Philippines wins gold at World Choir Games 2024

Philippines wins gold at World Choir Games 2024

By Sherilyn Untalan
GMA Integrated News
July 21, 2024

A choir from Quezon City has gained recognition on the international scene.

The Quezon City Performing Arts Development Foundation, Inc. Concert Chorus was hailed as the Champion of the World Choir Games Mixed Chamber Choirs Category in the Champions Competition in Auckland, New Zealand, on Friday.

They also clinched the gold medal in the sacred choral music with accompaniment category.

In the last year's edition of the competition, held in Gangneung, South Korea, the group joined the Open Competitions where they won 2 Golden Diplomas in the Mixed Youth and Musica Contemporanea Categories that qualifed them to join this year's Champions Competition.

The World Choir Games is said to be the biggest choral festival and competition in the world. Two hundred fifty choirs from 42 countries competed in the event, which took place in Auckland from July 10-20.

In an interview with GMA News Online, choir member Michael Kenneth Fabian shared his group’s reaction during the awarding ceremony.

“Nu'ng results time na, kinakabahan na kami. Nu'ng in-announce na out of the 6 choirs, kami na lang 'yung hindi pa natawag, doon nag-conclude na sila na kami 'yung matatawag. Sobrang saya na namin lahat. Naka-jacket kaming lahat kasi ang lamig. Pero nu'ng bago tawagin, sabi namin, tanggalin na 'yang mga jacket ninyo, kasi aakyat tayo sa stage, kakanta ng Lupang Hinirang,” he said.

(We felt nervous when the results were announced. When our group was the only one among the seven choirs to not be called, it was concluded that we would win. Everybody was overjoyed. We were in jackets because it was cold. However, we made the decision to remove our jackets before the winner was declared since we were going to perform Lupang Hinirang on stage.)

According to Fabian, it was the first time in more than a decade that the Lupang Hinirang, the national anthem of the Philippines, was performed at an international choral competition.

“We are so happy with what we have achieved. All the challenges and fatigue, all of those concluded with a joyous song, our national anthem. We were able to raise our flag and make our country proud,” he added.

The choir consists of 30 singing individuals, along with five board members, supporting staff, and conductor Nicanor Castro Infante.

They'd spent nearly a year preparing for the competition.

Most of the members are graduates of the children's choir program and range in age from 18 to 27. Fabian said they had difficulty sticking to rehearsal schedules because the majority are still students.

But despite the age differences, he said, “What unites us is our passion for singing and the friendship that has formed.''

Fabian hopes that since Filipinos are well-known for their love of music and have a reputation as talented singers, other local government units will also make investments in and promote the performing arts sector.

“Everywhere you go, performing arts cannot be taken away from the name of the Philippines. We sing because it is part of who we are,” he said.  — VBL/KG/BM, GMA Integrated News