UST Singers’ grand tour / Villar sponsors concert / Calling Sigma Deltans!

Recognized for a decade now as the "Choir of the World", the UST Singers left on a two-month tour of Korea and the US, after a resoundingly successful eight-month long world tour last year.

The choir’s most celebrated performance will be at the Kemper Arena in Kansas City on May 7 at the "Springtime of Faith", a Catholic celebration of faith of the Kansas City archdiocese. Appearing with the UST Singers are American tenor Daniel Rodriguez, Grammy award winner Aaron Neville, Dove award winner Rachael Lampa and the world-famed trio, The Irish Tenors.

UST Singers Conductor Fidel Calalang, Jr. acknow-ledged: "Those who heard us perform on Fox Channel in Milwaukee and Cleveland last year paved the way for this special invitation. This 11th international concert tour of ours titled ‘Journey On’ is another opportunity to showcase the artistry and unique musical talent of the Filipinos on the international stage once more, not only to Filipino and American audiences, but also to other invited world-renowned artists. We are proud and grateful that the UST Singers are the only Asian performers in this grand event."

The UST Singers started its current series of concerts in Korea’s Daejeon Expo Art Hall, Daegu Cultural Center Hall along with the Pilgrim Mission Choir, the grand prize winner of the 2nd International Choir Olympics, and in the Taehan Art Hall. The concerts, held April 16 and 17, respectively, were organized and sponsored by Prof. Jae Joon Lee, director of the International Choral Festival of Daegu and conductor of several prominent choirs in Korea.

The UST Singers will then perform in 12 US states across the continent – California, Nevada, Utah, Washington, New York, New Jersey, Colorado, Missouri, Ohio, Indiana, Pennsylvania and Illinois. The tour will be highlighted by a concert at the Marriott Marquis, Broadway Ballroom in New York City, an event sponsored by the UST Medical Association in America. Other significant concerts are with the University of Utah Singers under the baton of Brady Allred, and presentations at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in Los Angeles, University of Washington in Seattle, and at the Seattle Center for the Philippine Independence Day celebration.

The UST Singers has consistently brought honor to the country, having won over 45 international top prizes around the world, the latest being the "Excellence Avee Distinction" won by the choir for having garnered the highest score in the mixed choir category, and the "Ville de Vevey Jury Prize" for Best Programming and Interpretation at the Montreux International Choral Festival in Switzerland; Best Choir Award at the World Choral Festival 2004 in Puebla, Mexico, with the UST Singers winning over choirs from Italy, Spain, the Czech Republic, Mexico, Serbia, Montenegro, Portugal and Poland. The UST Singers also gained a unique distinction, namely, a proclamation by Honolulu Mayor Jeremy Harris declaring August 20 "UST Singers Day".

To be released is a double-CD compilation of the UST Singers’ Filipino classic and popular songs from its best recordings. Called "Journey On", this album was produced by the Berlin-based JB Music Company.

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Mixing politics with culture, Senator Manuel Villar, Jr. sponsored a Bamboo Organ concert last April 8 to celebrate the 98th Founding Anniversary of the Nacionalista Party.

Regrettably, I could not attend the concert, the invitation having been sent to the STAR offices rather than to my Makati residence. Hence the invitation reached me after the concert. Incidentally, this often happens because readers are not aware that columnists do not go to their respective newspapers’ offices.

In any case, the Bamboo Organ Concert must have been a huge success; being thoroughly familiar with the capacity of the participants, I am fairly certain each must have performed to extreme audience gratification.

According to the printed program, the concert opened with Victor "Cocoy" Laurel singing the national anthem. The Las Piñas Boys Choir then rendered the Latin Parvulus Filius (anonymous), with organist Armando Salarza later playing Suite Cortesana (anonymous).

Soprano Deeda Barretto and tenor Nolyn Cabahug interpreted the Ave Maria by Bach/Gounod and I Believe (a medley) by Drake/Stillman, with Armando Salarza on the organ. The Las Piñas Boys Choir sang John Rutter’s I Believe in Springtime and For the Beauty of the Earth, again with Salarza on the organ.

Opera excerpts interpreted by Barretto and Cabahug were from Lehar’s Merry Widow (German), Delibes’ Les Filles de Cadiz (French), Puccini’s Turandot (the aria Nessum Dorma, Italian) this rendered by Cabahug, Verdi’s Drinking Song from La Traviata as sung by soprano and tenor. Pianist Harold Galang was the assisting artist for all the arias.

Two kundimans, Constancio de Guzman’s Maalaala Mo Kaya and Mike Velarde, Jr.’s Minamahal Kita were sung by the duo, to Galang’s accompaniment. For a fitting close, soprano and tenor, along with the boys choir, sang Let There Be Peace on Earth by Jill Jackson/Sy Miller.

The Recessionale had a political color, having consisted of Levi Celerio’s Nacionalista March, a recording by Josefino Cenizal. As a final note on politics promoting culture, the 2004 restoration of St. Joseph’s parish church was undertaken for the just-concluded Bamboo Organ Festival by Sen. Manuel Villar, Congresswoman Cynthia Villar and the NCCA.

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The Sigma Delta Phi Alumnae Association will hold an art exhibit and raffle at the SM Megamall Ortigas Center from May 27 to 29 for a benefit fund drive, "Arte a la Carte". Opening cocktails will be on Friday, May 27 at 6 p.m. Raffle prizes will be awarded on Sunday, May 29 at 6 p.m.

For the price of a raffle ticket (P500), the holder can win any of the donated works. Top prize is Ofelia Gelvezon Tequi’s "Pots Vernis", a 1999 acrylic on linen, with a market value estimated at P75,000.

Sigma Deltans participating besides Tequi are Tess S. Duldulao, Emily A. Marcelo, Ruth N. Carpio, Yolly B. Pajaro and Bella Y. Ramirez. Upsilonian artists are Nonoy Gamboa and Dr. Mars Custodio. Friends participating are Jing Uy and Sylvia A. Lazo. Other donated paintings are by Mario Borlongan, Josie L. Cruz and Raul Piedra. Baby Salmingo Olivar is project director; Maripaz Tagle Chua, chair.