ustsingers

21ST INTERNATIONAL TOUR 2011

2011-08-19T22:48:00.004+08:00

21ST INTERNATIONAL TOUR 2011

France, Spain , Germany , Latvia , Sweden , Norway , Belgium , South Korea September 19 – November 21, 2011

September 19 Departure Manila

FRANCE

September 20 – 26 Paris

September 21 @ 5PM

UNESCO Concert – UST Quadri Gala Performance

UST Singers: Gift to the World

MAISON DE L'UNESCO (SALLE 1)

125 av de Suffren

75007 PARIS 07

SPAIN

September 26 – 28 Barcelona (Sant Quirze del Valles)

September 28– October 3 Madrid / Segovia / Toledo

GERMANY

October 3 – 6 Freiburg

October 6 – 8 Heidelberg

October 7

Performance at the Signing of the Sister Cityhood of Calamba and Wilhemlsfeld ( Heidelberg )

October 8 – 11 Berlin

October 10 Concert @ 6:30 PM

Franzoesicher Dom

Gendarmenmarkt 1

10117 Berlin, Germany

LATVIA

October 11 – 13 Riga

October 11 @ 6PM

Performance at the Opening of the Art Exhibit

October 12 Concert @ 7PM

Foreign Art Museum,

6 Doma Square , Riga

SWEDEN

October 14 – 20 Stockholm

October 14 @ 7PM

Performance at the Benefit Concert for the Philippine Reef and Rainforest Conservation Foundation

Musicale, Nybrokajen 11, Stockholm

October 16 Mass @ 11AM

Stockholm Cathedral

October 18 @ 10AM - 3PM

Study Visit: Royal College of Music Stockholm

October 19 @ 5PM

Performance at the Vernissage Art Exhibit

Ersta University Hall and Reception Area, Stockholm

NORWAY

October 20 – 25 Oslo

SWEDEN

October 25 – 30 Karlshamn

BELGIUM

October 30 – November 3 Malle

GERMANY

November 3 – 10 Burbach / Niederdresselndorf

November 10 Return to Manila

November 11 Arrival Manila

November 14 Departure for Busan

SOUTH KOREA

November 14 – 21 Daegu / Daejeoon / Seoul

November 21 Return Manila

2011-06-16T21:17:00.004+08:00

DOS BRAVISSIMOS!
July 25, 2011, Monday @ 8PM
Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo (Main Theater)
Cultural Center of the Philippines
Roxas, Blvd., Manila

Featuring:

Two-time "European Grand Prix for Choral Singing" Winner, University of Ljubljana “APZ Tone Tomšič” with Sebastjan Vrhovnik, Conductor
and
Two-time "Choir of the World" Winner, University of Santo Tomas Singers with Prof. Fidel Calalang Jr., Conductor

You may now buy your tickets for DOS BRAVISSIMOS online (www.ticketworld.com.ph) or you may reserve tickets through:

Pinky - 0920 9092624 / May Anne - 0915 9743594

20TH INTERNATIONAL CONCERT TOUR

2011-04-23T17:00:00.004+08:00

May 3 Manila - Dubai - Hamburg

GERMANY

May 4 - 10 Bad Harzburg/Goslar

Concert:

May 6, 2011 at 19 UHR

Lutherkirche

Hüttenstraße

38642 Goslar

Concert:

May 8, 2011 at 18 UHR

Lutherkirche

Lutherstraße 7

38667 Bad Harzburg

Concert:

May 9, 2011 at 19 UHR

Sankt Stephani Kirche

Obere Kirchstraße 4

38640 Goslar

May 10 - 14 Berlin

Concert:

June 13, 2011

Heilig Geist Kirche

Katholische Kirchengemeinde Heilig Geist

Bayernallee 28

14052 Berlin

May 14 - 18 Hannover

Concert:

May 14, 2011 at 17:30

Kreuzkirche (Altstadt)

Kreuzkirchhof 1

30159 Hannover

Concert:

May 15, 2011 at 17:30

Melanchthonkirche (Bult)

Rimpaustr. 2

30173 Hannover

BELGIUM

May 18 - 25 Malle/Antwerp/Geluwe

Concert:

May 19, 2011

Venue: TBA

Malle

Concert:

May 20, 2011

Venue: TBA

Antwerp

Concert:

May 21, 2011

Venue: TBA

Brecht

Mass:

May 22, 2011 @ 11 AM

Parochie SINT-PAULUS

Sint-Pauluslaan 2

2390 Westmalle

Reception:

May 24, 2011

Mayor of Malle

GERMANY

May 25 - 31 Stuttgart

Concert:

May 28, 2011, 1800 UHR

International Baptist Church of Stuttgart

Untere Waldplätze 38

70569 Stuttgart-Vaihingen

Mass:

May 29, 2011 at 1200 UHR

Domkirche St. Eberhard

Stauffenbergstraße 3

70173 Stuttgart

Mass:

May 29, 2011 at 1600 UHR

Fangelsbachstraße 20

70 180 Stuttgart

Concert:

May 31, 2011 at 1200 UHR

DEKRA

Handwerkstrasse 15

70565 Stuttgart

May 31 - June 5 Freiburg

Concert:

Juni 1, 2011, 20 UHR

Pfarrkirche St. Gallus,

Dorfstr. 25

79249 Merzhausen

Concert:

Juni 2, 2011 at 19, UHR

Wallfahrtskirche Mariä Krönung

Klosterplatz 3

79254 Oberried

Klosterplatz 3

79254 Oberried

Concert:

Juni 4, 2011, 19.30 UHR

Evangelische Stadtkirche

Schlossplatz 3

79312 Emmendingen

June 5 - 8 Frankfurt

Concert:

June 6, 2011

Venue: TBA

June 8 - Frankfurt (Hahn) - Alicante

SPAIN

June 8 - 11 Torrevieja

Concert:

June 10, 2011

Teatro Auditorio Municipal

Plaza Miguel Hernandez s/n

Torrevieja

June 11 - 20 Valencia/Lliria/Benaguacil/Godella

Concerts: TBA

June 20 Madrid - Dubai - Manila

PHILIPPINE SENATE RECOGNIZES the UST Singers

2011-03-15T08:29:00.003+08:00

We're delighted to share to all our families, friends and the Thomasian family the recognition we have received on March 14, 2011 from the PHILIPPINE SENATE. The Senate adopted Resolution No. 14 recognizing our triumph from last year's Choir of the World competition in Wales. Mabuhay!

2011-03-08T15:12:00.002+08:00

Congratulations, Sir Fidel!

Awardee: "Dangal ng UST" and the Gawad San Lorenzo Ruiz

The Magic of Music (Nov. 27, 2010 @ Philamlife Theater)

2010-11-10T22:44:00.000+08:00

UST Singers hold triumphant concert

2010-10-11T00:34:00.001+08:00

By Antonio C. Hila
Philippine Daily Inquirer

October 11, 2010

The Choir of the World held an epic performance at the CCP that was bound to be the choral event of 2010
ALL ROADS LED to the Cultural Center of the Philippines for the thanksgiving concert of the UST Singers last Sept. 19.

At the lobby, people who came in droves were greeted by an imposing display of the trophies the choir had recently won during their European tour in which it participated in six prestigious international choral tilts from April to July.

All seats at the Main Theater were taken. Many more wanted to watch, but no more tickets!

The choir has brought home some 20 top prizes, including 11 First Prizes; a Peace trophy (Public Prize); two Grand Prizes; and the most coveted Choir of the World Award at the 63rd Llangolen International Musical Esitedfod, participated in by 40 choral groups from around the world.

The last was a repeat of the same feat the choir had achieved in 1995, when it first bagged the title barely three years after its founding by Fidel Gener Calalang Jr.

Such a triumph had become a byword, so that no less than the House of Representatives had to acknowledge it by passing House Resolution No. 7, authored by Rep. Magtanggol Gunigundo, which formally congratulated the 28-member choir for giving pride to the nation.

The UST Singers deserves a better accolade than such congratulatory note. The state can give its due recognition by making it a resident company of the Cultural Center of the Philippines.

To date, the UST Singers is the only Philippine and Asian choir to have won the Choir of the World title twice!

Since 1992, the choir has made 18 concert tours and bagged a total of 65 top prizes from prestigious international choral tilts in Austria, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Poland, the United Kingdom apart from concertizing in Asia, Canada the United States and Latin American countries.

In his brief opening remarks, UST Rector Magnifcus, the Rev. Fr. Rolando de la Rosa, OP, said the UST Singers had become the country’s ambassadors of goodwill, “at no expense to our government.” The choir, he said, had capably boosted the country’s image abroad.

Truly, music is a national gem, aptly expressed in choral singing. Father De la Rosa said the recognition was not just true with the UST Singers but to other school choirs as well that had ably projected the musical genius of the Filipino abroad such as the UP Madrigal Singers, UE Choral, DLSU Chorale, UP Singing Ambassadors, the UP Concert Chorus.

In welcoming the audience, Raul Sunico, CCP president and dean of the UST Conservatory of Music, said he too was an avid fan of the UST Singers, and the CCP was proud to host the choir’s homecoming concert.

Winning form

The choir displayed its winning form in an epic performance that lasted for over two hours. The concert was bound to be this year’s choral event!

The choir showcased its global feat through its flawless rendition of traditional, folk, ethnic, Broadway and novelty pieces—all scored demandingly.

Indeed, the UST Singiers underscored its formidable capability to interpret varied choral genres requiring difficult and varied choral range and coloring only a true choral virtuoso could do.

Among some of the world’ finest contemporary works the choir rendered and which formed part of its repertoire in the competitions it had joined in, were masterpieces by Eudenice Palaruan (“Gapas”) and Ruben Federizon’s (“Gabaq-an”). They were lined up with the works of choral giants such as Claudio Monteverdi, Morten Lauridsen. Eric Whitacre, Jonas Tamulionis and Ricardo Aguado.

“Gapas” won the Lady Dorothy Mayer Memorial Trophy for a 20th-century piece at the 58th Cork International Choral Festival.

“Gabaq-an” won the First prize at the Mixed Category which qualified the choir to vie for the Choir of the World Award and defeated its other strong competitor, the CYAIR Choir from Wales, which won the title in 2005, a decade since the singers bagged the award.

“Gabaq-an” also won the First Prize, Mixed Choir Category, at the 28th Festival Internacional de Musica de Cantonigros in Spain, where the singers defeated the APZ TONE TOMSIC from Slovenia, a two-time European Grand Prix winner which placed second.

Austere yet handsome

Austere yet handsome choreography and lighting heightened their singing. The gestures the members themselves choreographed were minimal yet meaningful. They provided attractive visual dimension which enhanced comprehension of the meaning of the songs.

In resplendent gala attire, the UST Singers cut a regal presence on stage and smartly moved elegantly with dashing confidence, disclosing the stance of a real champion.

Truly, there was “unending grace” in their rendition. In the sacred portion, they intoned “unending praise” to the Almighty, making the concert more of a thanksgiving than just a plain homecoming performance.

Utmost sincerity and humility underscored Calalang’s short message thanking all persons who made their travel possible: Father. De La Rosa and the UST community; the choir members’ families and the choir’s benefactors—above all, God. “To God be the glory,” Prof. Calalang emphatically said.

He informed the audience their trip was fraught with trials and difficulties—at one point they thought of giving up.

But “God is good,” he said. “We emerged steadfast and focused” and “triumphed in the end.”

The audience was hushed into a prayerful silence as the choir intoned John Rutter’s simple yet touching thanksgiving hymn, “Look at the World.”

Visibly, many choristers were in tears, as were some of the listeners, among them soprano Irma Potenciano, who exclaimed, “Fidel had made me unabashedly cry!”

Victory in Wales

Off stage, in a casual conversation with the choir’s founding conductor, a couple of days after the performance at UST, Fidel said he hesitated to join the Llangolen International Festival because of the psychological burden of duplicating the feat the choir had done before. Besides, it had been some years since he bagged the award.

His brother, Firmaldo, whom he consulted whether the choir should join or not, prodded: “Just to do your best, and be nonchalant about it if you lose.”

To contend for the award, the choir had to win a First Prize in either one of the two categories: Chamber Choir or Mixed Choir. They bagged the Third Prize in the former category. DLSU Chorale conducted by Rodolfo “Boy” Delarmente, got the Second Prize. The First went to the choir from Wales.

The UST Singers bagged the First Prize in the Youth Category, but such a win was not a passport to enter the competition for the global award, as the category was just an added attraction.

Undaunted, the choir joined the Mixed Choir Category, and made a resolve to win the top prize. They won.

Next, they had to compete against the winner of the other category, the feared choir from Wales. The rest was history.

Asked how he became a choral conductor, Calalang said it was all by accident.

He was a late bloomer. He enroled at the UST Conservatory of Music, in Piano, and earned his diploma. He was intending to have Voice as his double major, but did not finish it. He assisted several choirs, sang tenor for George Hernandez’s UP Saringhimig which did a lot of concert tour abroad.

Soon he found himself organizing the UST Singers. Since then, choral conducting has become his burning passion.

He felt the Almighty had wanted him to be so, to touch the hearts of his listeners, and provide a balm to the tired spirit through the moving power of music.

Calalang's glorious choir

2010-09-27T11:25:00.004+08:00

SUNDRY STROKES By Rosalinda L. Orosa
(The Philippine Star) September 25, 2010

UST Rector Fr. Rolando V. de la Rosa, prior to the UST Singers’ thanksgiving concert at the CCP Theater, said a foreign ambassador had described the choir as “a national treasure”; using the words of St. Agustine, Fr. De la Rosa described it as “the splendor of order”.

Under conductor Fidel G. Calalang Jr. the singers are also the splendor of incredible discipline, tantalizing versatility and expressivity. Further, Fr. Rector called Calalang a “genius” which he is beyond doubt, devising widely diverse programs that cover every conceivable period and style. Calalang requires his singers to commit them to memory — a feat in itself — and thus to focus and concentrate on each interpretation with the fullest attention to expression and vocal technique or pyro-technique.

The choir’s versatility showed in “exploiting the human voice while portraying an irritating child” in the Luthanian songErzinimal; in approximating various timbers of a wind ensemble for Alleluia; in sounding percussive in E. Paraluan’sGapas; in singing a Monteverdi madrigal of the 17th century; or in rendering “Her Sacred Spirit Soars” in the Renaissance style, or going “full blast” in the Broadway medleys and Ragtime, or in being quietly reverential, then ending rousingly for the “Lord’s Prayer”.

The choir sang in English, Spanish, Tagalog, Ilocano, Visayan, evincing its versatility likewise in imitating virtually anything, animate or inanimate; earthly or unearthly: the howling wind, birds, the ticking of a clock, the incomparable Calalang drawing the maximum interpretative capacity from each singer. Soloists were Noel Azcona whose powerful voice and long-sustained end notes were beyond belief, Ronald Allan Bautista, Juan Alfonso Mendoza, Jemeson Tiburan, Vida Grace Mirang, Marie Adriano, Florencia Kustandi and Pilar Ramos.

Groupings were endlessly innovative and creative; lively movements enhanced vocal delivery, with various numbers ending in riveting, arresting poses.

In many selections, Calalang himself assisted on the piano while maintaining perfect rapport between him and the singers. He also arranged several songs.

The words “Unending Grace, Unending Praise” printed on the program cover aptly applied to the choir which garnered stormy applause after each rendition. The UST Singers, named “Choir of the World” twice in North Wales, UK, has received international awards far too many to mention. This time, the honors are a most valued distinction for UST’s 400 years in 2011.

photos by Mylah Rubio

UNENDING GRACE, UNENDING PRAISE

2010-09-03T07:33:00.008+08:00

The University of Santo Tomas Singers' Thanksgiving Concert

September 19, 2020 @ 6PM

Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo (Main Theater)

Cultural Center of the Philippines

Call Ticketworld for reservations:
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Email:tickets@ticketworld.com.ph
Fax: (+63 2) 891-5634Hotlines:
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You may now reserve tickets directly from us.
Contact: Pinky: 0920 9092624 / Jaimie: 0917 8244933
Thanks.

A YEAR TO REMEMBER

2010-08-01T10:15:00.002+08:00

WHAT A SPLENDID YEAR FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF SANTO TOMAS SINGERS AND PROF. FIDEL GENER-CALALANG, JR!!!!! CONGRATULATIONS!!

17th Bangor Int'l Choral Festival (N. Ireland,U.K.) April 21-25
-First prize = Mixed Voices Category
-First Prize = Madrigal Category
-First Prize = Sacred Category
- Special Distinction Trophy=Best Visiting Choir
-First Prize=Open Choir Category

56th Cork Int'l Choral Festival (Ireland) April 28-May 2
-Lady Dorothy Mayer Memorial Trophy (Fleischmann Int'l Trophy Competition) = outstanding performance of a piece (Gapas by Eudenice Palaruan)
- PEACE Trophy

6th Int'l Choir Festival Mundus Cantat (Sopot, Poland) May 19-23
-Golden Diploma=Sacral Music-Adult Choirs
-Golden Diploma=Secular Music-Adult Choirs
-Golden Diploma=Spiritual/Gospel/Jazz Category
-Grand Prix of the Festival

63rd Llangollen Int'l Musical Eisteddfod (Wales, U.K.) July 6-11
-First Prize=Youth choirs category
-First Prize=Mixed Choirs category
-Winner=CHOIR OF THE WORLD-Pavarotti Tropy

28th Festival Internacional de Musica de Cantonigros (Catalonia, Spain) July 15-18
- First Prize = Mixed Choirs category
- First Prize = Folk Song Category

56. Certamen Internacional de Habaneras y Polifonia de Torrevieja (Spain) July 23-30
- Primer Premio de Habaneras "Juan Aparicio"
- Premio Intercontinental
- Premio del publico

THANK YOU, LORD!!!

2010 CHOIR OF THE WORLD!

2010-07-11T06:01:00.009+08:00

*Photos published with permission from Barrie Neil Photography

The first choir in the history of Llangollen International Music Eisteddfod, the oldest choral competition, to ever win the title twice.

CONGRATULATIONS to our dear Sir Fidel and the University of Santo Tomas Singers!
We are so proud of you!!!

You may watch the choir's performances and see the results at http://www.llangollen.tv/

A real winner

2010-05-28T16:55:00.002+08:00

By Fr. ROLANDO V. DE LA ROSA, O.P.

May 16, 2010

Manila Bulletin

Forget the 2010 election for now. Somewhere in Europe, a group of young Filipinos are greeting their audience with these words: “Mabuhay! We represent the Philippines, a land where our smiles are as warm as our sunny days, a land where the contrasting cultures of the East and West somehow managed to blend splendidly, and where the exuberance of the human spirit remains unvanquished by centuries of colonization, oppression, and discrimination.

We represent a people with an extraordinary flair for living, faith in God, and trust in the boundless possibilities of human goodness. We are the UST Singers.”

The UST Singers are telling their audiences everywhere that contrary to pollsters and surveys, the Philippines is a beautiful place to live in. Perhaps, they are also subtly telling our government that if it wants to make the country a place to die for, it must invest in young people.

The UST Singers consist of 28 students from different colleges and faculties of the University. The group is headed by Prof. Fidel Gener Calalang Jr., a precocious faculty member of the UST Conservatory of Music. Since it was founded in 1992, the group has continued to impress audiences, encompassing music of different genres and from all periods. In the course of 17 years, the UST Singers has completed 16 concert tours abroad and has earned more than 45 top prizes in various international choral competition mostly in Europe, USA, and Canada.

Perhaps their greatest feat, unequalled by any local choirs is winning the CHOIR OF THE WORLD GRAND PRIZE and four First Prizes at the 49th Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod in Wales, United Kingdom.

The UST Singers also represented the Philippines at the 30th Mundi Cantant International Choral Competition held at Olomouc, Czech Republic. More than 7,000 singers comprising 196 choirs from mostly European countries, vied for prizes in various categories. The only Asian choir invited to this contest, the UST Singers won First Prize in all the five categories they competed in. What is more interesting is that, for the first time in the 30-year old history of Mundi Cantant, the board of judges gave the UST Singers perfect scores (100 percent) in four categories, and 99 percent in one. Never in the previous years were such high marks given for a particular choir. This is also the first time that one choir bagged 5 first prizes.

Their most recent achievement came on April 21-24, 2010 when they won 4 first prizes in the four categories they had joined in the Bangor International Festival, described as “a jewel in the crown of choral singing in Northern Ireland. Now on its 17th year, the Bangor Festival showcased performances from local school and adult choirs in Ireland, as well as invited choirs from other countries.

Fresh from their victory in Bangor, on April 28-May 2, 2010, the UST Singers were again invited to compete in the 56th Cork International Choral Festival celebrating the very best of choral and vocal music from choirs all over the world. Again, the UST Singers, won two trophies, one for an outstanding performance of a piece in the Fleischmann International Trophy Competition, and the most coveted PEACE trophy, described by organizers as an award given to the choir “who touched the hearts of all who heard them."

The UST Singers is, indeed, a potent advertisement of our country in Europe. They are reaping honors at no expense from the government. Their superb and world-class artistry makes their audiences wonder why the Philippine media is more intent on publishing and broadcasting stories about the graft and corruption in government, the Abu Sayyaf and the politicians wrangling over election results, than about the things Filipinos can be truly proud of.

UST SINGERS reaps more awrds

2010-05-28T16:05:00.006+08:00

6th Mundus Cantat International Choral Festival
Sopot, Poland
April 19 - 23

1st Prize, Sacred Category - 96.3%
1st Prize, Folk/Secular Category - 99%
1st Prize, Spiritual/Jazz/Gospel - 98
GRAND PRIX 2010

56th Cork International Choral Festival

Cork, Ireland

April 28 - May 2, 2010

Lady Dorothy Mayer Memorial Trophy

Best Interpretation of a Piece "GAPAS" by Eudenice Palaruan

P.E.A.C.E Trophy

Festival audiences are many and varied. They are represented not just by those who attend the Gala Concerts and Competitive Sessions, but by those who listen to choirs in their church visits, and informal performances throughout the week of the festival. This year The PEACE Trophy is awarded to a choir who touched the hearts’ of all who heard them and exemplified the intentions of the trophy’s benefactors, the P. E. A. C. E. MOVEMENT, CORK.

UST SINGERS wins in Bangor!

2010-04-25T07:42:00.007+08:00

News just came in.

At the 17th BANGOR INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION in Northern Ireland, United Kingdom (their first competition for this year's tour), the UNIVERSITY OF SANTO TOMAS SINGERS bags the following top prizes:

GRAND PRIZE
Open Choral Competition
First Prize- (3) Categories
Mixed Choir, Madrigal & Sacred
Second Prize - One (1 ) Category
Light Entertainment Category

The USTS was also given the special prize for being the Best Visiting Choir!

CONGRATULATIONS!!! You've made us proud yet again!

Not Only World-Class, But Capable of Re-inventing Itself … Refreshingly Youthful Yet Competently Musical: the USTS 2010

2010-04-07T11:14:00.007+08:00

By Charo Garcia*

Up close the sounds emanating from the UST Singers are as beautiful as when you hear them from afar. The advantage of sitting in the first row is that one can hear the individual voices as well and, aside from a rare tired voice in some songs, this did not disappoint. On the contrary, for my sister and me, it was pure joy listening to voices attempting to perform some rather difficult choral pieces with zest and energy as well as exhibiting that remarkable musicality that is just one mark of its conductor, Maestro Fidel G. Calalang, Jr.

But make no mistake, the sound of this particular group of singers, embarking after Holy Week on their 18th international concert tour, is decidedly different from the already established choral sound of this world standard choir. As Prof. Calalang explained briefly in a post-concert sharing, he found himself “at a standstill for a year and a half”, trying to work around, through and with the limitations and capacities of his young singers. After all, from the beginning, the choir has been composed of non-professional singers, many literally coming from the cold and trained, nay molded, under the expert handling of the conductor.

Departing from the robust sound of earlier years, the choral sound is much fuller and substantial, the fortissimos built up with better nuances, the over-all sound hinting at musical depths still nascent in the group but which hopefully will come out as they go through their coming concert tour – competing and concertising. To work at still are the occasional pianissimo parts that demand stricter vocal control and discipline.

As the opening number of last Sunday’s (March 21) performance at the UST Museum attests, the group can sing a madrigal as expertly as it can tackle in succession two Eric Whitacre songs with all the nuances that are demanded of two divergent choral styles. Tomkins’ “See, See, the Shepherds’ Queen” set the standard for the evening concert. And yet there were surprises further on in the concert. The powerful rendition of the Whitacre’s “Leonardo Dreams of His Flying Machine” that faintly echoes the program music of the late 19th century except that this is a thoroughly 21st century piece, Eudenice Palaruan’s very interestingly composed “Gapas” that demanded agile vocal dexterity, and the traditional song “Rock My Soul” that showcased the powerful voice of a pint-sized tenor singing with all the gusto and brio of a seasoned performer are but some examples.

Aside from that tenor, Ronald Allan Bautista, there are other promising singers who held their own against a dynamic choral backdrop: petite Ma. Pilar Charlene Ramos with her clear, crisp soprano, willowy Vidagrace Kahlil Mirang, soprano, who sang beautifully “Ano Kaya ang Kapalaran”, Jose Mari Rubio, tenor, poignantly singing “Yesterday”. Of particular note was the “New Music” by Stephen Flaherty, a medley that featured Juan Alfonso Mendoza, tenor, Jeanna Bometivo, Soprano, Jemeson Tiburan, tenor, and Marie Alethea Ysabel Adriano, alto, singing their parts credibly well considering the powerful voice of baritone Noel Azcona – all terrific soloists!

The evening’s performance had an added and very welcome featured group: the UST VocalBRIDGE, UST Singers Alumni in the Philippines. Members of this new choral group have been delegates of previous international and world tours, starting with the very first tour in 1993 (represented by three members: Joshua Jenaro Badilla, Victoria Simbol-Engo, and Laura Villa). Their first song, Randall Thompson’s “Alleluia” – in the first and heavier part of the concert - brought tears of memories to this writer. After all, in the choral tradition, this is a piece singers sink their teeth in to learn, and having thus sung it, come out changed – as a chorister, a believer, and a human being!

Gone is the competitive edge of the voices, many of whom I’ve heard during the farewell concerts of the different batches. In its place is a mature, more refined choral sound that sounds and IS confident. Even should the group decide to go on tour and compete too, it definitely has an edge – the members have passed through the proverbial needle’s eye of international scrutiny and come out more musically mature. It will be tempting to rest on the successes of the past tours – after all several of them were tour members when the USTS was awarded Choir of the World in 1995, the Gran Permio Citta Di Gorizia in 1998, and the Grand Prize in the 2002 Tonen Competition in the Netherlands. But the discipline and dedication are already deeply ingrained; the group cannot but go from excellence to excellence.

Let me end this review with some words for my friend, Prof. Fidel Calalang, Jr. Re-inventing choral sound is no mean feat especially when one deals with young, non-professional singers who may not even be music majors, to begin with. And yet, Fidel has again exhibited that rare musical intelligence that already has marked him as one of the, if not the, most outstanding choral conductor of his generation. Even his conducting patterns have evolved; his hands flow with the music, pulling out from his singers vari-colored sounds, yet never distracting to the audience.

During this particular concert, inasmuch as I was seated in front, I found myself watching him conduct as much as watching the faces of his singers light up at particular moments or their bodies swaying ever so slightly to the music coming out of them. The immortal “Somewhere” was thus so beautifully and lovingly rendered. The intensity with which he feels the music, flows more naturally from his conducting hands now, reserving the bigger movements for the grander choral sounds.

At the end, after all that has been said, this writer chafes at the inadequacy of words to express a truly musical evening that has excellence already stamped on it.

I wish the USTS 2010 all the best in their 18th international concert tour!

* Tour manager together with Frau Leonora Dietz/member of USTS’ first European tour, 1993

Soprano: U.P. Saringhimig (1976- 1979; 1980-1981); Camerata Singers (1982-1984)
Tour member: 1980 and 1981 Saringhimig European tours; 1983-1984 Camerata Singers International tour

Currently handling: Cantata Maria (female vocal ensemble) and Munting Tinig (children’s choir) – both based in her home parish, the Immaculate Heart of Mary, U.P. Village, Q.C.

"Then Sings My Soul" - Review by Antonio C. Hila, Philippine Daily Inquirer, April 5, 2010

2010-04-05T10:58:00.002+08:00

THE UST SINGERS AWED choral enthusiasts in their recent farewell performance at the UST Museum.

The choral group has consistently upheld its resplendent symphonic sound, a hallmark its founding choirmaster Fidel Calalang Jr. has invested it with since it was founded in 1992.

Watching this group of some 30 choristers since last hearing it sometime ago could simply be a gratifying moment. One basked under its brilliant choral sound, kept in the dome, and uninhibitedly projected.

Alternating with the UST Vocal Bridge, a choir of alumni, the UST Singers had a formidable program that consisted of classics from the Baroque to the contemporary, including Philippine and Broadway songs.

A mighty web of choral sound engulfed the intimate venue to the delight of the audience who did not mind standing at the sides and back, filling up the hall. The opening songs, all late Baroque (Thomas Tomkins’ “See, See, the Shepherds Queen” and “Sefiro Torna E’l Bel Tempo Rimena”), at once elicited hearty applause.”

Mighty piece

At the outset, the choir’s scintillating freshness was ardently appreciated. No trace of tiredness was heard.

The singers had a tour de force in two contemporary choral pieces written by the revered young American choral composer Eric Whitacre, “Her Sacred Spirit Soars” and “Leonardo Dreams of His Flying Machine.”

It was in the rendition of the last song that the singers chilled the spine of the listeners. A virtuoso piece, the rendition was mighty as the piece called for big, brilliant sound. It was the thrill of flight of Leonardo’s dream that the singers vividly depicted, enhanced with the playing of some instruments by some members, for effect.

Sounds not associated with traditional choral intonations were intoned to invest the song with arresting realism. The singing went on for several minutes, making the rendition truly epic. The high energy level of the performance bewitched the audience.

The singers had to exit and afford their vocal chords some needed rest, giving way thus to the alumni group for it to display its vocal prowess.

The Vocal Bridge also sung a warhorse. Conducted by Calalang, the group brought nostalgia in its comely rendition of Randall Thompson’s “Alleluia,” a choral piece popularized by the UP Madrigal Singers under its founding guru, Andrea O. Veneracion.

The Madz had gloriously sung it in its formative years. (Incumbent choirmaster Mark Carpio, to whom Maestra Veneracion had passed on the baton, graced the UST concert with his presence.)

Excellent group

The alumni group showed the same quality, albeit it has to work more on projection, which has to be rounded more. Recently formed, this group could yet be another excellent group to add luster to existing choral groups if properly maintained.

The UST Singers returned to weave magnificent sounds in contemporary pieces: Palaruan’s “Gapas,” and “Irritations (Erzinimal)” by Jonas Tamulionis.

The audience, led by UST Father Rector Rolando V. de la Rosa, OP, savored more choral delight in the standard choral idiom in Philippine songs: the folk song “Magtanim Ay Di Biro,” the movie theme “Waray-Waray,” and the classic “Ano Kaya ang Kapalaran,” by Francisco Santiago, all arranged by Calalang.

Needless to say, the conductor had veritably shown adeptness in choral arranging.

Novelty pieces such as Anderson’s “The Syncopated Clock,” “Broadway con Brio,” also arranged by Calalang, were well-received by the audience.

The latter was a compendium of Broadway tunes, arranged neatly in a medley. It was an eloquent companion to Grayston Ives’ “Name That Tune,” a medley of classical tunes also neatly arranged in a medley. Apt hand movements and choreography provided enticing visual enhancement.

One of the top

A whiff of nostalgia hovered as the audience listened to McCartney’s “Yesterday,” effectively arranged by Robert Sund, which the alumni group sang with José Mari Rubio as soloist.

The UST Singers mesmerized the audience with their polished rendition of Bernstein’s moving “Somewhere,” from the Broadway hit “West Side Story,” arranged by Robert Edgerton.

Calalang showed deep understanding of choral nuance as he intelligently molded choral sound according to the genre specified by the pieces.

He has gained much confidence and expertise through the years, bringing the singers to international choral competitions and festivals abroad, both in the US and Europe, and winning top prizes at that, making the UST Singers one of the country’s top choral groups in tilts abroad.

The UST Singers leave on April 8 for a series of concert performances in Korea, Ireland, Spain, Poland, Germany, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Austria and Italy.

In between performances, they will compete and participate in international choral competitions and festivals.

"Ani ng Dangal" 2010

2010-03-22T15:33:00.003+08:00

The UST Singers received the "Ani ng Dangal" Award from the Office of the President's National Commission for Culture and the Arts for winning an international competition in 2009

Farewell Concert

2010-03-22T06:34:00.000+08:00

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Sir Fidel!!!

2010-02-01T11:04:00.003+08:00

MERRY CHRISTMAS! Joyeux Noël! Buon Natale! frohe Weihnachten! Feliz Natal! vrolijke Kerstmis! с Рождеством Христовым! Feliz Navidad! Χαρούμενα Χριστού

2009-12-24T18:23:00.002+08:00

UST Singers rock Nueva Ecija - INQUIRER.net, Philippine News for Filipinos

2009-12-22T14:22:00.000+08:00

UST Singers rock Nueva Ecija - INQUIRER.net, Philippine News for Filipinos

UST Singers Outreach - 2009 Christmas Treats at Philamlife

2009-12-11T14:37:00.003+08:00

Christmas Treats is a nightly serenading and gift-giving treat for the less fortunate children under the care of Kanlungan sa Ermita-Malate.

December 2009 Performances

2009-12-05T11:57:00.002+08:00

December 1 - Christmas Tree Lighting
6PM Baybay Baywalk
Puerto Princesa, Palawan

December 3 - UST Christmas Gala Concert
7PM UST Chapel

December 5 - Concert
4PM SM Sta. Mesa (Centerpoint)

December 6 - Concert
SM Sucat

December 8 - Recording @ UST Museum

December 9 - Concert
"Christmas Treats"
5PM Philamlife Theater Lobby

December 10 - 9AM @ Malacanan Palace

8PM Concert
Munoz, Nueva Ecija

December 12 - Concert
4PM SM Pampanga

8PM Fairview c/o Dr. Monzon

December 18 - Concert
12 Noon KPMG Lobby
6787 Ayala Ave., Makati

8PM UST Countdown to 400

December 19 - Concert
SM Mall of Asia

December 20 - Christmas Party

December 24 - Concert
4PM SM Bacoor

December 25 - Concert
4PM SM Rosario

December 26 - Concert
4PM SM Sta. Rosa

December 27 - Concert
4PM SM Bicutan

Decenber 28 - Concert
Batangas City

* subject to change!

Puerto Princesa, Palawan December 2009

2009-12-05T11:20:00.006+08:00

Thousands flocked to witness the lighting ceremonies and the concert.

The Singers were invited to sing at the lighting of the country's tallest Christmas Tree.

Entering Puerto Prncesa's underground river, an awesome river cruise underneath the earth's surface.

Sir Fidel with Puerto Princesa Mayor Edward Hagedorn, our gracious host!Pandan Island

2009 Bicol Tour (Oct 22- 26)

2009-10-28T15:40:00.012+08:00

The Choral Art of the UST Singers
Part of the Bicol trip was the Outreach Choral Workshop of the UST Singers with Sir Fidel as the main lecturer. Almost 400 choristers/conductors/teachers showed up. This was organized by the Department of Education Region V and the Baao High School Special Program in the Arts.

*******************************************************************
Gift of Giving, Gift of Music (Benefit Concert)

The UST Singers visited Bicol for the fifth time. The Parish of St. Bartholomew Parish of Baao, Camarines Sur invited the choir to do a Benefit Concert for the the church.

Lynnette Kirstin Mendez-Velasquez M.D., an alumna of the UST Singers who's now based in Denver, CO was the emcee that evening. Good job, Jingbee! Her parents are from Baao and Iriga City, by the way.

Beethoven's Symphony No. 9

2009-10-07T13:14:00.006+08:00

UST Singers sings together with the UP Singing Ambassadors, Ateneo College Glee Club, Maestro Robert Ryker and the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra
CCP Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo
October 8, 2009 @ 8 PM

UST SINGERS in a Benefit Concert in CAM SUR

2009-09-10T13:38:00.001+08:00

CONGRATULATIONS!

2009-07-01T03:06:00.006+08:00

Filipino singers win a range of honors in the California International Choir Festival and Competition

Sarah Linn/The TribuneThis weekend, the University of Santo Tomas Singers swept the California International Choir Festival and Competition, winning the People’s Choice Award as well as two other categories at the event that ran Friday through Sunday in San Luis Obispo.

“This is a great honor,” said choir director Fidel Calalang Jr. “We’re bringing home a lot of smiles with us.”

The 26-member choir also took first place in the Folk and Required Pieces competitions.

Sikama Choir, which hails from the Republic of Congo, received the Judge’s Special Award.

“It’s basically for a choir that’s very good but coming from a totally different choral tradition,” said Pat Harris, the festival’s executive director.

The top spot in the Choir’s Choice competition went to the St. Zlata Meglenska Chamber Choir, an all-female ensemble from Macedonia.

The Central Coast’s own Cuesta College Chamber Singers took second place in all three divisions.

The University of Santo Tomas Singers is the second Filipino musical group to win big at the festival.

Imusicapella, from the island of Luzon, won the People’s Choice Award and other prizes at the first-ever choral competition in 2007.

Calalang founded the University of Santo Tomas Singers, based in Manila, in 1992.

Over the past 16 years, the choir has garnered more than 45 top awards at international choral competitions. The group, which consists of students and alumni, tours regularly in Europe, Asia and North America.

However, the San Luis Obispo event marked the choir’s first competition in the United States, Calalang said. The group plans to perform in San Francisco, San Jose and Los Angeles before heading home to Manila.

“It’s really great that we were able to win prizes,” he said, adding there’s a possibility the group could return to the Central Coast.

The third California International Choral Festival and Competition will be held in 2011.

UST Singers Wow Audiences on Fourth Trip to Hawaii

2009-05-30T14:55:00.002+08:00

by Fiedes Doctor
Hawaii Filipino Chronicle
May 16, 2009

“Beautiful…breathtaking…excellent” These are the words that were used to describe the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Singers’ performance “Beyond Dreams” at Farrington High School Auditorium on May 8, 2009. It was the group’s fourth visit to Hawaii and they never failed to mesmerize.

Brigid Omeara was one of many in the audience who were mesmerized. It was her first time to watch the UST Singers.

“It was extremely exhilarating to watch them. They are really talented,” she says. “I was amazed.”

The audience of more than 300 gave the Choir of the World Champion (in Llangollen , United Kingdom ) a much deserved standing ovation coupled with exuberant applause after the finale. Their rendition of “The Lord's Prayer” touched most hearts while their encore “Ti Ayat” and “O Naraniag a Bulan,” both timeless Ilocano favorites, brought sweet nostalgia—and of course, another appreciative applause.

The 26-member mixed choral ensemble was founded in 1992, has gained a reputation as a world-renowned choir and is unified under the baton of Prof. Fidel G. Calalang Jr. They have embarked on 13 concert tours that brought them to many different countries worldwide. Their repertoire includes contemporary, spiritual, Broadway, international and traditional songs.

Calalang’s mastery and leadership showed forth in the unified voices of his men and women, composed of soprano, alto, tenor and bass. A flick of the finger or a wave of the arm brought instantaneous response: a soft whisper or an intense, strong song.

Similarly, the accompanying choreography was “powerful, entertaining and one of a kind,” according to a UST alumnae who came to show support.

“The performance was heavenly and uplifting,” says another.

The “Beyond Dreams” repertoire included “Magnificat” by Rene Clausen; “Alles, was Odem hat, lobe den Herrn” by Johann Sebastian Bach; “Ave Maria;” “Irritations;” “O Voso Gallo Comadre;” “Down by the Riverside,” “Hay Quien Precisa;” “Witness;” “Eres Tu;” “Broadway Con Brio;” “Journey On” from “Ragtime;” “Anyone Can Whistle, New Music from “Ragtime;” “Learning to Let Go” from “Elegies for Angels, Punks and Raging Queens.”

Filipino arrangements, all by Calalang, included “Mamayug Akun,” “Waray-Waray,” “Scenes from the North,” “Ilocano Medley,” “Ikaw kasi,” “Iniibig Kita,” and “Libis ng Nayon.”

“I remembered the Philippines when I heard the Filipino songs,” says retiree Marina Torio, fondly thinking of the country she left 48 years ago. “They have beautiful voices and are very well-trained and coordinated.”

Equally-talented guest choir performer Doctors-on-Stage performed “All We Need is Love,” “A Little Help From My Friends,” “Something,” “Let It Be” and “While my Guitar Gently Weeps.”

A few days later on May 10, 2009 , the UST Singers performed at the Fil-Com Center in Waipahu . An audience of about 600 gave the group a well-deserved standing ovation.

Singers in Las Vegas!

2009-05-27T13:48:00.005+08:00

The Magical Sound of the UST Singers

2009-05-22T17:13:00.004+08:00

By Pablo Tariman
Lifestyle Section, Philippine Daily Inquirer
18 May 2009

pic courtesy of Bing Laquindanum

MANILA, Philippines – The two recent concerts of the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Singers under Profesor Fidel Calalang Jr. showcased a choir with a unique sound all its own.

At the LRI Design Plaza in Makati City, the choir was a sensation—from the spiritual (“Down by the Riverside”) to the New Music of Stephen Flaherty. They opened a program which palpably lessened the impact of the solo program of Rachelle Gerodias, who held her own especially when she performed Menotti’s “The Telephone” and the “Don Pasquale” aria of Donizetti.

But in terms of overall sound impact, the UST Singers were sheer show-stealers, as they revealed a gradation and galaxy of sounds that were simply magical.

This was again evident in the recent concert of the UST Singers in the residence of San Juan City Mayor JV Ejercito and his mother Guia Gomez. From Malotte’s The Lord’s Prayer to Graystone Ives’ “Name That Tune” and on to our own “Waray-Waray,” the choir was sheer vocal enchantment.

US tour

It is on its 17th concert tour in the United States. Barring the Mexican flu scare, it will highlight the 10th anniversary celebration of the World Choral Festival in Puebla, Mexico, where the group had been recognized twice as the Best Choir of the festival—in 2001 and 2004.

Another highlight of this tour is the choir’s participation in the California Choral Festival and Competition.

Since its founding in 1992, the UST Singers has completed 15 concert tours around Europe, the USA, Canada, Mexico and Asia, and has earned over 45 top prizes in various international choral competitions.

Calalang says of the choir’s 17 years: “Those years could be described as arduously inspiring but, in sum, very colorful and fulfilling. The first few steps were difficult. Just like any other organization or institution, the first few years are always tough, but, as we went along, the fruits of our labor and hard work paid off.”

From the start, Calalang made sure the choir’s repertoire was varied and not focusing on just one genre or period. He also considered the different types of audience that they performed for, and made extra effort to make their repertoire appealing to them.

“I stayed away from the common notion that choral music is confined to Church repertoire and, therefore, perceived as boring,” said Calalang, who heads the Voice Department of the UST Conservatory of Music. “For this reason, I have to keep myself updated on the changing trends, innovations and developments of choral music around the world.

“I believe that most of the choirs, particularly the Filipino choirs, would opt to present a repertoire representing different kinds of music. Aside from this, the UST Singers is also a show choir highlighted by soloists and piano accompaniment that I have been usually doing. Needless to say, we sing my own arrangements and experiment a lot.

“I am blessed to have been given talented singers and members with varied but positive personalities. Perhaps the mix of singers that I always get sets us apart from other choirs. The sundry personalities, different voice qualities and assortment of talents create a distinctive kind of choir that is always a big challenge to a choir conductor.”

The big plus is that the choir conductor is also a composer and even dazzles as a piano accompanist in the Filipino medley.

Calalang is one of the prize winners in the choral writing contest Mga Awiting Bayan para sa Korong Pilipino of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts and the tCultural Center of the Philippines, where his choral arrangement was included in a newly published choral anthology book.

Calalang was also a member of the international jury in the International Competition for Academic Choirs in Pardubice, Czech Republic, in 2006 and last year. He was also a member of the international panel of judges at the First National Choral Competition for Welsh Choirs COR CYMRU in Wales, Unites Kingdom, in 2003, which was televised by S4C television UK.

Birth pains

Calalang recalls the birth pains of the UST choir: “A year after the choir’s inception, we courageously took on a big move of touring Europe. We braved the international competition arena without enough exposure and experience even on Philippine stage. Naturally, the difficulties of planning for a tour and most especially financing it tested our endurance as a choir.

“We only relied on our faith in God and our instincts and sense of unity to make us strong and surpass all the trials. It was very difficult aiming for international recognition as a beginner. Nevertheless, we ended up winning 2nd and 3rd prizes in Harmonie International Competition in Lindenholzhausen, Germany and Llangollen Musical Eisteddfod in Wales, UK.

“Our vision brought us to greater heights as we won the Choir of the World grand prize together with four first prizes when we came back to Llangollen in 1995 and years after, was followed by a long line of awards and recognitions from international choral competitions up to the present.

“Directing the choir is not simply directing the music but making its participants appreciate and love what they are doing. To see a chorister develop into a fine and dedicated soloist and ending up fulfilled as a professional instill a certain pride in the conductor.

“The job of a conductor extends far and wide in the periphery of music. He must also be a father-and-brother figure who must inspire commitment to music and music-making. That aspect is more fulfilling.”

Birthday Greetings!

2009-05-19T19:38:00.004+08:00

Doc Reggie Queturas

Marie Alethea Ysabel " Maybel " Adriano

The Superb UST SINGERS

2009-05-17T10:33:00.003+08:00

excerpt from Sundry Strokes,"The Superb UST Singers/Binay presents concert/Vapni opens photo show", Philippine Star
Ms. Rosalinda Orosa
6 May 2009

Upon the invitation of UST Conservatory Dean and piano virtuoso Raul Sunico, I attended the UST Singers’ concert under the direction of conductor-pianist-arranger Fidel G. Calalang Jr. Winner of 45 international awards, including the title “Choir of the World” garnered in Wales, UK, the group is scheduled to leave May 7 on its 17th world tour to vie for further honors in the US and Mexico (brave souls!).

At the concert held in the residence of Guia Gomez, the choir rightly invoked God’s blessing, opening with “The Lord’s Prayer.” Followed a Bach motet, the native songs Mag Tanim Hindi Biro, Dandansoy and Waray Waray — all arranged by Calalang — Spanish love songs including Eres Tu, a Cuban love song, a spiritual, Broadway hits and a devastating, climactic medley consisting of excerpts from Bizet’s Carmen, Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, Strauss’ ‘The Beautiful Blue Danube,” among others.

Under the masterful direction of Calalang, the singers wholly justified their international awards. Totally disciplined, inspired and responsive to Calalang’s cueing, the choir cohesively conveyed the softest pianissimos swelling to tremendous fortissimos which nearly shattered the glass panes of the living room. With consistently clear diction and the subtlest, most sensitive nuances, the group differentiated styles, one from every other. Emotions ranged from sadness, surprise, gladness, disappointment, grief, to ecstatic joy.

Imaginative, clever and inventive, Calalang made his many arrangements arresting and fascinating. Whenever he played the piano to assist the singers — these sang throughout without scores! — his infectious zest, vigor and spirit were duly captured and expressed by them.

The soloists — a baritone, tenor and two sopranos — were outstanding.

How movement and dance added charm to the songs!

We nurture the hope that despite the rigors and stresses the singers will inevitably experience in the various competitions abroad, the richly gifted Calalang will lead them to garner top honors again, returning home as always as the country’s pride.

Concert sponsor was the Foundation for Filipino Artists headed by Jul Dizon, with Willie Soliven and Sessy Garcia among its members.

Birthday!

2009-05-17T07:28:00.004+08:00

Happy birthday dear May Anne Abeleda (Soprano 2)!

Aloha!

2009-05-09T03:50:00.010+08:00

Our singers have arrived safely in Hawaii.

For your support and prayers for the choir's safe flight to

the States, we'd like to say

M A H A L O !

The Singers with the City and County of Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann

Welcome to Hawaii!

Brief stopover in Taipei

Happy Birthday!

2009-05-01T14:52:00.002+08:00

Happy day, dear Ron Bautista! :-)

Zum Geburtstag!

2009-04-25T20:07:00.004+08:00

Alles gute, Anezka April Alvarez!

(Alto 1, Batch 2001 to 2004)

Birthday Greetings!

2009-04-25T20:02:00.001+08:00

Belated happy birthday Irene Quiso-Ednave!

Zum Geburtstag!

2009-04-22T12:41:00.002+08:00

Belated birthday greetings to our dear Noel Azcona!

16th International Concert Tour 2009

2009-04-17T22:54:00.019+08:00

"American Encore"

May 7 - 13

Honolulu, Hawaii

May 13 - 20
Rancho Cucamonga, California

May 20 - 25
Las Vegas, Nevada

May 25 - June 2
Portland, Oregon

June 2 - 9
Seattle, Washington

June 9 - 13
Virginia Beach, Virginia

June 13 - 18
New York, New York

June 18 - 22
Los Angeles, California

June 22 - 25
Los Osos, California

June 25 - 29
San Luis Obispo, California

June 29 - July 7
San Francisco Bay Area, California

July 7 - 18
Puebla, Mexico

July 18 - 20
Huntington Beach, California

July 20
Return to Manila

Gerodias, Calalang:Rare Distinctions

2009-04-06T08:44:00.003+08:00

Sundry Strokes, Philippine Star
by Rosalinda Orosa
1 April 2009

A press release titled “A Night of Angelic Voices” and sent to various dailies, announced a concert featuring leading soprano Rachelle Gerodias and leading UST Singers choir conducted by Fidel G. Calalang, Jr.

The title was fully deserved; indeed, the audience heard “angelic voices”; however, it likewise heard uniquely terrestial but similarly striking and impressive voices.

The immensely gifted Gerodias keeps expanding her repertoire, and to her latest program, she added songs not rendered before her European debut as Liu in Puccini’s Turandot at Vienna’s Volksoper last April, and before the 2009 New Year Concert she opened as Sarajevo Philharmonic soloist at Sarajevo’s National Theater.

The diverse songs at the recent concert amply demonstrated how her supreme artistry, sensitivity and discipline arrested attention.

Interpreting Handel’s Piangero from his opera Giulio Cesare, three Italian songs by Stefano Donaudy, lied by Schumann, arias from Puccini’s La Boheme and Donezetti’s Don Pasquale, as well as native songs, Gerodias exhibited a magnificently rich voice of wide range and striking color, and as usual, a superb control of dynamics.

“Hello, Hello” from Menotti’s one-act comic opera The Telephone caused hearty laughter and considerable amusement. The opera tells of a young swain who tries to propose to his sweetheart, only to be repeatedly frustrated by the ringing of the telephone. Desperate, he rushes to the corner drugstore to propose to his girl — by telephone!

Music and text, song and drama are tightly interwoven, and Gerodias’ startling histrionics combined with her vocal skill proved her an enormously talented actress.

The opening aria from Handel’s opera obviously added expressiveness to the conventional Italian form. The audience revelled in Schumann’s lied, including the familiar Widmung (Dedication), the composer nearly matching Schubert’s lyricism.

Filipino composers have a musical idiom all their own, and Gerodias communicated, through exquisitely melodious passages rendered with rare eloquence the sentiment, tenderness, passion and ecstasy in Pena’s Iyo Kailan Pa Man and Abelardo’s Kundiman ng Luha, as well as the rustic joy of Velez’s Sa Kabukiran embellished with pyrotechnical flourishes.

Pianist Najib Ismail was the remarkable assisting artist.

The UST Singers under the incomparable, versatile Calalang — choral conductor, pianist, composer, arranger and pedagogue — fascinated and startled listeners by turning every song — yes, every single one — into a feat. A tour de force. The performance was characterized by the tightest cohesiveness, total clarity of diction, beautiful phrasing, disciplined, controlled dynamics and precision — even in the clapping of hands and stamping of feet.

These qualities were reflected throughout. For instance, take clarity of diction which enhanced and augmented listening pleasure. In Eres Tu, arranged by Ed Nepomuceno, one could decipher every word; e.g., Eres tu el agua de mi fuente. (You are the water of my fountain.)

“Numeration” by Jonas Tamulionis (b. 1949) sounded like a continuous recitative of weird, strange words in varying registers and volumes, the choir’s vivid, vigorous, exuberant delivery producing a riveting, magnetic incantation. How the spiritual “Down by the Riverside” radiated a profound, reverential air!

Magtanim Ay Di Biro and Ikaw Kasi — the choir dancing in pairs in the latter — and Talusaling Polka were clever, imaginative arrangements by Calalang. Even when he accompanied the singers on the piano, their cohesiveness and precision were not impaired.

The UST Singers, once described in South Wales as “Choir of the World” certainly lived up to the glowing praise.

The concert, which pointed up the rare distinctions of Gerodias and Calalang’s UST Singers, was held at the LRT Design Plaza, a most elegant venue.

Cum Laude!

2009-04-06T08:09:00.010+08:00

Our very own Gideon Agaton, Jr. graduates from UST with a degree in

MA Public Administration, Cum Laude!

He is also a recipient of the Loyalty Award.

With his family

At his grad party with the UST Singers

Giddy, we would like to congratulate you once again

and take this opportunity to say, we are so PROUD of you!

*photos grabbed from Josh de Leon's multiply

A Night of Angelic Voices

2009-03-30T21:27:00.009+08:00

On the occasion of LRI Design Plaza's 5th anniversary, it staged an invitational concert for its patrons, clients, designers and architects. "A Night of Angelic Voices" featured the University of Santo Tomas Singers, Soprano Rachelle Gerodias and Pianist Najib Ismail.

The dynamic voices of the choir and the equally virtuoso performance of Ms. Gerodias and Mr. Ismail resonated in the Art Pavillion of the LRI, providing much delight to its responsive audience.

To highlight and cap the evening, Ms. Gerodias and the UST Singers sang "Ano Kaya ang Kapalaran" arranged by Fidel Gener Calalang Jr. and "Auld Lang Syne" arranged by Hubertus Weimer.

Andre's Recital

2009-03-27T08:50:00.005+08:00

Marc Andre Reyes had his graduation recital on Monday at the Recital Hall 1 of the UST Conservatory of Music. Under the tutelage of Eugene de los Santos, he graduates with a degree in Music Education, with emphasis in Voice. Congratulations, you made us proud!

Congratulations!

2009-03-21T10:57:00.006+08:00

We are very proud of these beautiful ladies for finishing their graduation recital yesterday at the UST Museum. Congratulations for a job well done!

Melina Mariano (Music Ed), student of Ms. Gloria Koronel

Ferry Medina (Voice), student of Ms. Rachelle Gerodias

Happy Birthday Leigh!

2009-03-21T10:49:00.001+08:00

Happy Birthday Fonzy!

2009-03-21T10:21:00.003+08:00

March Birthdays!

2009-03-18T07:56:00.005+08:00

Zum Geburtstag Joan Cano (March 4)

and

Kim Tero (March 17)!

*photos from Joan's Multiply

Happy birthday Mylah! We miss you!

2009-03-13T10:16:00.001+08:00

Mylah - Ann T. Combo

Review: Lee, UST Singers: Dynamic!/The Voice of Leadership by Rosalinda Orosa, Philippine Star, Feb. 7, 2009

2009-02-08T09:18:00.006+08:00

The University of Sto. Tomas, which will mark its 400th year in 2011, had its conservatory, headed by Dean Raul Sunico, presenting a fascinating concert at the CCP main theater. Featured were the UST Symphony Orchestra under the eminent international Korean conductor Jae-Joon Lee and the world-acclaimed UST Singers under conductor Fidel Calalang Jr.

With Lee wielding the baton, the opening Egmont Overture by Beethoven crystallized the heroic fight of the Flemish army, led by Count Egmont, against the Spaniards as Goethe depicts in a play. The dramatic piece was given a sweeping riveting rendition, concluding with an electrifying performance by the brasses. An orchestra is only as good as its conductor, it has been observed. Under the remarkably dynamic Lee, the UST Symphony Orchestra, consisting predominantly of students with a sprinkling of alumni, outdid itself, demonstrating the strictest discipline in the solid, cohesive and expressive quality of its tones.

In the succeeding number, focus was on the UST Singers, the choral group which romped off, under Calalang, with some of the most prestigious international awards: the “Choir of the World” Grand Prize along with four first prizes at the Llangollen International Music Festival in Wales, UK; the Gran Premio “Citta di Gorizia” and four first prizes in Gorizia, Italy, and the Grand Prize in the Tonen International competition in Monster, Netherlands, along with three First Prizes and the Best Conductor Prize for Prof. Calalang.

Expectedly, the 40-member mixed choir lived up to its distinctions in Karl Jenkins’ profoundly moving Requiem which was interpreted through an interesting combination of strings, percussions and a Japanese flute. The composer, with audacious originality and imagination, employed Oriental (primarily Japanese) elements which created a unique spiritual air as the choir intoned the Introit, Dies Irae, Rex tremendae, Confutatis, Lacrimosa, Pie Jesu, Lux aeterna and In Paradisum, singing in vigorous, zestful, greatly urgent voices (Dies Irae); in long, smoothly sustained high notes (Confutatis) or a cappella. Only the women sang in mournful, lambent manner in one brief section, with orchestra and choir finishing Requiem with the glorious, rousing climactic In Paradisum.

The choir exhibited clarity of diction, tonal richness and balance, beauty of phrasing, being alternately passionate or gentle in its appeal. The soloists were Naomi Sison and Thea Perez Prosia, the latter leaving the more vivid impression.

Conductor Lee’s tremendous dynamism shone again in Dvorak’s Symphony No. 9 in E Minor (New World). With energetic thrusts of the baton, Lee brought the substance of the music to the fore, brasses and woodwinds, strings and percussions eloquently etching its various descriptive elements, both old (Dvorak’s own) and new (America).

The concert, immensely gratifying, had offered the best from two of the UST Conservatory’s departments: the orchestral and the vocal.

Happy Birthday Sir Fidel!

2009-02-01T12:13:00.001+08:00

WE LOVE YOU SIR FIDEL!

Karl Jenkins' REQUIEM Concert, Jan. 24, 2009, CCP Main Theater with the UST Symphony Orchestra

2009-01-29T18:29:00.006+08:00

"Polyfollia" International Festival of Choral Singing 2008

2008-12-14T12:52:00.009+08:00

When in Rome

2008-11-28T18:52:00.006+08:00

Euro Tour 2008

2008-11-13T22:47:00.008+08:00

BEYOND DREAMS: Review # 2

2008-10-26T13:54:00.002+08:00

UST Singers: Awesome!
SUNDRY STROKES By Rosalinda L. Orosa
Saturday, October 25, 2008

The UST Singers’ “Beyond Dreams” farewell concert went way beyond expectations. Conductor-pianist-arranger Fidel Calalang Jr., who organized the UST Singers in 1992 through challenges and contretemps, has produced a virtuoso choir. Its rendition of the widely diverse program — not “repertoire”, a word meaning the entire list of songs a group can render at any given time — proved this.

The concert was performed without scores, thus enabling the singers to focus and concentrate on phrasing, accents, nuances, tonal color, expression and dynamics. Singing sans scores 23 numbers, including a medley and discounting two encores, was in itself a feat.

In the opening sacred songs which included a spiritual, the 26-member mixed choir conveyed remarkable qualities which were to characterize the whole performance. There was cohesiveness throughout — in very long, sustained pianissimo lines resembling the faintest whisper receding ever-so-slowly and dying out, or gradually reaching thunderous fortissimos which, ending in abrupt, arresting stops — at the wave of the conductor’s hand — would leave the audience breathless.

Calalang’s conversance with so many types of songs, the widest latitude implying considerable study and research, was evident. Ranging from Renaissance to contemporary — sacred, folk, a spiritual, a madrigal, Broadway tunes, motets, ballads — the selections were of Spanish, Cuban, French, Russian, American, Lithuanian, African origin.

Conducting with an economy of movement while demonstrating total command and authority, Calalang accompanied the choir on the piano after the spiritual, and the singers, every so often, would engage in hand-clapping, finger-snapping and feet-stamping in perfect unison. The native songs, e.g., Magtanim Ay Di Biro, Dandansoy, Talusaling Polka, Ikaw Kasi — all arranged by Calalang — sounded fresh and vibrant. The modern numbers, especially the Broadway medley, were infused with that git-up-and-go, infectious spirit. Admirably, the songs were stylistically distinguished from each other, and the soloists, judiciously chosen, were outstanding, particularly baritone Noel Azcona.

Midway through the concert, the pert and pretty Jamie Rivera provided special entertainment, rendering two popular songs and wending her way into the hearts of her listeners. In her terrific comedy act, she mimicked Ate Vi, Ate Guy and Kris, while sending the audience rolling in the aisles.

To return to the UST Singers and Calalang who had returned to the podium. The costumes were tasteful and elegant. The choreography — did Calalang have a hand in it? — wonderfully enhanced the contemporary songs, showing the choir’s versatility to a considerable degree as it danced with grace and gusto, often striking amusing poses.

Yet, fine taste and restraint predominated, and in the smooth, polished melding of voices, no section surfaced to obtrude or outshine any other.

The UST Singers have received the most prestigious prizes in international festivals. In Tolosa, Spain, they won the “Premio del Mundo” (Prize of the World); in Wales, they earned the title “Choir of the World”. Expected to garner raves in France and Spain, the choir has performed in England, Scotland, Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Monaco, Denmark, Italy, France and Belgium where it earned glowing praise through its tours.

All this despite the unrelenting challenge Calalang faces. As choir members graduate and disperse, he has to organize an entirely new group all over again. Yet, with unending rehearsals and rigorous coaching, Calalang invariably comes up with an excellent, totally disciplined ensemble.

At the Philamlife concert, members of the rapturously applauding audience were predominantly from the UST and, therefore, presumably biased in favor of the choir. However, this reviewer is from the UP and thus objectively appraises the choir whose tour de force and vocal pyrotechnics under its conductor merit superlatives like “awesome”.

Liela S. Salgado and Claude Despalibaderas were the lively emcees. Giving Calalang and the choir moral support by their presence were officers of the UST College of Education Alumni Association and Alumni Foundation: Clotilde N. Arcangel, Evelyn A. Songco, Laura Suarez Acuzar, Fe Aldave Yap, Emma Ruivivar-Yeung and Rechilda Lumauing-Uy.

"Beyond Dreams" Review

2008-10-20T08:29:00.004+08:00

Hello everyone!

Yesterday was a music-filled day for me and my youngest sister, Teda. At the first, we sang at Mass and during a special program for the birthday celebration of one of our younger church musicians' 40th birthday. The night before I was bewailing the fact that here I am at my "advanced" age (there are only two of us in our 50s in the combined choirs that sang yesterday - average age: late 30s) still memorizing new songs (for me!) that are so differently arranged from each other! Haha!

BUT the REAL reason I write you today is about the second music event Teda and I watched: "Beyond Dreams" - the farewell concert of the UST Singers 2008. We nearly didn't get to Philamlife Auditorium on time because the first event ended at 5PM while USTS' was slated for 6PM.

We are VERY GLAD we arrived just before the concert began, thus hearing the entire concert repertoire as well as two encore numbers.

= = = = =
There are several young and outstanding Philippine choral conductors today whose concerts I enjoy listening to; yet each of their choirs have their distinct sounds, honed by the musicality of their conductors: Fidel of USTS, Jojo of ACS, Ed of SA, and Mark of Madz. Admittedly I am partial to the first two for the simple reason that once upon a time, we were together in Saringhimig and Camerata Singers. But more than that, I have seen both Jojo and Fidel developed into their own as choral conductors, Jojo from the bass he was in the 1980 tour group and Fidel from the tenor he was in the 1983-1984 tour.

Since Jojo and ACS are there now in the States concertizing, let me dwell more on the USTS, and their concert last night. The excellent rendition of their first two songs set the mood for the entire evening, although I liked their second song better, Justorum Animae (C. Stanford). The Magnificat (Rene Clausen) was so beautiful I wish that were the one song sang during Mary's feasts. I have never heard Numerations (Jonas Tamulionis) till last night and all I wrote in my program was "!" So breathtaking!

You remember, George, how you always wanted us to sing "Il Bianco E Dolce Cigno" as quietly and controlled as possible - well, Fidel chose just 16 of his best singers, and the sound that came forth (while they were scattered in one semicircle onstage) was so light and limpid yet with each word clearly articulated, never disturbing the interweaving lines.

Fidel's re-arrangement of the classic Dandansoy was just perfect! But it is his Scenes from the North that I really appreciated. You see, late last year he as a judge along with other choral conductors, the 2007 Himig Tomasino. This song was the contest piece and I remember all of us asked Fidel what he was thinking, making amateur choirs try to sing such a complicated piece. And we enjoyed READING the score while listening to each choir struggling to interpret it.

Well, last night I finally heard how he wanted it sung. Each part just flowed into the other so that by the time Chua-ay was heard, the audience just about expected anything else familiar coming out of that "impressive feat of harmonies and rhythms." There is something always magical that is heard whenever we hear a Calalang-arranged folk song. I wonder where Fidel gets all those modulations, shifts of mood, sharp yet never edged “panggulat” sections that jolt the audience after lulling everyone to harmonies that somehow jell after all the dissonances.

One would think that that was that until the next song, Une Vie D'amour. Ah, lovely! The two soloists did justice to the song: Viola's words were very clear and the tenor's voice unusually full although the words not as articulate as the soprano. I also have never heard this song, yet again the Fidel touch could be felt throughout the piece.

By the end of the first part, I was telling Teda: "Ayoko na mag-conduct ng choir! Makinig na lang ako kina Fidel at mga iba pang magagaling na choirs!" And Teda laughed! (She knows my own frustrations.) Such talent - both singers and conductor!

Part Two was refreshingly so contemporary sounding - all the students around us in the auditorium especially those in the back part, who were evidently also singers/choristers themselves, were singing along. I liked ALL the songs. My program is littered with comments like "Kakaiba!!!," (for the entire part) "What a show!" (for Allegro Broadway) "Bravo" (for New Music whose soloist was very good!) and disciplined sound, shifts from forte to piano accomplished with so much finesse (for Anyone Can Whistle whose soloist was sooo cool). I couldn't get enough of this section, either.

One would think that the two encore numbers would be easy choral pieces. Well, I have noticed that Fidel's and USTS' encore numbers are concert pieces in themselves. The medley of well-known instrumental themes elicited good-natured chuckles and outright laughter from our section of the auditorium when we realized and identified what theme was being played. And Fidel's re-arrangement of the Circle of Life was again - fantastic!

Another thing I noticed was the audience behavior last night. Where in the past, students would be shrieking names of their friends in the choir (especially in the earlier years of USTS), last night the young audience was quiet until the very end of each piece. A moment of hushed stillness... then applause, many times riotous and boisterous. The USTS have also trained their audience how to behave during concerts!

I can't end this unusually long review without stressing just one fact. The secret of UST Singers enduringly excellent presence on the choral stage both here and abroad is Fidel himself. He continually outdoes himself and hence brings his choir even beyond what they, and those of their audience who hear them year after year, know they can do.

As I commented earlier, I do not know where all the sounds, harmonies, rhythms and modulations come from except that they do come from inside this exceptionally talented person we know as Fidel.

The UST Singers Tour Group of 2008 may be composed of many new members (yes, there may be heard some raw sound occasionally from some voices) but overall, what comes out from them continues, and improves upon, the musically intelligent and breathtakingly beautiful choral sound the choir is already known for.

Thank you for such a lovely evening!
Congratulations and Bon Voyage, Fidel and the 2008 UST Singers!
= = = = =

Warmest regards to all!
Charo

Ma. Rosario K. Garcia
October 19, 2008

15th International Concert Tour Part II

2008-10-11T22:37:00.015+08:00

October 18, 6PM
"Beyond Dreams"
Farewell Concert
Philamlife Auditorium
UN Ave., Manila

October 23 - Manila - Frankfurt

GERMANY
October 24 – 28 Hilchenbach

October 25
Mass: 5:15 PM
Concert: 7 PM
Sankt Marien Kirche,
Siegen
Concert with Ensemble Cantemus

October 26
Mass: 11 AM
Concert: 7 PM
St.Augustinus Katholische Kirche Dahlbruch

FRANCE
October 28 – November 3 Saint Lo, Manche , Basse –Normandie

October 29
Concert: 8:30 PM
Bretteville Sur Laize
Eglise
Tarifs : 10€ et 6€
Rés. : 02 31 23 50 02

October 31
Concert: 8:30 PM
Eglise Sainte-Croix –
Gala Concert with Ludus Modalis, Voces Nordicæ

November 1
Concert: 9 PM
Theatre Roger Ferdinand
rue Octave Feuillet
Saint-Lô

November 2
Concert: 3 PM
Chapelle de l'Institut d'Agneaux

November 3 – 6 Paris
November 5
Mass: 7:30 PM
Concert: 8:30 PM
St. Bernadette Chapel
20, rue Claude Lorrain
75016, Paris

BELGIUM
November 6 – 10 Antwerp / Westmalla
November 7

Concert: 8PM
St. Martinuskerk
Kastellaan, (West) Malle
Antwerpen

November 9

Concert: 3 PM
St. Franciscus Church
547 Bredabaan, Merksem
Antwerp

GERMANY
November 10 – 13 Hannover

November 11
Concert: 7 PM
St.Christophorus Church, Moosbergstr. 4a
Hannover-Stöcken

November 12
Concert: 7PM
Melanchthonkirche
Hannover-Bult

November 13 - 15 Kassel
November 13
Concert: 8 PM
Elisabeth Church
Frederick Platz
Kassel
Admission: €15,-

November 15 - 19 Berlin
November 16:
Mass: 10 AM
Freie Evangelische Gemeinde Berlin-Moabit
Stephanstr. 44
10559 Berlin

Mass: 3:30 PM
Holy Ghost Filipino Community (Heilig-Geist-Kirche)
Bayernallee 28
14052 Berlin-Charlottenburg
(S Heerstraße, U Neu-Westend)

Concert: 6 PM
Heilige-Geist-Kirche,
Perleberger Straße 36,
10559 Berlin

November 19 - 21 Erfurt
November 19
Concert: 11 AM
Philippine Consulate Gotha
Am Nüleber Feld 2
99867 Gotha

Concert: 7 PM
Herz-Jesu Katholische Kirche
Paul-Schneider-Str. 1
Weimar

November 20
Concert: 6 PM
Rathaus
Kornmarkt 12
07545 Gera

November 21 – 25 Hilchenbach
November 21
Concert: 7:30 PM
Mutterhaus der Franziskanerinnen in Olpe
Gemeinnützige Gesellschaft der Franziskanerinnen zu Olpe mbH (GFO)
Maria-Theresia-Str. 30a
57462 Olpe

November 22
Concert: 7:30 PM
Concert Camerata Vocale Siegen-Wittgenstein
Katholische Kirche
Bad Laasphe

November 23
Concert: 7 PM
Concert "Liederkranz" Kirchen
Evangelische Kirche
Betzdorf

November 24
Concert: 7:30 PM
Weinachts/Abschiedskonzert
Concert with the Youth Choir “Liederkranz” Hilchenbach
Evangelische Kirche
Hilchenbach

ITALY
November 25 - 27 ROME
November 26
Papal Audience: 8 AM
Vatican

November 27 – 29 VENICE / SACILE
November 28
Concert: 8:30 PM
Chiesa Parrochiale
Francenigo

November 30 Frankfurt - Hong Kong

HONG KONG, CHINA
December 1 - 6
December 3
Disneyland Visit

December 6 - Hong Kong - Manila

Happy Birthday Lyz!

2008-09-29T21:33:00.004+08:00

Lyzandra "Lyz" Fernan

Soprano 1 (Batch 2003 to 2005)

Belated Birthday Greetings!

2008-09-29T19:57:00.008+08:00

Christianne Joy "Chichan" del Rosario

Alto 2 (Batch 2001 to 2006)

German Mendoza, Jr.

Tenor 2 (Batch 1993, 2001 to 2003)

Florelei "Flor" Ordanez

Alto 2 (Batch 1998 to 2007)

Palau de la Musica de Valencia Concert!

2008-09-22T21:31:00.003+08:00

Hasta pronto Valencia!

2008-09-22T19:04:00.005+08:00

Valencia "Espuma (Foam) Fiesta 2008"

2008-09-17T20:11:00.003+08:00

Carrion de los Condes, Spain

2008-09-14T16:48:00.003+08:00

The UST Singers visited the birthplace of Fr. Miguel de Benavides O.P., founder of the University of Santo Tomas and the first Archbishop of Manila.

Tiempo Para Diversión en Barcelona

2008-09-10T17:44:00.003+08:00

Hasta luego Barcelona!

2008-09-06T14:40:00.001+08:00

Tengo Hambre...

2008-09-05T22:18:00.004+08:00

Balita, balita

2008-09-05T21:59:00.006+08:00

The dailies featured the Choir's courtesy call on

Pais Vasco President, Juan José Ibarretxe.

Birthdays!

2008-09-05T21:48:00.003+08:00

Happy Birthday Karen Stephanie "Pinky" Arriola

and

belated Happy Birthday to Marc Andrei Reyes!

Barcelona Concerts

2008-09-04T21:26:00.002+08:00

UST Singers wow audiences in Spain!

2008-09-04T07:27:00.007+08:00

We're in Yahoo! See article below, for the link, click here.

Related articles in the following sites:

GMA News.iTV here

ABS-CBN News Online here

Department of Foreign Affairs, Philippines here

MANILA, Philippines - The multi-awarded University of Santo Tomas Singers choir wowed audiences in Spain as part of their participation in the XXIX Festival International de Cant Coral Catalunya.

A statement on the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) website Sunday said the choir sang at the Eglesya de Sant Ramon de Penyafort in Barcelona last Aug. 24.

"Led by their energetic conductor, Mr. Fidel Gener Calalang Jr., they enthralled the audience with the beautiful rendition of their broad repertoire, which included Gospel songs, Filipino songs, Spanish folk songs (sung in Castilian, Gallego and Basque) and Latin American songs like Eres Tú and Guantanamera, and Broadway songs," it said.

It said they received a standing ovation for their Broadway portion and their surprise number, a Catalan folk song "El Rossinyol (The Nightingale)."

Consul General Eduardo Jose de Vega and the staff of the Philippine Consulate General extended to the group their moral support and congratulated them on their superb performance.

The Spanish audience also lined up afterwards to congratulate them and purchase their CDs, the DFA said.

The UST Singers also sang at the Philippine Pavilion at the World Expo in Zaragoza before coming to Barcelona.

Likewise, they were to perform at the Shrine of Our Lady of Montserrat and will open the XXIX Festival International de Cant Coral Catalunya in Castellbell i El Vilar.

What's up, UST Singers?

2008-09-03T19:29:00.015+08:00

Havin' a good time ofcourse :-) More pics in next posts and here.

Hola España!

2008-08-22T18:39:00.006+08:00

We finally arrived in Spain on Tuesday. It felt so good to be back in Europe! Sorry for not giving you updates soonest as we have been busy with our three-day stint in Zaragoza, but we had a lot of fun!
We performed thrice at the Philippine Pavillion, Zaragoza World Expo 2008. We even had the chance to perform before Her Royal Highness Princess Ubolratana Rajakanya of Thailand! On Wednesday, we had our first concert at the Iglesia dela Exaltacion de Sta. Cruz in the heart of Zaragoza. We were greeted by a very responsive audience and was rewarded ovations for our all-acapella performance at the Opus Dei Church. In fact, we were extended an invitation to perform at the Santuario de Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles de Torreciudad - the biggest Opus Dei Church in Spain!

Pictures and links to articles about our performances in Zaragoza in our next post. We are now in San Quirze, we´re staying with host families for nine days and tomorrow, we tour Barcelona! Que exciting :-)

Incheon Airport - Seoul, Korea

2008-08-18T04:25:00.006+08:00

Dear UST Singers,

Just landed at Incheon Airport and it's raining so hard just like in 'Pinas. So excited to have joined the group again, it could've been more fun if we were able to travel together via QA. So, see you in Madrid! I will leave Korea in 7 hours! waaaahh! Thank God for free internet!

Hasta Luego!
Mylah

Happy Birthday Jessie!

2008-08-15T10:16:00.002+08:00

Happy Birthday Jessie Louie Singh

Zaragoza Concerts

2008-08-14T06:29:00.008+08:00

August 19, 4 PM and 9 PM
Philippine Pavillion
Pavillion 16
Expo Zaragoza 2008

August 20, 11:30 AM
Philippine Pavillion
Pavillion 16
Expo Zaragoza 2008

August 20, 9:30 PM
Zaragoza Concert

XXIX FESTIVAL INTERNATIONAL DE CANT CORAL CATALUNYA

2008-08-14T06:20:00.010+08:00

Agust 23, 9PM
Concert
Avia

August 24, 9 PM

Concert
Eglesya de Sant Ramon de Penyafort

Rambla Catalunya, 115

Barcelona

August 26, 12:40 PM
Performance
Shrine of Our Lady of Montserrat
Montserrat

August 26, 9:30 PM
Opening Concert
XXIX Festival International de Cant Coral Catalunya
Teatre Bures
Castellbell I El Vilar

August 27, 9:30 PM
Opening Concert
XXIX Festival International de Cant Coral Catalunya
Pavello d’Esports
Puig – Reig

August 28, 9 PM
Concert
Patronal
Sant Quirze del Valles

Tick-tock!

2008-08-11T23:22:00.004+08:00

We leave for Spain in six days! :-D

X JORNADAS INTERNACIONALES DE MUSICA CORAL "Caja de Burgos"

2008-08-10T10:37:00.012+08:00

PROGRAMA DE CONCIERTOS

UST Singers, FILIPINAS

September 6, 7PM

Catedral de Valladolid
Valladolid

September 7, 8PM

Centro Cultural Caja de Burgos

Villarcayo

September 8, 8:30 PM

Palencia

September 9, 6:30 PM

Centro Cultural Caja de Burgos
Aranda de Duero

September 10, 8PM

Centro Cultural Caja de Burgos
Burgos

27. SEMANA CORAL INTERNACIONAL DE ALAVA 2008

2008-08-10T10:28:00.007+08:00

PROGRAMA DE CONCIERTOS

UST Singers, FILIPINAS

Viernes, 29 de Agosto
20.30 horas: Zurbano

Sábado, 30 de Agosto
13.00 horas: Urbina

20.30 horas: Uletxabarri-Urtupiña

Domingo, 31 de Agosto
13.00 horas: Pobes

Lunes, 1 de Septiembre
20.30 horas: Murgia

Martes, 2 de Septiembre
20.30 horas: Llodio-Laudio

Miércoles, 3 de Septiembre
20.30 horas: Salvatierra-Agurain

Jueves, 4 de Septiembre
20.30 horas: Amurrio

Viernes, 5 de Septiembre
19.30 horas: Teatro Principal de Vitoria

Concierto Final de todos los coros
participantes y entrega del “Celedón de oro”.

Happy Birthday Jojie!

2008-08-06T05:22:00.003+08:00

Zum Geburtstag Joshua Jenaro "Jojie" Marifosque Badilla!

Zum Geburtstag Viola!

2008-08-05T02:45:00.002+08:00

Happy Birthday Maria Viola L. Villena!

TOTAL Awards

2008-08-03T22:38:00.015+08:00

We sang at the 2008 TOTAL (The Outstanding Thomasian ALumni) Awards held at the Seminary Gym in UST.

The TOTAL Award is the highest honor bestowed annualy by UST and USTAAI (UST Alumni Association, Inc.) upon the alumni in recognition of their significant and exemplary contributions in various fields of specialization and endeavors. In 2002, Sir Fidel was given the TOTAL Award for the Performing Arts.

With Ms. Gloria Koronel (this year's TOTAL Awardee for the Performing Arts) and Dean Raul Sunico (from the Conservatory of Music)

Jeanra, Melina and Fonzy at the event photo op wall

Having fun before the performance

Happy Birthday Giddy!

2008-08-03T08:32:00.002+08:00

Gideon Agaton Jr. (Bass 1, batch 2002 - 2006)

Happy Birthday Allan!

2008-08-01T09:01:00.004+08:00

Zum Geburtstag Allan D. Sims!

(Bass 2, batch 1999-2004)

Scenes from yesterday

2008-07-28T22:16:00.007+08:00

Getting ready

Sir Fidel

Waiting for our turn to sing

Happy Birthday Jomar!

Idaho International Choral Festival Multimedia

2008-07-28T09:47:00.001+08:00

Feliz Cumpleanio Jomar!

2008-07-27T11:25:00.005+08:00

Happy Birthday Jomar!
(Tenor 1, batch 1997 - 2003)

15th International Concert Tour 2008 (Part 1)

2008-07-27T02:36:00.021+08:00

SPAIN

August 18 - Departure Manila

August 18 - 21 Expo Zaragoza

August 21 - 28 Sant Quirze del Valles

Barcelona

Castelbell i el Vilar

Puig - Reig

August 28 - September 5 - Semana Coral Internacional de Alava

September 5 - September 10 - Jornadas Internacionales de Canto Coral "Caja de Burgos"; Burgos

September 10 - 12 - Carrion de Los Condes, Palencia

September 12 - 21 - Valencia
September 21 - Departure to Manila

15th International Concert Tour 2008 (Part 2)

2008-07-27T01:56:00.008+08:00

GERMANY

October 23 - Departure to Frankfurt

October 24 - 28 - Hilchenbach / Siegerland

FRANCE

October 28 - November 3 - Polyfollia International Festival of Choral Singing, Normandie http://www.polyfollia.org/

November 3 - 6 - Paris

BELGIUM

November 6 - 10 - Antwerp / Malle

GERMANY

November 10 - 13 - Hannover

November 13 - 15 - Kassel

November 15 - 19 - Berlin / Potsdam

Potsdam

November 19 - 21 - Erfurt

November 21 - 26 - Hilchenbach / Siegerland
November 26 - Departure to Hong Kong

HONG KONG, CHINA

November 27 - December 1 - Hong Kong

December 1 - Departure to Manila

Congratulations Jem!

2008-07-26T10:16:00.006+08:00

Jemeson M. Tiburan, RN

Jem passed the most recent Nursing boards...

where's the party?

Happy Birthday!

2008-07-25T14:12:00.002+08:00

Happiness be to you, dear Louisine Cynthia "Louie" Tan

(Alto 2, batch 2004-2006)!

Congratulations UST Singers Alumni (USA)!

2008-07-23T12:37:00.001+08:00

The UST Singers Alumni in America

Our US-based alumni made us proud at the recently concluded Idaho International Choral Festival. They were warmly received, thunderously applauded and given an ovation for the stellar performance they presented.

All nineteen members made time out of their busy schedule to attend rigorous rehearsals conducted by Allan Sims. Their goal was to have fun and live on with the tradition that is the UST Singers, and they did not disappoint! Congratulations!

More of them at the Idaho State Journal, http://journalnet.com/articles/2008/07/18/news/local/1.txt (take note that Joel's last name is "Baluyot" not "Baluiyot"). Below are pictures courtesy of Joan Cano.

Joan, Joel, Marcia, Weng

Clockwise: Judy, Larry, German, Kim, Joan and Joel in their UST Singers shirts from past tours

Soundcheck...lahaaat!

with the Romanian choir (some of the USTS met them in 1995 at Llangollen)

//mcombs

Philippine Choral Conductor Joins International Jury

2008-07-23T12:07:00.001+08:00

from the Philippine Daily Inquirer and Philippine Star

Prof. Fidel Gener Calalang, Jr. , multi-awarded Filipino composer and conductor of the University of Santo Tomas Singers, is part of the international jury of the 20th International Festival of Academic Choirs Competition (IFAS) on July 1-8, in Pardubice, Czech Republic.

The competition, held every two years, is the largest gathering of outstanding university and academic choirs all over the world. Calalang is joined by other members of the jury from Czech Repiblic, Russia, Slovakia, Poland and the USA.

Calalang heads the UST Conservatory of Music Conducting Department, where he is also a professor in piano. He is the founder and conductor of the UST Singers that has won over 45 top prizes from Choral Competitions around the world.

He has been named in the Marquis "Who's Who in the World 2009", which is ready for publication in the US this November.

This August he will lead the UST Singers to its 13th International Concert Tour dubbed as, "Festival Europe". Travelling over Spain and France, they will represent the Philippines in four international choral festivals in September and October, respectively.

Sir is back!

2008-07-21T03:29:00.001+08:00

...from a two-week European trip, having been chosen to be part of the Jury at the Internacionální Festival Akademických Sborů (International Festival of Academic Choirs) in Pardubice, Czech Republic (more of this in a separate post).

See pics taken at his welcome bash and at the meeting that happened shortly after, more at Pinky's multiply.

We missed you, Sir and it's really nice to have you back!

//mcombs

WELCOME BACK SIR FIDEL!!!!

2008-07-18T11:56:00.000+08:00

Zum Geburtstag!

2008-07-18T02:32:00.001+08:00

Happy birthday Vernie!
Belated Happy Birthday Rico, Jem
and Janice "Nice" Lim-Trinidad (Alto 2, batch 1997-2001)!

2008 European Concert Tour Entourage

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CONDUCTOR
Calalang Jr., Fidel G.

SOPRANOS
Abeleda, May Anne P.
Alano, Belinda Leigh V.
Bometivo, Jeanra S.
Escrupulo, Eunice A.
Kustandi, Florencia Marlia
Quiso, Irene V.
Ramos, Ma. Pilar Charlene V.
Villena, Maria Viola L.

ALTOS
Adriano, Maria Alethea Ysabel B.
Arriola, Karen Stephanie M.
Combo, Mylah Ann T.
Lapido, Maria Lucia M.
Mariano, Maria Melina G.
Mojica, Jaimie Rose O.

TENORS
Bautista, Ronald Allan G.
Gomez, Enrico L.
Mendoza, Juan Alfonso A.
Reyes, Marc Andrei B.
Tiburan, Jemeson M.

BASSES
Abando,Vernie Fernan P.
Azcona, Noel P.
Badilla, Joshua Jenaro M.
Balantucas, Marlo
Lacsa, Erwin M.
Tagalog, Roberto Gabriel B.
Singh, Jessie Louie N.
Villanueva, Anthony G.

The Choir's History

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The University of Santo Tomas Singers, founded in 1992, is the University’s premiere mixed choral ensemble composed of a select group of students and alumni representing the different colleges and faculties of the Pontifical and Royal University of Santo Tomas – the oldest university in Asia, under the baton of Prof. Fidel G. Calalang Jr.

In the course of 15 years in the international choral music scene with fourteen (14) concert tours that brought them to GERMANY, POLAND, SLOVENIA, CZECH REPUBLIC, HUNGARY, MONACO, AUSTRIA, the NETHERLANDS, BELGIUM, SWITZERLAND, DENMARK, ENGLAND, WALES, SCOTLAND, SPAIN, FRANCE, ANDORRA, BULGARIA, ITALY, MEXICO, CANADA, the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, TAIWAN, SINGAPORE, and SOUTH KOREA, the choir has achieved both national and international recognition as one of the top choirs in the world.

The UST Singers has put together a repertoire of exceptional interpretations that cover significant parts of the choral literature of the last five centuries, paving way to the group’s triumphs in various international choral competitions, particularly in Europe. Since 1993, the group has earned more than 45 top prizes in GORIZIA, ITALY; TOURS, FRANCE; TOLOSA, SPAIN; AREZZO, ITALY; LINDENHOLZHAUSEN and MILTENBERG, GERMANY; MIEDZYZDROJE, POLAND; SPITTAL, AUSTRIA; OLOMOUC, CZECH REPUBLIC, MONSTER, the NETHERLANDS and WALES, UNITED KINGDOM.

In 1995, the UST Singers triumphed at the 49th Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod in Wales, United Kingdom and won four (4) First Prizes including the CHOIR OF THE WORLD GRAND PRIZE. This event was undeniably a landmark in the history of the Eisteddfod, the oldest international choral competition in the world, as the UST Singers is the first and only Asian choir, to date, to attain such prestigious honor.

In 1998, the UST Singers garnered two (2) First Prizes and the Prix du Public at the 27th Florilege Vocal de Tours in Tours, France and the 1998 Gran Premio “Citta di Gorizia” together with four (4) first prizes at the 37th Concorso Internazionale di Canto Corale “C.A. Seghizzi” held in Gorizia, Italy. The choir bested 21 international entries which entitled the UST Singers to represent Gorizia to the 11th European Grand Prix for Choral Singing held at Varna, Bulgaria in May 1999.

In their 2001 Pacific Concert Tour, which covered Hawaii, California and Mexico, the UST Singers once again proved its world-class excellence as they were chosen the “BEST CHOIR” at the World Choral Festival 2001 in Puebla, Mexico which was participated by choirs from Argentina, Czech Republic, Austria, Slovenia, Slovakia, Venezuela, Mexico, Greece, Italy, Portugal and Spain.

From their 10th ANNIVERSARY WORLD CONCERT TOUR in 2002 (9th International Concert Tour) where they visited 11 European countries and 12 states in USA and CANADA, the UST Singers was the Philippine representative in four (4) prestigious international choral competitions where they won numerous awards. In June, at the Mundi Cantat Festa Musicale in Olomouc, Czech Republic, the choir bagged five (5) Gold First Prizes in five (5) categories. In July, at the 41st Concorso Internazionale di Canto Corale in Gorizia, Italy, they received two (2) First Prizes, two (2) Jury Prizes and two (2) Public Prizes. In Miltenberg, Germany at the 4th International Chorwettweberb, the choir won First Prize in the Polyphony Category, second in Public Prize, and was awarded the Honor Prize by the Bavarian Prime Minister President for the Best Interpretation of the compulsory piece “Magnificat” by Josef Swider. The fourth competition, “TONEN 2002” in Monster, the Netherlands, drew waves that earned them the “FESTIVAL CHOIR OF THE YEAR” prize, aside from winning three (3) First Prizes in all contest categories and the “BEST CONDUCTOR” award given to Prof. Calalang.

On December 30 2003, the UST Singers was recognized as “ASIA’S MOST OUTSTANDING CHOIR” – an award given by the National Consumer Affairs Foundation and the Rizal Day National Celebration Committee.

In 2004, the choir had its 10th International Concert Tour and participated in the Montreux International Choral Festival in Switzerland where they were awarded the “Excellence Avec Distinction” garnering the highest score in the mixed choir category and the “Ville De Vevey Jury Prize” for Best Programming and Interpretation. In its second participation in the World Choral Festival 2004 at Puebla, Mexico in July, the UST Singers was again chosen as the “Best Choir” among choirs from Italy, Spain, Czech Republic, Mexico, Serbia and Montenegro, Portugal and Poland. In that same year, the choir was given a special recognition by the Honorable Jeremy Harris, mayor of Honolulu, declaring August 20 as “UST Singers Day” in Hawaii.

The UST Singers completed its 11th International Concert Tour in 2005 – a two month journey of South Korea and the US from April to June. The tour was highlighted by joint performances with the University of Utah Singers, the grand prize winner of the “Florilege Vocal de Tours 2005” choral competition in Tours, France, at the University of Utah Concert Hall; a special performance with the world-renowned Chicago Children’s Choir at the Chicago Cultural Center; and the “Springtime of Faith” concert with Grammy Award Winning singer Aaron Neville at the Kemper Arena, Kansas City.

In 2006, the choir performed in neighboring countries in Asia. “Go East,” the 12th International Concert Tour covered three (3) Asian countries namely South Korea, Singapore, and Taiwan. The choir, after its very successful visit the previous year, came back to South Korea to perform in the acoustically crafted halls and cultural spaces of Daegu, Seoul and other key cities. In May, the choir left for Singapore to perform at one of the world’s newest and most innovative halls, the Esplanade, through the help of the SYC Ensemble Singers. The last stop of the tour was a 12-day sojourn of Taiwan where the choir performed in numerous concert halls including the 2600-seater National Concert Hall, Taipei and a televised performance/press conference at the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO) in Taipei. The choir, through a grant from the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), also conducted a seminar/lecture on Philippine Folk Music. The Taiwan stint of the choir was arranged by the Taipei Philharmonic Foundation for Culture and Education. In October of the same year, the UST Singers was invited by the UST Alumni Association of Hawaii, to take part in the Centennial Celebration of Filipino Migration to the United States of America. The choir was given another special recognition by the Honorable Mafy Hanneman, mayor of Honolulu, declaring October 25 as “UST Singers Day” in Hawaii.

The choir’s most recent trip was last July 2007 in Taiwan, where they participated in the 8th Taipei Philharmonic Festival together with choirs, vocal groups and conductors from Russia, Hungary and China. This is an annual musical gathering which is sponsored and arranged by the Taipei Philharmonic Foundation for Culture and education. The choir performed in different cities around Taiwan and at the historic National Concert Hall in Taipei.

Welcome to the UST Singers' Blog!

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Through this, we wish to share more of the UST Singers to our host families, friends, fellow choral enthusiasts and fans.

Please visit us regularly for updates on concerts, auditions, a sneakpeak of our life ontour, or just to get to know the present batch (and yes! previous batches too! ) better.

We will be more than happy to hear from you, please don't forget to leave us a message!

//mcombs

ustsingers

21ST INTERNATIONAL TOUR 2011

20TH INTERNATIONAL CONCERT TOUR

PHILIPPINE SENATE RECOGNIZES the UST Singers

The Magic of Music (Nov. 27, 2010 @ Philamlife Theater)

UST Singers hold triumphant concert

Calalang's glorious choir

UNENDING GRACE, UNENDING PRAISE

Call Ticketworld for reservations:Ticketing Hotline: (+63 2) 891-9999Email:tickets@ticketworld.com.phFax: (+63 2) 891-5634Hotlines:GLOBE +63-916-340-3919SMART +63-921-564-2108

You may now reserve tickets directly from us.Contact: Pinky: 0920 9092624 / Jaimie: 0917 8244933Thanks.

A YEAR TO REMEMBER

2010 CHOIR OF THE WORLD!

A real winner

UST SINGERS reaps more awrds

UST SINGERS wins in Bangor!

Not Only World-Class, But Capable of Re-inventing Itself … Refreshingly Youthful Yet Competently Musical: the USTS 2010

"Then Sings My Soul" - Review by Antonio C. Hila, Philippine Daily Inquirer, April 5, 2010

"Ani ng Dangal" 2010

Farewell Concert

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Sir Fidel!!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS! Joyeux Noël! Buon Natale! frohe Weihnachten! Feliz Natal! vrolijke Kerstmis! с Рождеством Христовым! Feliz Navidad! Χαρούμενα Χριστού

UST Singers rock Nueva Ecija - INQUIRER.net, Philippine News for Filipinos

UST Singers Outreach - 2009 Christmas Treats at Philamlife

December 2009 Performances

Puerto Princesa, Palawan December 2009

2009 Bicol Tour (Oct 22- 26)

Beethoven's Symphony No. 9

UST SINGERS in a Benefit Concert in CAM SUR

CONGRATULATIONS!

Sarah Linn/The TribuneThis weekend, the University of Santo Tomas Singers swept the California International Choir Festival and Competition, winning the People’s Choice Award as well as two other categories at the event that ran Friday through Sunday in San Luis Obispo.

UST Singers Wow Audiences on Fourth Trip to Hawaii

Singers in Las Vegas!

The Magical Sound of the UST Singers

Birthday Greetings!

The Superb UST SINGERS

Birthday!

Aloha!

Happy Birthday!

Zum Geburtstag!

Birthday Greetings!

Zum Geburtstag!

16th International Concert Tour 2009

Gerodias, Calalang:Rare Distinctions

Cum Laude!

A Night of Angelic Voices

Andre's Recital

Congratulations!

Happy Birthday Leigh!

Happy Birthday Fonzy!

March Birthdays!

Happy birthday Mylah! We miss you!

Review: Lee, UST Singers: Dynamic!/The Voice of Leadership by Rosalinda Orosa, Philippine Star, Feb. 7, 2009

Happy Birthday Sir Fidel!

Karl Jenkins' REQUIEM Concert, Jan. 24, 2009, CCP Main Theater with the UST Symphony Orchestra

"Polyfollia" International Festival of Choral Singing 2008

When in Rome

Euro Tour 2008

BEYOND DREAMS: Review # 2

"Beyond Dreams" Review

15th International Concert Tour Part II

Happy Birthday Lyz!

Belated Birthday Greetings!

Palau de la Musica de Valencia Concert!

Hasta pronto Valencia!

Valencia "Espuma (Foam) Fiesta 2008"

Carrion de los Condes, Spain

Tiempo Para Diversión en Barcelona

Hasta luego Barcelona!

Tengo Hambre...

Balita, balita

Birthdays!

Barcelona Concerts

UST Singers wow audiences in Spain!

What's up, UST Singers?

Hola España!

Incheon Airport - Seoul, Korea

Happy Birthday Jessie!

Zaragoza Concerts

XXIX FESTIVAL INTERNATIONAL DE CANT CORAL CATALUNYA

Tick-tock!

Call Ticketworld for reservations:
Ticketing Hotline: (+63 2) 891-9999
Email:tickets@ticketworld.com.ph
Fax: (+63 2) 891-5634Hotlines:
GLOBE +63-916-340-3919
SMART +63-921-564-2108

You may now reserve tickets directly from us.
Contact: Pinky: 0920 9092624 / Jaimie: 0917 8244933
Thanks.