THE UP CONCERT CHORUS (aka "KORUS") singing one of their award winning pieces
THE UNIVERSITY of the
Philippines Concert Chorus (UPCC) won the
Grand Prize in the recent sixth
International Krakow Choir Festival Cracovia Cantans in
Poland.
Adjudged the
Best Choir of the festival after receiving the highest score in the final tally by the jury panel — all respected authorities in choral music. The UPCC received a statuette, the “
Golden Polyhymnia (
Muse of Choral
Art)” and a cash prize. UPCC also carried the distinction of being the only
Asian choir that participated in the festival. Their costumes, evocative of the
Pintados Kasadya-An Festival of
Leyte, by
Edgar San Diego, awed not only the audience and judges, but the other contestants as well.
The UPCC or Korus — the official choir of the
University of the Philippines — has been honored as an Aliw
Entertainment Hall of Fame awardee
for Best Choral Group (after winning Best Choral
Group of the Year multiple and consecutive times), has received a
Cecil Award (the
Philippine version of the
Grammy Awards) for its recording of
Ryan Cayabyab’s
Misa and has consistently won top prizes in international choral competitions.
UPCC was the only Asian choir in the festival, which had 24 choirs from 10 countries competing.
For winning the Grand Prize, the choir received the statuette Golden Polyhymnia (Muse of Choral Art) and cash.
Earlier, UPCC had received the top prize in the
Adult Mixed Chorus category, besting nine other choirs—two each from
Norway,
Sweden and
Finland; and one each from
Hungary,
Czech Republic and
Estonia.
UPCC also got 2nd Prize in the Folk,
Popular and
Gospel Music category.
For the adult mixed category, UPCC, conducted by
Janet Sabas-Aracama, rendered Kinley
Lange’s “Esto les Digo”;
Josef Rheineberger’s “Abendlied”;
Moses G.
Hogan’s “
Elijah Rock”; and
John August M. Pamintuan’s “Ummah
Salih.”
For the second category, the UPCC sang
Filipino compositions such as
Benny Fruto
Castillon’s “Kruhay”;
Bayang Barrios and
Mike Villegas’ “Bagong
Umaga” (arranged by
Joel Cruz); Garry Valenciano’s “Hataw Na” (Tereza Barrozo, arranger), and Lennon-McCartney’s “
Let It Be” (Ryan Cayabyab, arranger).
Through the 52 years of scintillating performances, UPCC has “produced” world-class Korus alumni who have invaded almost all aspects of the
Philippine music scene. Here are some of the UPCC “who’s who”:
Among the UPCC tenors of note are
Noel Velasco (only Asian tenor to win the
First Luciano Pavarotti International
Voice Competition), Aliw awardees for Best
Classical Singer Nolyn Cabahug,
Jonathan Badon, Montet Acoymo,
Frankie Aseniero,
Dodo Crisol and Jonathan Malicsi. The noted UPCC sopranos include
Evelyn Mandac, Nanette Moscardon-Maigue, Kitchy Valdellon-Molina and
Lisa Cabahug. Jai Sabas-Aracama is an acclaimed alto, while
Fredo Gutierrez and
Gamaliel Viray are in the list of respected baritones.
Nanette Inventor, the Tux (originally made up of all UPCC alumni among them
Manny Aquino, Bob
Serrano, Buboy Madrilejos, Rey Magnaye and
Popo Suanes), the
Opera (with
Sushi Reyes,
Manolo Tanquilut,
Zebedee Zuñiga and yours truly before I became Backroom’s Singing
Lawyer), Moy
Ortiz (of The CompanY), singer-comedian
Arnell Ignacio, Boy Camara, former New
Minstrels singers
Annette Belen and
Joseph Olfindo are all UPCC alumni.
Before
Chinggoy Alonzo became a character actor, he was a UPCC soloist. UPCC alumni also proliferated in
Miss Saigon, including
Leila Florentino-Aubert,
Angel Suguitan and Mia Ongkiko who all played Kim,
Lyon Roque as
Thuy and Noel Driz. Husband-and-wife
Lionel Guico and
Cynthia Culig-Guico (Aliw awardee for
Best Actress in a
Musical), and veteran stage performers Kay Balajadia,
John Glenn Gaerlan,
Melanie Dijunco and singing sweethearts
Raymond and Jeanel Roldan are all UPCCers.
Former dean of the
UP College of Music, Rey Paguio, was the longest-serving conductor of the UPCC. Many Korus alumni also went on to conduct their own excellent choirs. These include the
UP Singing Ambassadors with Ed Manguiat, UP Saring-Himig with
George Hernandez and the
Ateneo de Manila University Glee Club under Joel
Navarro. Joel also sang the popular
Metro Pop song Swerte Swerte Lang.
Edru Abraham and his wife Becky Demetillo-Abraham put up Kontra-Gapi that performs ethnic music.
Heber Bartolome was the founder of
Banyuhay and interpreter of Metro Pop finalist Tayo’y Mga
Pinoy.
Who doesn’t know Ryan Cayabyab or
Mr. C — an institution in
Filipino music? He composed Kay Ganda ng Ating
Musika, the first Metro Pop grand prize winner.
Charo Unite composed UPCC’s favorite
May Bukas Pa, as well as the Metro Pop winner
Lupa.
UPCC was established in 1962, during the incumbency of UP president
Carlos P. Romulo. Its members come from students and alumni from the different colleges of the state university