UC Chorus to perform 50 song and dance pieces in 30th anniversary concert

CEBU, Philippines - Thirty days to mount a choir concert that will have at least 50 song and dance pieces... Ambitious?

The University of Cebu (UC) Chorus will surmount the odds and make that happen in the 30th anniversary celebration concert at the Mandaue City Sports Complex titled “I Believe In The Impossible...”

Thirty years of performing, discovering and promoting the raw talents of the students even with minimal administration support is no mean feat. To commemorate their milestone, the group’s still very active alumni, starting from its pioneer 1979 batch, joined forces with the UC Chorus’ current members to stage this dinner concert this October 9 (tonight) and 10 (tomorrow) with a matinee show every 9:30 am and 2:30 pm. Dinner show starts at 6 pm and the gala show at 8 pm.

Performing with the UC Chorus in a glee style choir performance are the UC Chorus Alumni batch 1979-2009, PALS (a group of singing young professionals), the UC-Nursing Urban Experiment Dance Troupe, and a special number by the Sandiego Dancers.

This year’s concert theme being “eXceeding eXemplary eXperiences”, it will also serve as their tribute to UC owner Atty. Augusto W. Go, who will celebrate his 75th birthday on October 11. The first part of the concert will have songs that will be especially dedicated to the university boss.

Some concert highlights include a tribute to the King of Pop Michael Jackson, classic love ditties (Endless Love, King and Queen of Hearts, On The Wings of Love, etc.), a Sound of Music medley, rock ballads and even contemporary music with Lady Gaga, Akon and Jason Mraz hits.

Back in 2005, they also held a 25th anniversary concert and recognition night at the Grand Convention Center titled “Rhapsody in Silver” which had a total of 50 gala performances.

The UC Chorus traces its roots in 1979 as a department choir known as the CCC High School Glee Club where Raymund A. Abao served as the choir trainer. In 1983, the Glee Club became the official choir of the school. When the school then acquired its university status in 1991, the choir’s name changed from CCC Chorus to UC Chorus.

Fast-track to the present, Abao is still amazingly at it, directing the choir and mentoring a new crop of eager singers year after year. He is responsible for this concert’s concept and musical direction.

“I’ve managed to stay this long because it is my passion. And UC Chorus is my second home,” said UC’s equivalent to Mr. Scheuster of “Glee.”

Throughout the years, the group has performed in many hotels, barangays, churches, and other events in Cebu. Along the way, they’ve collected quite a number of titles in local choral competitions such as Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Incorporated (CESAFI) Grand Slam Champion 2001-2003, Department of Tourism Caroling Contest Grand Slam Champion 2001-2003, DYUR-FM Caroling Contest Grand Prize Winner 2002-2003, Ayala Center Cebu Caroling Contest Grand Prize Winner 2003, and PRISAA Regional Champion 2003.

The UC Chorus also emerged as the champion out of 10 participating choirs coming from all over the country in the recently-concluded SM Glee Show Choir Mega Showdown National Competition held last September 25 at the SM Mega Mall in Manila. Their winning pieces, which will be part of the concert repertoire, were “Bohemian Rhapsody” and “Someone To Love.”

Concert proceeds will be for the benefit of “Sagip Musmos”, a project of the Mandaue City Government’s Kaabag Foundation. Matinee tickets are priced at P50, P75 and P100 while dinner tickets are at P750. They can be purchased at the UC Chorus Hall at Sanciangko St., Cebu City.

During a presscon Wednesday night at the UC Chorus Hall, the UC Chorus admitted that among other university choirs in Cebu, they consider the internationally-award winning UV Chorale as their fiercest rival. But they’re different, they said, because their repertoire leans more on pop, as evidenced by the list of songs that they’ll be performing on concert night.

They plan to invade international competitions soon, if only they could secure some much-needed financial support.  

(THE FREEMAN)