‘The most beautiful sound on earth’

"That is the most beautiful sound on earth," a juror exclaimed after hearing the Philippine Madrigal Singers during the European du Chant Choral Competition in Tours, France in 1997. So moving was the performance of the Philippine Madrigal Singers that they were awarded the Grand Prize, besting other grand prize winners of other choral competitions around the world. Madrigal is a music genre whose origins are traced back to medieval times in Europe.

Long before their magnificent victory in Tours, the Madrigal Singers earned critical acclaim for the beauty and splendor of their performance before a sophisticated music audience at the prestigious First Choruses of the World Festival held at the Lincoln Center in New York in 1969. This concert welcomed them to the international choral community, eventually paving their way into joining the most distinguished choral competitions: Spittal (Australia), Arezzo and Gorizia (Italy), Neuchatel (Switzerland), Debrecen (Hungary), Varna (Bulgaria), Tolosa (Spain) and Marktoberdoff (Germany). In all these places, the Madrigal Singers brought honors to our beloved Philippines. Today, they are one of the most formidable (some say most feared) singers in international choral competitions.

Performing seated in a semi-circle, closely following the ancient, refined traditions of the madrigal idiom, the Madz, as the singers are fondly called, have been breaking cultural barriers by spreading the message of peace through the universal language of music. Maintaining a rigorous yearly schedule of concert tours and outreach performances, the Madz also administer voice clinics and choral workshops off shore and in various parts of the country, often remote and seldom reached by choral artists.

Having produced more than 200 choral and vocal pedagogues, the Philippine Madrigal Singers have organized the Madz Et. Al., the largest gathering of choral groups conducted by the current members and alumni in a yearly festival that has become the longest-lasting musical tradition of its kind in the Philippines. Blessed with a corps of composers and choral arrangers from the previous and present batch of singers who continue to produce new choral works and settings, the Madrigal Singers have also contributed immensely to the growth of choral enthusiasm in Asia.

The Philippine Madrigal Singers have performed in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia, Brunei, Bulgaria, California, Canada, Canary Islands, China, Croatia, Dalmatia, Denmark, Egypt, England, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guam, Hawaii, Hungary, Hong Kong, Illinois, India, Indiana, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Korea, Libya, Luxemborg, Maryland, Massachusettes, Mexico, Michigan, Missouri, Monaco, Morocco, Malaysia, Netherlands, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pakistan, Pennsylvania, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Singapore, Slovenia, South Carolina, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Tennessee, Texas, Thailand, Virginia, Washington, Washington D.C. and Wisconsin.

The ensemble’s mission and dedication to perfecting its art draws inspiration and direction from the persevering and humble guidance of their founder and moving spirit: internationally-acclaimed choir master Professor Andrea Veneracion, who was bestowed the highest honor given to a Filipino music artist – the National Artist for Music Award.

The Philippine Madrigal Singers, (founded in 1963) are students, faculty members and alumni from different colleges of the University of the Philippines, bound by a passion for music and united in their goal to raise choral singing in the Asian setting to an impeccable international art form. Their repertoire, spanning from the Rennaisance to contemporary pieces, continues to enthrall music enthusiasts all over the world, touching the hearts of men and women in unforgettable moments that recognize no race, gender or creed.

Feel the magic of the music of the Madz as they will stage a homecoming concert billed Mad About Madz! on Oct. 12 and 13, 8 p.m. at the Main Theater of the Cultural Center of the Philippines. Special guest is brilliant comedian Jon Santos.

This concert will highlight the Madrigal Singers’ versatility as their repertoire will consist of choral and pop, R & B tunes. Mad About Madz is produced by iO KTV and Acitum Entertainment with the Bukas Sarili Foundation as its beneficiary. A TV special of the concert will also be aired on RPN 9 on Nov. 17, 9 p.m.

For tickets and sponsorship inquiries, call Acitum Entertainment at 895 1355 or 890 7649.