Comparable to the fabled Ibong Adarna, Eagles can also sing their heart out!
The University of Southeastern Philippines (USeP) choir, Harmonia Polifonica Chorale, auditioned and qualified for the prestigious 5th Andrea O. Veneracion International Choral Festival (AOVICF) 2023 at Samsung Performing Arts Theatre in Makati City, Philippines on July 20-23, 2023; the choir received two (2) gold diplomas for the Folk Song and Mixed Choir categories of the fest.
The Harmonia Polifonica Chorale performed “Lenggang Kangkung”- a folk song from the Asian Region and “Sugod na sa Sinulog”- a folk song from the Philippines, both songs were arranged by Jem Talaroc; and “Tuuti Lasta”- a folk song outside the Asian Region and arranged by Jeff Smallman for the Folk Song Category.
For the Mixed Choir Category, the choir performed “Dixit Maria” composed by Hans Leo Hassler (Renaissance period); “Abendständchen” composed by Johannes Brahms (Romantic Period); “Gloria” by Joshua Himes (20th-21st Century Music); and two (2) Filipino Folk Songs arranged by Ruben Federizon (compulsory piece).
The AOVICF 2023 is the first competition embarked on by the 34-member choir batch that started in August 2022 upon the return of Mr. Mark Anthony Babalcon as the trainer and conductor of the Harmonia. The USeP Choir is under the tutelage of the Office of Student Affairs and Services- Cultural Affairs Unit (OSAS-CAU) headed by its Deputy Director, Dr. Arlene de Vera.
Dr. de Vera expressed her thanks for the USeP community’s support and the courage and talent of the Harmonica choir members in achieving this feat as a debut competition.
About the AOV International Chorale Festival 2023
The AOVICF 2023 is presented by the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) in partnership with the Philippine Madrigal Singers. The festival is conducted biennially- attracting choirs from all over the Philippines and Asia to compete in Folk Song, Equal Voices, and Mixed Choir Categories.
Named after the founder of the world-renowned Philippine Madrigal Singers, the late National Artist for Music Andres Veneracion, the AOVICF 2023 invited five (5) renowned adjudicators who have made their marks in the international music scene, to wit: Christo Burger (Africa), Jãnis Ozols (Europe), Virginia Bono (South America), Zimfira Poloz (North America), and Mark Anthony Carpio (Asia).
