Ateneo College Glee Club: Singing hearts out for PH
PROMOTING CULTURE. Ateneo College Glee Club achieved Filipino racial songs during a 33rd International May Choir Competition Finals hold on May 14, 2011 in Varna, Bulgaria. Photo by Ave Royd Santiago
MANILA, Philippines – Honor, status and pride.
These are a things that a Ateneo College Glee Club (ACGC) brought to a Philippines after competing in a European Grand Prix (EGP) for Choral Singing in Maribor, Slovenia on Apr 22.
Although a choir did not win a competition, a members cruise a foe a journey. ACGC competed opposite 4 other choirs.
The choir was stoical of 39 expel members – a conductor, 20 alumni, 15 tyro members, dual guest members, and one prolongation staff. Among a members were outspoken manager Joy Tamayo, partner conductor Eugene Soyosa, 5 debate coordinators and 6 executive cabinet members.
The choir was conducted by Prof. Ma. Lourdes Hermo, ACGC’s initial lady conductor.
‘The foe of contests’
Qualifying for a European Grand Prix is deliberate to be an feat in itself. EGP is arguably a many prestigious foe in a chorale world. It is also famous as a “contest of contests.”
EGP is a annual finals foe between a champions of 6 vital choral competitions in Europe, namely:
- International Guido d’Arezzo Polyphonic Contest (Concorso Polifónico Guido d’Arezzo) in Arezzo, Italy
- Bela Bartok International Choir Competition in Debrecen, Hungary
- International Choral Competition in Maribor, Slovenia
- Tolosa Choral Competition (Certamen Coral de Tolosa) in Tolosa, Spain
- Tours Vocal Competition (Florilège Vocal de Tours) in Tours, France
- International May Choir Competition, Prof. G. Dimitrov, in Varna, Bulgaria.
In sequence to validate for a EGP for a following year, a choir contingency turn a champion in any of these 6 competitions during a stream year.
In 2011, ACGC competed in Maribor and Vana, dual of a qualifiers. ACGC mislaid to Sofia Vokalensemble in Maribor, though emerged winning in Varna.
Only 5 choirs competed in a EGP this year given a foe in Debrecen did not pull through.
The 5 competing choirs were:
- Ateneo College Glee Club from a Philippines (Varna)
- Vox Gaudiosa from Japan (Arezzo)
- Komorni zbor Oreya from Ukraine (Tolosa)
- Sofia Vokalensemble from Sweden (Maribor)
- Harmonia Ensemble from Japan (Tours).
Sofia Vokalensemble bagged a EGP this year.
DEEP BREATH. The ACGC before their opening in final year’s 33rd International May Choir Competition, Prof. Georgi Dimitrov. Photo by Royd Santiago
Not a initial time
This year’s EGP is indeed ACGC’s second try during a competition.
Their initial try for a EGP was in Debrecen, Hungary in 2001 when a college organisation competent after winning in Tours, France a year before. A Hungarian choir took a esteem that year.
ACGC’s initial European debate was hold in 1979 underneath Joel Navarro.
From being a choir for a San Ignacio Church in Intramuros in 1921, ACGC has turn a world-renowned choir, bagging awards abroad.
Aside from winning final year’s Grand Prix in a International May Choir Competition in Varna, Bulgaria, ACGC also swept The Montrux Choral Festival.
One of a important victories in a Philippines would be during a National Music Competition for Young Artists (NAMCYA) in 1980.
The European Grand Prix Journey
For many of a choir members, a EGP debate has been a life-changing experience. Math vital Mikhael “Gorby” Llado, stream President of a Glee Club, shares this sentiment.
Llado, who assimilated a Glee Club in his beginner year, pronounced during first, he had qualms about fasten a club.
“I never unequivocally assimilated a choir until college, so all was new to me,” pronounced Llado.
Yet his stay in a Glee Club has so distant proven successful. He has been partial of a European Tour given final year.
“I never unequivocally approaching that we will be means to transport around a universe with a ACGC, and so all has been a blessing to me,” he added.
Llado said, “The EGP has been a peak of my stay so far, being means to strech out to so many hearts in a opening of a lifetime.”
FILIPINO PRIDE. Conductress Prof Ma. Lourdes Hermo receives a audience’s comfortable acclaim after ACGC’s display in a 2011 qualifier for a European Grand Prix. Photo by Ave Royd Santiago
Next on a List
Given their successes, a doubt is: what’s subsequent for a Ateneo College Glee Club?
Llado said, “After a European Tour, we can see a ACGC building a traditions within a Philippines, entertainment some-more vital performances of varying repertoire for a internal communities.”
ACGC will also be competing in some-more choral contests in a entrance years. One thing is for sure: a members will continue essay to move honour to a Philippines. – Rappler.com
(The following are a ACGC members who competed in a 2012 European Grand Prix: Althea Arion Agagon, Nicole Ang, Raoul Angangco, Elizabeth Arcega, Aileen Belmonte, Dom Joseph Bulan, Christi Caburian, Fredrick Cas, Abby Co, Angelo Cortez, Daniella Dasig, Fiona Estoperez, Leslie Gabe, Guita Gopalan, Jose Gutierrez, Maria Lourdes Hermo, Rina Joy Jimenez, Natasha Lamen, Alfred Lao II, Kenneth Lee, Mikhel Llado, Leo Locsin, Glacey Loiz, Joshua Lucena, Ma. Victoria Mina, Stefanie Quintin, Irvinne Redor, Justin Ruiz, Ma. Angelli San Luis, Rey Sanchez, Ave Royd Santiago, Carlo Serrano, Eugene Soyosa, Joy Tamayo, Pauline Tan, Will Nelson Tan, Kyle Tingzon, Kazuki Yamada, Miguel Yorro.)
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