PCDA holds 1st regional masterclass in Cebu

Learn the finer points of choral conducting from the masters. Meet and interact with colleagues and music enthusiasts of the choral art. Enjoy nightly concerts of award-winning choirs.

That’s the essence of the Philippine Choral Directors Association’s National Masterclass Series for Choral Conductors, which will hold the Vis-Min regional convention this November 19-22, 2009 at the University of the Visayas main campus.

According to PCDA president Jonathan Velasco, “The Cebu convention is part of the PCDA’s National Masterclass Series for Choral Conductors, which was launched in Baguio last April.”

PCDA secretary general, Oscar Pantaleon Jr., pointed out that the national masterclass series aims to offer basic and advanced training for conductors, provide an opportunity to raise participants’ standards and awareness to international levels, hone participants’ choral conducting, directing and management skills, and make information available to participants from PCDA’s wide choral network.

Velasco emphasized that PCDA always ensures the high quality of its masterclasses by inviting leading choral directors to share their expertise with the participants. Slated to speak in the Cebu convention are Eudenice Palaruan (advanced conducting), Edgardo Manguiat (vocal techniques), Anna Abeleda-Piquero (basic conducting), Arwin Tan (solfege, theory and choral arranging, Leonyl Torres (movement and choreography) and Msgr. Rudy Villanueva (Visayan choral literature).

Discounts for early registration are still being offered until October 30, 2009.

Apart from the workshops, the convention also includes nightly choral concerts—which are also open to non-participants—featuring acclaimed choirs. For the convention brochure as well as other information, visit www.philippinechoral directors.weebly.com. You may also contact (0917) 535-6552 or email choral_directors @yahoo.com.ph.