Two category wins, one conductor prize, and 11 gold level diplomas were brought home to the country by different Filipino choir groups who figured prominently at the recent 4th Vietnam International Choir Competition, Hoi An 2015.
The Filipino entries bested others in the 13-country annual competition across most categories save for three.
Coro San Nicoleño from San Nicolas town in Ilocos Norte was adjudged Category Winner for the Male Choirs Difficulty Level II. The group of professionals and students from the parish town of Northern Philippines under the direction of Ferdinand Tolentino and Sherberk Cabrales also received the Conductor Prize in the Sacred Choir Music category.
Colegio de Sta. Rosa Makati’s Himig Roseña won the Youth Choirs of Equal Voices category and also received the Gold level diploma in the Chamber Choirs of Mixed Voices and Sacred Music Choir categories.
Several choirs also received gold level diplomas in their own categories. Mapua Institute of Technology’s official resident choir, the Mapua Cardinal Singers, was the second Philippine choir to reach the Gold level at the Chamber Choirs of Mixed Voices category. The chorale also received two more golds, one in the Mixed Youth Choirs and another in the Sacred Music Choir categories.
Himig Sanghaya Chorale from San Pedro, Laguna received two gold level diplomas, one in the Chamber Choirs of Mixed Voices and another in the Female Choirs Difficulty Level II.
Urdaneta City University’s Music Ensemble added another Philippine Gold in the Chamber Choirs of Mixed Voices category while picking up Gold in the Mixed Choirs Difficulty Level II category.
University of Asia and the Pacific Chorale reached the gold level in the Mixed Youth Choirs category.
Anima Christi Chorale from Lucena City in Quezon province received their gold in the Sacred Choir Music category.
The Philippine Veterans Affairs Office also fielded their choral ensemble the PVAO Chorale and received the silver diploma level in Mixed Choirs Difficulty Level II category.
The Hoi An annual international competition determines the choirs that would qualify for the World Choir Games – The Champions Competition, World Choir Championships – The Champions Round, and the Grand Prix of Choral Music.
