY
(July 18-22, 2024)
Coro Regina Coeli – Philippines
RENALIE AQUINO, 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒅𝒖𝒄𝒕𝒐𝒓
• 3rd Overall Champion – Grand Prix Competition
• PREMIO UNICO (First Prize)
Categoria 2a: Elaborazioni corali di canti populari, traditionali
• PREMIO UNICO (First prize)
Categoria 2b: Elaborazioni corali di canti spiritual e gospel, musica leggera e Jazz
• Gold Diploma, 3° PREMIO
Categoria 1b: Polifonia Sacra dal Romanticisimo al periodo contemporaneo (1800-oggi)
• 3° PREMIO – Categoria 1d: Polifonia profana dal Classicismo al periodo contemporaneo (1751 – oggi)
• Special Prize, Gold Medal – Migliori Costumi Tradizionali
• Special Prize, Gold Medal – Migliori Coreografie
39th Takarazukaa International Chamber Chorus Contest – Hyogo, JAPAN
(July 19-20, 2024)
DANIEL DUMAS, 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒅𝒖𝒄𝒕𝒐𝒓
• 2nd Prize Overall Winner
• Gold Prize – Mixed Choir Category
• 2nd Prize Winner – Mixed Choir Category
• Winner – Open Category
70th Certamen Coral Internacional de Habaneras y Polifonia – Torrevieja, SPAIN
(July 21-27, 2024)
DARWIN VARGAS, 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒅𝒖𝒄𝒕𝒐𝒓
• Fourth Prize – Polyphony Category
—–
Dr. ARWIN TAN, 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒅𝒖𝒄𝒕𝒐𝒓
• Gold Diploma
• 3rd Place – Habaneras Category
13th Bali International Choir Festival 2024 – Bali, INDONESIA
(July 24-27, 2024)
JOEL BORAGAY, 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒅𝒖𝒄𝒕𝒐𝒓
• Grand Prix Finalist
• Champion – Folksong Category (Championship)
• Gold Medal – Musica Sacra Category (Championship)
—–
Cebu Normal University Chorale
DARLENE YAP, 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒅𝒖𝒄𝒕𝒐𝒓
• Grand Prix Finalist
• First Ever Conductor’s Choice Award – Darlene Yap
• Gold Medal IV – Pop & Jazz
• Gold Medal VI – Folksong
• Outstanding Choreography – Pop & Jazz
• Outstanding Soloist – Sean Andrex Martinez
—–
GenSan Youth Orchestra and Choir Corporation – GYOCC
FERNAN GLOBEN TALONDING, 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒅𝒖𝒄𝒕𝒐𝒓
• Gold Medal VI – Winner of Category – Folksong
• Gold Medal II – Pop & Jazz
—–
𝙋𝘼𝙉𝘼𝙈𝙔𝘼𝙒 𝘾𝙃𝙊𝙍𝘼𝙇𝙀 – 𝓒𝓸𝓵𝓮𝓰𝓲𝓸 𝓭𝓮 𝓢𝓽𝓪. 𝓐𝓷𝓪 𝓭𝓮 𝓥𝓲𝓬𝓽𝓸𝓻𝓲𝓪𝓼
LEONARD GUINABO, 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒅𝒖𝒄𝒕𝒐𝒓
• Gold Medal III – Folksong Category
Singapore International Choral Festival 2024 – SINGAPORE
(July 28-31, 2024)
Kilyawan Consortium of Voices Children’s Choir and Kilyawan Boys Choir, Inc.,
ANNE CHARLOTTE COPIACO & CORDENN MARCH BRILLIANTE, 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒅𝒖𝒄𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒔
• Silver Award – Catgeory A3 – Equal voices
• Silver Award – Category F – Folklore
—–
CYRIL PUNAY, 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒅𝒖𝒄𝒕𝒐𝒓
• Grand Prix CHAMPION
• Category Winner & Gold Award – Mixed Voices
• Category Winner & Gold Award – Musica Sacra
• Gold Award – Folklore
6th Tokyo International Choir Competition 2024 – Tokyo, JAPAN
(July 26-28, 2024)
RUBEN JOSEPH G. BAUTISTA, 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒅𝒖𝒄𝒕𝒐𝒓
• Silver Award – Chamber Category
• Silver Award – Contemporary Music Category
—–
ROJIN SUAREZ, 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒅𝒖𝒄𝒕𝒐𝒓
• Gold Prize (2nd Place) – Mixed Choir Category
• Gold Prize (4th Place) – Contemporary Category
• Most Promising Conductor – Special Jury Award (Roijin G. Suarez)
Taipei International Choral Festival 2024 – TAIWAN
(July 31-August 2, 2024)
SERRY REPIQUE, 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒅𝒖𝒄𝒕𝒐𝒓
• Gold Award, Mixed Choir Category
• Gold Award, Ethnic | Traditional Music Category
—–
De La Salle University-Dasmariñas Chorale
GELO DIAMOS, 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒅𝒖𝒄𝒕𝒐𝒓
• Best Performance of an A Capella Work
“Laudate Dominum” (LEVENTE GYÖNGYÖSI)
• Gold Award (3rd Place) – Musica Sacra Category
• Gold Award (3rd Place) – Ethnic/Traditional Category
—–
BARRET OLIVER RICHARDS, 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒅𝒖𝒄𝒕𝒐𝒓
• Gold Award – Mixed Choir Category
• Gold Award – Musica Sacra Category
—–
BOBET D. MANALO, 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒅𝒖𝒄𝒕𝒐𝒓
• Gold Diploma – Ethnic and Traditional Music
• Silver Diploma – Musica Sacra
• Silver Diploma – Children’s Choir
—–
Tarlac State University Chorale
JOSHUA FONTANILLA, 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒅𝒖𝒄𝒕𝒐𝒓
• Grand Prix Finalist
• Gold Award – Musica Sacra Category
• Category Champion & Gold Award
Contemporary Music Category
—–
University of Baguio Voices Chorale
GLENN GAERLAN, 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒅𝒖𝒄𝒕𝒐𝒓
• Grand Prix Finalist
• Category Winner & Gold Award – Ethnic/Traditional Category
• Gold Award – Youth Choir Category
• Most Outstanding Soloist – Ms. Christi Joy Basilan
—–
University of Mindanao Chorale
TIM ATENCIO, 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒅𝒖𝒄𝒕𝒐𝒓
• Grand Prix CHAMPION
• Gold Prize – Mixed Category
• Gold Prize – Musica Sacra Category
• Nominated for the 2025 World Choral Championship
—–
RALPH RAMOS, 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒅𝒖𝒄𝒕𝒐𝒓
• Gold Award – Ethnic/Traditional Music Category
• Silver Award – Musica Sacra
29th Béla Bartók International Choir Competition – Debrecen, HUNGARY 
(August 1-4, 2024)
TRISTAN IGNACIO, 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒅𝒖𝒄𝒕𝒐𝒓
• Grand Prix WINNER
• Qualifier for 2025 European Grand Prix for Choral Singing
• 2nd Prize – Sacred Category
• 3rd Prize – Free Category
• Special Prize for Outstanding Interpretation
of a Choral Work in Church Music Category
—–
DARWIN VARGAS, 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒅𝒖𝒄𝒕𝒐𝒓
• Grand Prix Finalist
• 1st Place – Free Program Category
• 1st Place – Sacred Program Category
• Special Prize for the Best Interpretation
of a Compulsory Piece “Cantate Domino”
72nd Concorso Polifónico Internazionale Guido d’Arezzo – Arezzo, Italy
(August 21-24, 2024)
DARWIN VARGAS, 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒅𝒖𝒄𝒕𝒐𝒓
• Grand Prix WINNER
• Qualifier for 2025 European Grand Prix for Choral Singing
• 1st Place – Sacred Category
• 1st Place – Secular Category
• 1st Place – Obligatory Category
TRISTAN IGNACIO, 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒅𝒖𝒄𝒕𝒐𝒓
• 2nd Place – Sacred Category
• 2nd Place – Secular Category
Our best wishes to all your Choral endeavors, representing the best of Filipino Music.
Mabuhay ang Korong Pilipino!
From Kuya Ed and the UP Singing Ambassadors