THE Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) with the support of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts presents the 2nd Andrea O. Veneracion International Choral Festival on July 22-25, 2015. The Festival, which follows the huge success of the first Andrea O. Veneracion International Choral Festival held in August 2013 will witness 16 foreign and local choirs compete in three categories: Folk Song, Vocal Ensemble and Chamber Choir.
The competing Filipino choirs are as follows: Boscorale, De La Salle University Chorale – Dasmariñas, Koro Ilustrado, Mandaluyong Children’s Choir, Technological Institute of the Philippines Choral Society, The Voices of Davao, Philippine Vocal Ensemble, University of Baguio Voices Chorale, University of Los Baños Choral Ensemble (Philippines), and the University of Visayas Chorale. They will be joined by the foreign choirs Gioventù in Cantata (Italy), Inggou Victory Children Voice GKPS (Indonesia), Svaditra-Bandung Chamber Choir (Indonesia), The Archipelago Singers (Indonesia), Túumben Paax (Mexico), Universitas Pelita Harapan Choir (Indonesia). The Festival’s guest Choir is Youth Choir Kamēr… from Latvia, conducted by Janis Liepins. A two-time winner of the European Grand Prix for Choral Singing, Youth Choir Kamēr… will give a special performance on Sunday, July 26 at the Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo (CCP Main Theater).
The Competition will premiere the obligatory piece commissioned by the CCP for the Chamber Choir competition entitled “Ang Tren”. The choral work is a setting of Filipino literary giant Jose Corazon de Jesus’ poem about Philippine commuter culture, composed by young award-winning composer Saunder Choi.
The five members of the jury are composed of internationally renowned choral conductors coming from different continents. They are the following: Brady Allred (United States), Janis Liepins (Latvia), Silvana Vallesi (Argentina), Andre van der Merwe (South Africa), and Mark Anthony Carpio (Philippines).
The Festival schedule is as follows: Wednesday, July 22, 2015: 5:00 PM – Opening Ceremonies; 7:00 PM- Folk Song Competition; Thursday, July 23, 2015: 7:00 PM – Vocal Ensemble Competition; Friday, July 24, 2015: 7:00 PM – Chamber Choir Competition; Saturday, July 25, 2015: 4:00 PM – Madrigal Singers Gala Concert; 7:00 PM – Closing Ceremonies.
(From Cultural Center of the Philippines)
