Philippine Madrigal Singers closes the 52nd Cultural Season of Silliman University

Philippine Madrigal Singers (Facebook page)

DUMAGUETE CITY  –This Valentines Month, experience being serenaded by one of the most awarded choirs in Asia and in the world, with the Philippine Madrigal Singers in their Valentine concert KakaKILIG!

The Madz will have show dates on Feb. 20, Friday at 8 p.m. Gala, and Feb. 21, Saturday at 8 p.m. Gala, at the Claire Isabel McGill Luce Auditorium, Silliman University, Dumaguete City.

The University of the Philippines Madrigal Singers was organized in 1963 by National Artist, Professor Andrea O. Veneracion, a media release from Silliman University said.

The choir is one of the world’s most awarded, having consistently won all the top prizes in the world’s prestigious choral competitions: Concorso Polifónico Guido d’Arezzo (Arezzo, Italy); Concorso e Festival Internazionale Di Canto Corale “Seghizzi” (Gorizia, Italy);

International Chamber Choir Competition (Marktoberdorf, Germany); International Chorwettbewerb (Spittal, Austria); Festival Choral International de Neuchatel (Neuchatel, Switzerland); Florilège Vocal de Tours (Tours, France); International May Choir Competition Prof. G. Dimitrov (Varna, Bulgaria); and

Béla Bartók International Choir Competition (Debrecen, Hungary); Festival Internacional de Música de Cantonigròs (Cantonigros, Spain), Certamen Coral de Tolosa (Tolosa, Basque Country, Spain) and Certamen Internacional de Habaneras y Polifonia (Torrevieja, Spain). They hold the distinction of being the first choir in the world to win the European Grand Prix for Choral Singing twice (1997 and 2007).

The influence of the UP Madrigal Singers on the Philippine and international choral scene has also been far-reaching. Since 1963, more than 200 singers have joined the choir, many of whom are now choral and vocal pedagogues actively involved in organizing and conducting choirs.

This eventually led to the organization of the Madz Et Al, a network of choirs who gather regularly for festivals and workshops.

To date, the network has a membership of almost 60 choirs from all over the country. This contributes to the now very active choral life in the Philippines.

The UP Madrigal Singers also maintains an active outreach and concert tour schedule, performing in far-flung areas of the Philippines seldom reached by choral artists. With an average of two overseas concert tours a year, the UP Madrigal Singers is the country’s most active ambassadors of goodwill and perhaps, also one of the world’s most-traveled choirs.

The group was recognized in 2009 by the UNESCO as Artists for Peace for “putting their fame and influence at the service of UNESCO’s ideals and efforts to promote cultural diversity, intercultural dialogue and a culture of peace”.

In July 2012, the group became the first choir in the world to receive The Brand Laureate Premier Award from the Asia Pacific Brands Foundation, in recognition for its “significant contribution to the world of choral music, producing new compositions and choral settings for Philippine, Asian and International songs, spreading the beauty of this genre and giving a good musical experience to the audience.”

The celebration of their 50th Anniversary in 2013 was ushered in by notable performances for the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) National Convention in Dallas, Texas, 7th America Cantat in Bogota, Colombia, a performance with the world-famous, Grammy Awardee The Swingle Singers in Manila, among others.

The concert is presented by the Silliman University Cultural Affairs Committee (CAC) as the last show in its second semester roster of its 52nd Cultural Season, with the support of CocoGrande Hotel, KRI Restaurant, Perpetual Help Community Cooperative, Inc. (PHCCI), Lab-as Restaurant, Antulang Beach Resort, Bethel Guest House, and OrientWind Travel and Tours.