Mandaue Children’s Choir holds benefit Christmas concert

CEBU, Philippines - Over a span of a decade, The Mandaue Children’s choir under the direction of internationally acclaimed musical director Dennis Gregory Sugarol, has earned accolades here and abroad. From their beginnings at the Mandaue City School for the Arts Children’s Choir, they’ve evolved into a community-based choir.

Recognized by the national government as grand champion in the Children’s Choir Category in the National Music Competitions for Young Artists in 2004, the choir journeyed for the past 10 years through choir competitions in Indonesia, Korea and Hong Kong where they emerged as winners, and has been invited to Taiwan as special guest in the Taiwan International Music Festival.

Having served in the Archdiocesan Shrine of San Pedro Calungsod for several years, their greatest reward was the privilege to sing in the canonization of the second Filipino saint, San Pedro Calungsod, in St. Peter’s Basilica, Vatican City, Italy in October 2012. In the words of the children, it was the experience of a lifetime.

Unlike many children their age, this group of young boys and girls spend long, grueling hours rehearsing for their performances. They grew learning their math, grammar and history, alongside musical notes. With the excellent training that they have received, they have developed self-discipline, time management, value for hard work, and passion for purpose. They have inspired awe, uplifted hearts, awakened nationalism, and delighted their audiences across the globe with their brand of choral music.

As they celebrate their 10th anniversary this year, they are very much honored to have been invited by Adolf Fredriks Musikklasser in Stockholm, Sweden, as one of only six choirs in the world to perform in the “Let the Future Sing” International Children and Youth Choir Festival in May 2015. They have also been accepted to compete in the choir festivals in Halle, Germany and Citta di Filadelfia, Italy in summer 2015.

The children have the full support of their families. However, with such a mammoth endeavor ahead of them, they need the help of the entire Cebuano community and all generous countrymen, to be able to raise with pride the Philippine flag in Europe.  Help the 34-member choir fund their mission to serenade, inspire and give joy to Filipino families and make the children proud of their roots.

As part of their fundraising campaign, the Mandaue Children’s Choir, Inc., will be holding a benefit dinner and pre-Christmas concert at the Cebu Provincial Capitol Social Hall tomorrow at 7 p.m.

Join the children and be among the first to her then sing their original song compositions, and interpret the heartwarming Christmas song composition of multi-awarded songwriter, Jude Gitamondoc.

Celebrate Christmas early with the Mandaue Children’s Choir and let the Filipino kids sing in Europe in summer 2015. For ticket inquiries and sponsorships, contact Jenny Antiquina at 0917 628 6801 or Mayang Tariman at 0927 308 3695. (PR) (FREEMAN)