3 children’s choirs bag top prizes in Korea

MANILA, Philippines—Three Philippine children’s choirs bagged the grand prizes at the 1st World Choir Championships held in Changwon City, Gyeongnam province in South Korea, on July 10, the Philippine Embassy in Seoul reported on Tuesday.

In a dispatch to the home office, the embassy said the groups, namely the Mandaue Children’s Choir, the Young Voices of the Adventist University of the Philippines and the Calasiao Children’s Chorus won in different events during the competition.

Mandaue Children’s Choir won first prize, Children’s Choir category, Grand Prix of Choral Music; the Young Voices of the Adventist University of the Philippines, gold prize, Children’s Choir category, 2nd Asia Choir Game, and silver prize, Music of the Religions category, 2nd Asian Choir Game; and Calasiao Children’s Chorus, first prize, Folklore category, Korean International Open Choir Competition, and gold prize, Korean International Open Choir Competition.

Each of the choir group also received a cash award of $12,000 or around P580,000.

The World Choir Games was organized by the Interkultur group and the city government of Changwon. It is held every two years in different partner cities around the world, with competing choirs vying for the title of “Champions of the World Choir Games.”

The choir groups were judged by an international jury, one of whom is renowned Philippine choral conductor and former member of the Madrigal Singers, Jonathan Velasco.

Embassy officials attended the choir competition in Changwon City, about four hours south of Seoul.

They said the world-class Philippine choirs have brought honor and prestige to the country.

By Cynthia Balana
Philippine Daily Inquirer