UV Chorale to hold free concert tonight

Tonight, Cebuanos will have a chance to experience the music of the University of the Visayas Chorale for free at the College Assurance Plan auditorium along Osmeña Boulevard, as the group pays homage to those who made its journey to the Busan International Chorale Festival and Competition possible.

Starting 7 p.m., the UV Chorale will serenade its audience with a wide array of musical scores ranging from traditional Cebuano music, popular beats, to Christmas carols. The audience will also get a chance to hear the chorale’s winning pieces in Busan, South Korea, where they reaped silver and bronze in the competition’s classical and ethnic categories, respectively.

The 25-member UV Chorale made history by earning an “internationally very good” ranking after competing against 36 other choral groups from 15 countries despite being just a neophyte in the prestigious festival. The festival was held last November 1 to 3, 2007.

The UV Chorale had attained international exposure in the past. In 2004 and 2005, it embarked on a concert tour in Australia upon the invitation of a church-based group and became the first Filipino singing group to perform in the Australian Parliament.

UV executive vice president Dr. Jose R. Gullas, who is also the chairman of The Freeman, earlier described the group’s latest feat as of “international magnitude” and is something that every true-blooded Cebuano should be proud of.— Joeberth M. Ocao/BRP