The University
of the Philippines Concert Chorus (UPCC), the official State
University choir, has defined and achieved a proud career showcasing
excellent
Filipino artistry in music and dance to captive audiences worldwide.
Celebrating its
40th Anniversary this year, the UPCC has grown from an
excellent university chorus to an entity of national stature to a
choir of
international recognition. The critical and public acclaim showered
on the
Chorus is an affirmation of its commitment and impact on elevating
the Filipino
genius in the performing arts, receiving three ALIW Awards as Best
Cultural
Group, a CECIL Award for its recording of Ryan Cayabyab's MISA and
the Cultural Newsmaker of the Year Award from the television show
Tatak Pilipino.
A veteran of
14 World Concert Tours, the Chorus contributed immeasurably to
promoting the Filipino culture and heritage, thereby building a huge
reservoir
of international goodwill spanning four continents. As the University's
premier
ambassadors to the world, the UPCC holds the singular honor of being
the only
choir in the world to be invited a record ten times to the prestigious
Aberdeen
International Youth Festival in Scotland, four times alone for command
perfor-
mances for Queen Elizabeth II. The UPCC holds the distinction of being
chosen
as one of the world's best choirs at the 4th Lincoln Center International
Choral
Festival in New York City.
Composed of select
students from the University of the Philippines, the UPCC
showcases works from both ends of the musical spectrum. This versatility
is
evident with the range of choral music it performs - Filipino zarzuelas,
contem-
porary Filipino pop music, Broadway musicales, musical revues, jazz,
rock and
grand classical operas. Most recently, the UPCC was showcased in the
NCCA
Centennial Award-Winning zarzuela, Bayan, Isang Paa na Lamang with
music
composed by the late National Artist Lucio San Pedro and gave A Tribute
to Mang Levi, in honor of the late National Artist Levi Celerio shortly
before his
untimely demise. In the local concert scene, the Chorus appeared in
the Urian
Awards (2002), Martin XV111: Crossover Live (February 2001), Martin:
A Song For Peace (December 2001) and Sharon: The MegaEvent (August
2002) as special guests of the two most renowned Filipino celebrities,
"Concert King" Martin Nievera and "Megastar" Sharon
Cuneta. Recently, the group was included in Fides Cuyugan- Asencio's
production of SPOLIARIUM (February 2003) and in Disenyo at Musika
(March 2003), a fashion show that exhibited the fusion of fashion
designs of Edgar San Diego and the wide-ranging music of the UP Concert
Chorus.
To quote Welsh
critic John Hearne, "they (UPCC) have no equal as a virtuoso
ensemble", the Chorus is recognized for being one of the ten
best university
choirs in the world. The vibrancy of their music and their interpretation
of
rhythmic passion and movement encompasses all language. Through music
and
friendship, the Chorus has bridged cultural gaps all over the world.
With the
tremendous but fulfilling responsibility to continously reap honors
for the
country and the university, the UP Concert Chorus travels further
to break new
grounds and plant cultural seeds across the globe for many years to
come.
Source: Hinabing Himig
