Written by Harold Deane Piog, Geosemay Osalbo, and Faye Noreen Pacada
The University of Baguio Voices Chorale, the resident choral group of the University of Baguio, secured the Second Runner Up place at the first ever Light of the North Choral Festival and Competition held last November 30, 2024 at the Fr. Joseph Van den Daelen, CICM, CCA Theater, Saint Louis University. The choir competed against fifteen choirs coming from different parts of the Philippines such as Adamson University Chorale, Bataan Choral Artists, Pangasinan State University Himig Ensemble, Bicol Voices Chorale, Nueva Ecija Singing Ambassadors, among many others.
Under the baton of their conductor Mr. John Glenn Gaerlan, the group rendered their version of “Ili-ili” by Ily Mathew Maniano and “Pal So-seong” 8 Laughing Voices” by Hyo-won Woo. This repertoire was aimed to showcase the versatility of the group with two contrasting genre. The competition was adjudicated by three of the most celebrated choirmasters in the Philippines who have exceptionally represented the country in different continents of the world namely: Mr. Mark Anthony Carpio (of the Philippines Madrigal Singers), Mr. Tristan Ignacio (of the Imusicapella), and Mr. Anthony Go Villanueva (of Kammerchor Manila).
Of the fifteen choirs competing, there were top three choirs who emerged as winners of the competition with the University of Baguio Voices Chorale bagging the Second Runner Up, the Tarlac Mannerchor bagging the First Runner Up, and the Far Eastern University Chorale taking home the Championship.
According to the organizers, “the competition aimed to address four (4) Sustainable Development Goals – SDG 4 (Quality Education) by promoting music education and empowering individuals through skill development, SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities) by encouraging diverse communities and providing a platform for sharing music and talents. Lastly, SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) by cultivating a sense of community and cultural understanding and building valuable partnerships supporting cultural and artistic initiatives.”
Despite a packed schedule of performances at various events across Baguio City, the University of Baguio Voices Chorale showcased their resilience and dedication, delivering their best at the competition
Truly, the unwavering commitment of the group not only brought joy to audiences but has also consistently elevated the institution’s reputation. The University of Baguio Voices Chorale has continuously upheld its standards of becoming one of the top choirs in the country.
This achievement stands as a testament to the University of Baguio’s dedication to fostering excellence not only in academics but also in performing arts. It marks the role of the university in the cultivation of talents that help to enrich culture and contribute to worldwide recognition.
With this victory, they look forward to competing on international stage and continuing its mission of spreading Filipino culture music.
