(Left photo top: Quezon City Performing Arts Development Foundation Chorale. Right photo top: Capiz State University Main Chorale, bottom: Anima Christi Chorale)
20 July 2023, Gangneung, South Korea – After a one-year delay, the 12th World Choir Games (WCG) returned to Korea in 2023 and were held from 3 July to 13 July 2023 at the Gangneung Arena in Gangneung City, Gangwon Province, South Korea.
Highest awards were garnered by the Ilocos Norte based choir, the Samiweng Singers of the Ilocos Norte National High School, winner of Diploma Gold IV in Category 4 - Mixed Youth Choirs and winner of Diploma Gold V in Category 19 - Musica Contemporanea Mixed Voices. The conductor of the Samiweng Singers is Sherween Cabrales.
The Northwestern University – Saguday Chorale of Laoag City, Ilocos Norte also won the highest award Diploma Gold I in Category 15 – Musica Sacra a cappella. They also received a Diploma Gold IV in Category 26 – Folklore a cappella. Saguday Chorale is the official student choir of the Northwestern University composed of 28 singers who represented the university and country. The choir’s conductor, Sherberk Cabrales, said that he was “humbled and honored” by the wins.
The Quezon City Performing Arts Development Foundation, Inc. Concert Chorus (QC PADFI) received two (2) awards, the Diploma Gold III in Category 4 – Mixed Youth Choirs and the Diploma Gold III in Category 19 – Musica Contemporanea Mixed Voices. The conductor of QC PADFI is Nicanor Castro Infante.
The QC PADFI also performed at the Korean-Philippine Friendship Concert together with the Goyang Civic Choir Children’s Choir and the Goyang Civic Choir at the Oulim Theater in Goyang City and at the Philippine Embassy in Seoul.
The Anima Christi Chorale of Lucena City, received two (2) awards, the Diploma Gold I in Category 15 – Musica Sacra a cappella and the Diploma Gold IV in Category 26 - Folklore A Capella.
The ACC was led by Choirmaster Joel A. Boragay.
The Capiz State University Main Chorale (CMC) received two (2) awards, the Diploma Silver VII in Category 5 – University and College Choirs and the Diploma Gold IV in Category 26 – Folklore a cappella.
CMC Advisor & Associate Professor Vivian Apuang said “It is indescribable, overwhelming and heartwarming to receive the award on a world stage, representing our university and the country,” John Michael Lauron and Vivian Apuang are the conductors of CMC.
The WCG, or the Olympics of Choir, is the largest global choir festival and competition, with over 25,000 singers from 308 participating groups, from 70 countries who competed, was held from 3 July to 13 July 2023 in Gangneung City, Gangwon province, South Korea. END
