The Central Luzon State University (CLSU) Maestro-Singers and the Tarlac State University Chorale (TSUC) emerged triumphant while showcasing the rich choral heritage of the Philippines at the prestigious 2023 Tokyo International Choir Competition (TICC). Proving the nation’s talents are among the world’s best, these state university choirs brought home multiple awards that uplifted the Filipino nation’s spirit with their victorious melodies, echoing in the Dai-ichi Seimei Hall in Tokyo, Japan.
The Filipino choirs sang their hearts out, painting melodic masterpieces that captivated audiences and judges alike. Among 69 finalist choirs, these two jewels from the Philippines shone bright, with CLSU earning 8 accolades, while TSU secured 4 distinct honors at the 5th edition of the TICC held on July 28-30 with the support of the Japan Agency for Cultural Affairs.
Congratulations to the Philippines' CLSU Maestro Singers @clsu_official and TSU Chorale @TarlacStateU for bagging multiple awards at the 2023 Tokyo International Choir Competition @TICC_Tokyo https://t.co/lcz7m6bukO pic.twitter.com/zAn2Ma23GC
— GoodNewsPilipinas.com (@GoodNewsPinas_) September 15, 2023
8 Awards for CLSU Maestro-Singers
The CLSU Maestro-Singers have been mesmerizing audiences since 1998, winning awards at multiple levels from local to international. Basking in the spotlight, the CLSU Maestro-Singers, a creation of the visionary Dr. Florante Ibarra in 1998, continued to adorn their journey with more international acclaim, garnering a total of eight accolades, including:
- Gold Prize in Youth Choir
- Gold Prize in Contemporary Music
- Best Interpretation in Compulsory Piece for Youth Choir
- Big Wave Award as the Most Promising Choir of the Year
- Audience Prize Award
- Silver Prize for Video Presentation
- 2nd Place in Youth Choir
- 2nd Place in Contemporary Music
Their 2023 TICC awards harvest greatly improved on the CLSU choir’s performance in the 2022 edition where they picked up 3 awards and where Cavite church choir Voci di Gesù Chamber Singers won 2 for the Philippines.
WATCH the CLSU Maestro-Singers perform their award-winning piece here:
4 Awards for TSU Chorale
The Tarlac State University Chorale stands as a testament to the rich cultural tapestry of Tarlac, having enchanted audiences with a diverse repertoire ranging from folk and pop to religious and classical music, gathering accolades both regionally and internationally. Draped in honors, the Tarlac State University Chorale, a recognized singing goodwill ambassador for the city of Tarlac, under the conduction of Joshua Ysmael Fontanilla, carved their victorious path with four significant awards:
- Gold Prize in Folklore Music
- Gold Prize in Youth Choir
- Audience Choice Award in Folklore Music
- 3rd Place in Youth Choir
WATCH the TSU Chorale sing their best at the TICC 2023 here:
But the symphony of victories didn’t stop there. Another Filipino choir, the Concourse Singers from the St. John the Baptist Parish in Taytay Rizal, earned a special place in the spotlight, clinching first place in the Video Presentation Category with their stirring tribute to overseas Filipino workers, resonating profoundly with audiences globally.
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