Mandaue children's choir to hold thanksgiving concert

CEBU, Philippines - The Arts Council of Cebu Foundation, Inc. together with the Center for Choral Artists, Inc. will present the Mandaue Children’s Choir in a Thanksgiving Concert on Saturday, September 19, 2009, 8pm at the Marcelo B. Fernan Cebu Press Center.

This group of 30 boys and girls, ages 8 to 16, drew its membership from the Mandaue School for the Arts’ artistically inclined children. The Mandaue School for the Arts Children’s Choir (its former name) first came into prominence when it garnered first place in the National Music Competitions for Young Artists (NAMCYA) on November 27, 2004.

The choir produced outreach concerts in the different parts of the country and abroad. Significant among those performances included Panakayon sa Palanublion (Journey to Heritage) organized by the Cultural Center of the Philippines to commemorate the 35th and silver anniversaries of its outreach and exchange programs; WOW Philippines held in Intramuros, Manila; ASEAN Summit’s gala night show for ASEAN leaders with Lea Salonga; and concerts in Colorado, Los Angeles, and Utah, U.S.A. before integrated audiences which gained rave reviews.

Having drawn enthusiastic responses from Cebu community, the MSA Children’s Choir became the recipient of the coveted Garbo sa Sugbo Award given by Gov. Gwendolyn F. Garcia on December 22, 2004 at the Capitol Social Hall, Cebu City. On February 28, 2006, the group received the Perlas Award at SM Cinema 1, Cebu City.

The group also participated in the 1st Asian Choir Games ’07 in Jakarta, Indonesia where it won three golds in the Children’s Choir, Folklore, and in Music of the Religions categories.

The choir’s immense success is attributed to the excellent preparation of Maestro Dennis Gregory A. Sugarol in the field of choral music. His rigorous training at the Colegio dela Inmaculada Concepcion and Asian Institute for Liturgy and Music coupled with his vast exposure as performer here and abroad made him an outstanding choral trainor and conductor.

Maestro Dennis left Mandaue School for the Arts after the Asian Choir Games ’07. Upon the insistence of the choristers, their parents and the community, the group was reorganized into what is now the Mandaue Children’s Choir, with Dennis at the helm as Director. Committed to give more honor to our country, the group vowed to toil harder.

The latest feather to the cap of the Mandaue Children’s Choir is being the World Champion in the Children’s Choir Category, Grand Prix Competition of the First World Choir Championships in Gyeongnam Province, Republic of Korea, July 7-17, 2009.

For more information, please call the Arts Council of Cebu at 233-0452.