UST Singers win top prize at Derry Choral Festival in Northern Ireland

The University of Santo Tomas (UST) Singers clinched the top prize at the 13th City of Derry International Choir Festival in Northern Ireland. 

The UST Singers received the Oak Tree of Derry Tropy on October 26, outperforming groups from Estonia and Northern Ireland, further cementing their status as one of the world’s premier choral ensembles.

Led by founder and conductor Professor Fidel Gener Calalang Jr., the group also received two special honors: the Contemporary Music Centre Award for best performance of an Irish composition ("The Destroyer" by Sean Doherty), and the Bishop’s Gate Award for an outstanding interpretation of a pre-1750 piece ("Come Away, Sweet Love" by Thomas Greaves).

This triumph marks the highlight of their “Across the Isles” concert tour, a return to the British Isles after 15 years. Performances included stops in London, Belfast, Glasgow, Aberdeen, and Edinburgh, where the choir engaged both international and Filipino communities. 

They also made an appearance on BBC Radio Foyle during their stay in Londonderry.

“Beyond competition, this tour was about cultural exchange,” Prof. Calalang said. “We are proud to represent Filipino talent and connect with fellow Filipinos abroad.”

The UST Singers are now preparing for their 40th international tour and will head to Asia in late November. They are set to perform at the 8th Macau International Choir Festival, with Calalang serving as adjudicator, followed by appearances in Japan, including at the annual Philippine Festival in Tokyo and an event celebrating the Manila-Yokohama sister city relationship’s 60th anniversary.

Founded over three decades ago, the UST Singers have won over 90 international awards. In 1995, they made history as the first Asian group to win the Luciano Pavarotti “Choir of the World” Trophy in Wales.

Carrying the mission of promoting Filipino heritage through choral music, the group continues to engage audiences around the globe with its technical precision and heartfelt performances.

—Sherylin Untalan/CDC, GMA Integrated News