UV Chorale shines anew in int'l tilt

CEBU, Philippines – Cebu’s pride, the University of the Visayas Chorale, topped all three categories it was entered in the recently held Tomohon International Choir Competition in North Sulawesi, Indonesia but was surprisingly edged out of the overall prize by a hometown choir that topped in only one category.

The 24-member UV Chorale, which won a silver and a bronze the first time it joined an international choral competition — in Busan, South Korea in 2007 — won the top prize in the three categories it was entered: Musica Sacra, Mixed Voice, and Pop-Jazz.

There were eight categories in the competition but the UV Chorale participated in only three. But by winning all three categories it was entered in, the Cebu choir emerged as the winningest ensemble in the contest and tallied the highest accumulated scores.

But instead of judging the Grand Prize winner on the basis of the previous performances and accumulated scores, it appeared that all these were set aside and a final competition was held from scratch.

In the surprise final competition, the Indonesian entry, the Bitung Choir which won only in the children’s category, was awarded the Grand Prize.

Despite the surprising outcome, the reception the UV Chorale got from the audience showed it to be the overwhelming crowd favorite.

Nearly every song of the Cebuanos got a standing ovation, leaving little room for doubt as to who would win each of the three categories they joined.

The UV Chorale, conducted by Anna Abeleda Piquero, an award-winning choirmaster and former member of the world famous Madrigal Singers, sang the Renaissance piece Ecce Dominus Veniet and Amahan Namo in the Sacra Musica category, and Lux Aeterna, the leitmotif of “Requiem for a Dream,” and Rock Me Amadeus, in the Mixed Voice.

For the Pop-Jazz category, the UV Chorale sang La Bamba and the Jason Mraz hit I’m Yours, garnering a score of 92 percent, the highest score given to any choir across all eight categories.

Aside from their superb singing, the choir also presented a unique visual treat for the international audience with their engaging choreography.

Dwiani Indraningsri, who posted several video footages of the choir’s performance on the Internet, commended the UV Chorale for its “cool choice of songs, amazing conductor, and great choreography.”

Ramli Nainggolan, head of the organizing Bandung Choral Society, said “This may be a competition, but the Visayas Chorale also gave us a show.”

To end their participation, the UV Chorale gave a mini-concert during the closing show, singing Cebuano folk songs and sentimental, multi-lingual favorites that, in the words of TICC volunteer David Rambitan, “made me cry.”

“More than just the awards, we’re happy with our performance because we know we won the audience’s hearts,” said choir president Sherwin Sulla.

The choir is looking to join more competitions this year, including an international competition organized by the Cultural Center of the Philippines to be held in Manila this August. – JST (THE FREEMAN)