QC, UP choirs win 'gold’ in Austrian competition

MANILA, Philippines — A parish choir from Quezon City bagged the gold in the 2nd Anton-Bruckner International Choir Competitions and Festival in Linz, Austria last June 13. Kammerchor Manila, which had joined an international choir competition for the first time, was declared champion in the chamber choir of mixed voices category. A report in the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines website (www.cbcpnews.com) said the group also won the silver diploma in the sacred music category. The University of the Philippines Manila Chorale also topped the Youth Choir with mixed voices category, bringing home the Gold Diploma, the report said. A total of 21 choirs from 12 countries participated in the 2nd Anton-Bruckner International Choir Competitions and Festival, the CBCP noted. At the event, the choir also received a special award for the “outstanding interpretation" of a choral piece Pamugun arranged by Professor Francisco Feliciano. The CBCP said the piece made Kammerchor Manila the crowd favorite among the audience and judges. Kammerchor Manila serves at the Hearts of Jesus and Mary Parish in West Triangle, Quezon City with Fr. Ariston Sison as parish priest. The group is staging its Second European Goodwill Concert Tour to Lithuania, Czech Republic, Austria, Germany, the Netherlands, France, Switzerland, Italy and Vatican from June 3 to July 3. - GMANews.TV