UP Madrigal Singers' founder Andrea Veneracion passes away

(Updated 2:08 p.m., July 11) - The Philippines lost another National Artist with the death this week of Professor Andrea Veneracion, the founder of the world-famous University of the Philippines Madrigal Singers.

Veneracion died at age 85, radio dzBB reported Wednesday morning.

A profile photo of the Madrigal Singers' Facebook page featured a sketch of Veneracion, with the message "Andrea Veneracion 1928-2013."

Netizens posted messages on the Madz' Facebook page relaying their sorrow over Veneracion's passing.

"Words (seem) inadequate to express sadness to hear the passing of our beloved 1999 National Artist for Music – Andrea O. Veneracion. We are truly honored to have performed with you and the UP Madrigal Singers in the series of Madrigal Et al in the '90s. You have been an inspiration to all of us and your legacy will remain in our hearts. Paalam Ma'am OA. Rest in peace," said Alvin Jay Ancheta.

"... Thank you for helping form and nurture the incomparable Philippine Madrigal Singers! May you continue to conduct all the choirs of angels in heaven with your brilliance and genius!..." said Mark Angelo Alarcio.

"Thanks for your legacy. I may have not met you, but listening to your demo CDs help me a lot in learning my craft, singing. And your contributions in our music industry is unparalleled. It's so sad that your death coincides with the 50th Anniv Celebration of the Philippine Madrigal Singers. Rest in Peace Maam OA," wrote Donnel Cortez Ramirez.




The Madz

Veneracion organized the Philippine Madrigal Singers in 1963. The Madz would become one of the world’s most awarded choral group, winning top prizes in most of the world’s prestigious competitions.

"Now with the direction of Mark Anthony Carpio, the ensemble continues to perform a wide repertoire of various styles and forms: Renaissance music, Classical music, Filipino and International Folksongs, contemporary and Avant-garde music, Opera and even popular music. Their specialization and focus on the madrigal idiom has inspired their unique set-up of singing while seated in a semi-circle, without a conductor," the Madrigals' website said.

The Madrigals' website said Veneracion, fondly called Ma'am OA, is highly esteemed for her achievements as choirmaster and choral arranger.

She was a former faculty member of the UP College of Music and honorary chair of the Philippine Federation of Choral Music.

Among her indispensable contributions in culture and the arts were the founding of the Philippine Madrigal Singers and the spearheading of the development of Philippine choral music.

Biography

Veneracion was born in Manila on July 11, 1928, and served as adjudicator in international music competitions.

She earned her Bachelor of Music degrees in Piano and Voice at the University of the Philippines Diliman, where she graduated Cum Laude.

Also, she was a competitive swimmer, joining the Philippine swimming team.

Veneracion earned her Master's Degree in Voice at Indiana University School of Music - Bloomington as a Fulbright scholar.

It was there that she encountered the Indiana University Madrigal Singers. She established the Madz when she returned to the Philippines in 1963.

The Madz gained fame for its unusual semicircular formation without a conductor. The choirmaster is at the leftmost end of the circle and gives the singers their cues.

Awards

Under Veneracion, the Madz won major awards in international choral competitions including in:

• Spittal, Austria
• Arezzo and Gorizia, Italy
• Neuchâtel, Switzerland
• Debrecen, Hungary
• Varna, Bulgaria
• Tolosa and Cantonigros, Spain
• and Marktoberdorf, Germany.

In 1996, Veneracion led the Madz to victory in the International Choral Competition in Tolosa, Spain, making them eligible to compete for the 1997 European Choral Grand Prix for Choral Singing.

The Madz eventually won the title in Tours, France.

Veneracion also founded and served as the first conductor of the Asian Institute for Liturgy and Music (AILM) Chorale.

Veneracion was awarded the TOFIL (The Outstanding Filipino) Award for Culture and the Arts in 1997 for her contributions to the development of choral singing in the Philippines.

In 1999, she was named National Artist for Music, the highest cultural award of the Philippine government for an individual.

Veneracion retired as choirmaster of the Madz, and selected then assistant choirmaster Mark Anthony Carpio to succeed her.

Yet, she continued to guide the Madz by joining them in their tours from 2002 to 2004. — LBG/KG, GMA News