Reunion concert for kids' choir

MANILA, Philippines - A full repertoire of sacred choral music will be performed by the Echoettes in a reunion concert to celebrate 39 years of singing and friendship on May 15 at 7:30 p.m. at Union Church of Manila, Rada Street, Legazpi Village, Makati. Founding music director Celia Yu Ong will return from New York to conduct. Admission is free.

Echoettes was established in 1972 as a children’s choir of primarily Chinese-Filipino students. The group traveled extensively abroad for concert tours in the mid-1970s.

After years of hibernation, key members of the original Echoettes established the Echoettes Foundation in 1995 that gave birth to Echoettes Young Voices, Echoettes Female Ensemble, and Echoettes Mixed Choir.

The Echoettes Young Voices travelled and competed abroad, bringing home honors for the country.

The two generations of children’s choirs performed at Malacañang with former first lady Imelda Marcos, and years later with former President Fidel Ramos and former President Gloria Arroyo.

The Reunion Concert also features guest artists Eudenice Palaruan, concert master; Gabriela Francisco, soprano; Agnes Barredo, alto; Kenneth Cataylo, tenor; and Lawrence Jaytana, baritone. Accompanying the choir are Armando Salarza (organ) and Judy Shao Tan (piano).