Woodrose Chorale wins Grand Prix in Slovakia

The PAREF Woodrose School Chorale from Muntinlupa City was proclaimed the Grand Prix winner in the Folklore Category at the 14th International Festival of Advent and Christmas Music in Bratislava, Slovakia on Dec. 8. The group was the lone Asian choir who competed against choirs from different parts of Europe and South Africa.

Composed of 27 girls, the group also won the Gold Band Award with a score of 96.15 in the Children’s Choirs up to 16 years old; Gold Band Award with a score of 97.5 in the Folk Song with Instrumental Accompaniment and Special Award for Drama and Stage Presence (Dramaturgy).

During the competition proper held in Primaciálny palác (Primate’s Palace), the chorale performed the following: Category: Children’s Choir up to 16 years: My Dream: Soar music and text by Ronnel Vardeleon; Duo Seraphim, composed by Tomas Luis de Victoria; Awit ng Bagong Henerasyon, music and text by John August Pamintuan; Anak, music and text by Freddie Aguilar, arranged by Robert Delgado.

Category: Folksong with Instrumental Accompaniment for Choirs: Orde-e (Madukayan Folk Song from the Cordillera Region), arranged by Maria Thereza Vizconde-Roldan; Dandansoy (Visayan Folk Song), arranged by Robert Delgado; Chua-ay (Igorot Rice Pounding Song), arranged by Ronnel Vardeleon and Olloño (Bontoc, Mountain Province), arranged by Nilo Alcala.

The 27-member choir was under the tutelage of conductor/director Boots Carballo, Girlie Baseleres for Individual Vocal Coaching, Chippy Dioko for Training Modules on Character Building in the Performing Arts; and for handling international relations and Steph Cabañes for Training on Stage Performance.

The Woodrose Chorale had an audience with Hon. Consul Pavol Konstiak (representative of the Philippines to Bratislava) who came to watch the group’s performance at the finals.