Filipino choir bags top honors at Asian choral tilt

MANILA, Philippines - The Novo Concertante Manila is the latest addition to the growing list of successful Filipino choirs in the international choral scene as it bagged the Grand Prize in the Asia Cantate International Choral Competition held recently in Phuket, Thailand.

Emerging as top winners in both the Folklore and the Chamber Choir categories, Novo Concertante was also recognized for its rendition of Eudenice Palaruan’s arrangement of the T fboli song, Koyu no Tebulul with the “Voice of Asia” Award for the best interpretation of an Asian composition. This award endorses the growing significance of indigenous Asian music in the international choral scene.

The group fs conductor, Arwin Tan, was named the Most Outstanding Conductor.

The group also holds the special distinction of being the only choir to receive the Gold A rating in the entire competition.

The choir bested 18 entries from China, Indonesia, Macau, Malaysia, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Thailand.

The Philippines was also represented by the Mandaluyong Children’s Choir, which was declared winner in the Open Equal Voices category with a Silver B Medal. It also won a Gold C in the Folklore category and a Silver B in the Chamber Choir category.

Originally formed as a recital choir, Novo Concertante Manila is composed of music lovers who continue to reinvent themselves, while developing a sound that is artistically intelligent. In February 2009 and 2010, it was honored with the Ani ng Dangal award by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) for its achievements in the field of choral music.

Choirmaster and founder Tan has steered the choir in winning the 46 Internationaler Chorwettbewerb in Spittal an der Drau, Austria and the LV Certamen Internacional de Habaneras y Polifonia in Torrevieja, Spain in 2009, as well as the Grand Prize in the inaugural of the A Voyage of Songs International Choral Competition held in Genting Highlands, Malaysia in 2003.

The choir is currently preparing for the first Guangzhou International Choral Competition in China on Nov. 8-13, which will serve as a qualifying round for prestigious festivals in Europe leading to the European Grand Prix for Choral Singing.