Let their young voices be heard

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MANILA, Philippines - There’s something about children that touches the most jaded of hearts. 

When the six boys of the Libera vocal group filed past a motley group of media people and onlookers, the reaction was unanimous: The members are so lovable, you want to cradle them in your arms.

James Mordaunt, Joshua Madine, Ben Philipp, Liam Connery, Ralph Skan and Kavana Crossley came all the way from their native London to perform in their first Philippine concert tonight at 8 at the PICC as highlight of the Philippines-United Kingdom friendship week.

“I thought introducing the world-class vocal group to RP would be good idea,” said former Finance Secretary and British Alumni Association chair Roberto de Ocampo says.

While they’re here, the choir doubles as ambassador of goodwill. They’re helping the British Alumni Association (BAA) in partnership with British Chamber of Commerce, the British Council and the British Embassy in Manila raise funds for BAA’s Foundation for Disadvantaged Children, as well as the Children’s Hour.

Part of the proceeds of their show will also help victims of typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng.

“We’re privileged to come here and proud of the opportunity to come to the Philippines,” says Joshua.

Ralph heard about Filipinos being very musical, and is just as excited to perform here. Kavana, with his endearing boyish ways, remembers the “long plane ride” he took going here.

Still another member has a friend who is half-Filipino and can’t wait to discover for himself the good things he heard about the country.

Success has not spoiled the group. Yes, its album, Eternal, hit No. 1 in the charts, a first for a boys’ choir like Libera. People have complimented their angelic voices and described their music as “beautiful.”

The boys combine the old and the new with a repertoire of classic songs like Sanctus and contemporary tunes like Enya’s Orinoco Flow.

In doing so, they have been dubbed as an alternative boy band and won the admiration of Diana Ross and the Beach Boys’ Brian Wilson.

But if the boys are overwhelmed, they don’ t show it.

“I’m humbled,” Joshua describes his reaction to compliments from all over, “I’m happy we get to touch people and make them happy.”

Kavana’s psychic reward is just as great. Being with Libera is no walk in the park. He and the other members, have homework to finish and rehearsals to attend to, thrice or four times a week, for an hour each time.

But he doesn’t mind. He sees his stint for Libera more of a reward than a chore.

“I work hard, I play hard. If you work hard, you can be with Libera after,” he muses.

Translation: Libera is not work, but a source of joy.

He might as well be speaking for the rest of the group.

Asked about observations that they’ve surpassed the Vienna Boys’ Choir’s achievement, Joshua says, “We don’t think too much of competition. We just do our own thing, our own music.”

Thus, the boys don’t feel burdened about balancing studies and career. They manage to find time for homework and rehearsals in their already tight schedule of touring, TV appearances and recording.

And they’re not complaining about flying straight home after their concert at Waterfront Lahug, Cebu on Oct. 28.

They know they have classes to attend as preparation for the future. 

Performing at the papal Mass for Pope Benedict XVI’s fist visit to the US, singing at New York’s Yankee Stadium, appearing on BBC TV’s Last Choir Standing and others may be great. But the boys of Libera know that at the end of the day, they’re typical students who just love to sing.

This keeps their feet on the ground wherever they are performing — in Japan, Korea, the US or the UK — or just sharing stories to each other after a hectic day at the rehearsal or recording studio.

As it very well should.

(Tickets to Libera Live in Manila are priced at P3,850, P3,000, P2,500, P2,000, P1,500, P800 and P500 are available at Ticket World.   For details, call 891-9999 or log on to www.ticketworld.com.ph. For the Cebu show, call 233-0452 and 0917-3287917.).