MBC national choral tilt highlights music education

MANILA, Philippines - The chorister tradition as a special highlight of music education in local schools will be showcased by Manila Broadcasting in the MBC National Choral Competition, scheduled on Dec. 15-19.

Public and private educational institutions from various parts of the country will vie for top honors in two divisions - children’s choirs and an open category for schools, churches, residential communities, companies, government agencies, and special interest groups who may want to take part. The grand prize winners for each category will receive P100,000 plus trophy and other gifts courtesy of Star City.

In the children’s choir category, the public school sector will be led by Quezon City, represented by Batasan Hills Elementary School. Manila will have Juan Luna Elementary School, Iloilo will field Oton Central Elementary School. Youth choirs from Malate Catholic School, St Theresa’s College, and Pasig Catholic College will also pit their music skills with gifted students from Philippine High School for the Arts in Los Banos, Laguna and SPED-Integrated School for Exceptional Children in Iloilo. Adventist University of the Philippines’ Young Voices will also be around to provide stiff competition.

Collegiate choirs vying for the top prize in the open category are led by Mapua Concert Singers, PUP Bagong Himig Serenata, University of Makati, De La Salle University-Dasmarinas, Koro San Benildo, FEU Chorale, University of the Cordilleras, St Louis University, University of Baguio’s Bel Canto, Tarlac State University, University of the Visayas, Bukidnon State University, and MSU-IIT’s Octava Choral Society.

Defending champions in both divisions come from the public school sector. Hiyas ng Pilipinas Children’s Choir, two-time champions in 2007-2008, is comprised of students from various public schools in Manila, while in the open category, Coro de Manila’s nucleus was culled from former NAMCYA champion Ramon Magsaysay High School.

Time and again, music ensembles from a number of Philippine schools have proven that our country produces some of the finest choristers around the globe.

Supported by Smart Communications, Century Tuna, Kawasaki, Purefoods, and M. Lhuillier, the semi-final round of the MBC National Choral Competition will be held at the Star Theater on Dec. 15-18, while the grand finals will take place at the Aliw Theater on Dec. 19. Showtime is at 7 p.m.