TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol (PIA)— Fifteen choral groups, some coming from as far as Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam and South Korea joined domestic choral ensembles converged here for the first Philippine International Choir Competition (PICC) at the Bohol Cultural Center and the Bantawan stage of the old Tagbilaran City airport, October 2-6.
The PICC, locally billed as Sing ‘N Joy, organized by Interkultur, features not just competitions, but also workshops, friendship concerts, and chances for cultural immersions for Boholanos.
According to Interkultur president Gunther Titsch, Interkultur events are not only competitions and international choir festivals, but also serve as professional development venues.
At the PICC, visiting choir groups are given venues where they can interact with judges, other conductors, trainers and composers as well as communities can help by providing feedbacks in workshops, concerts and other aligned events.
In the event’s evaluation performances or individual coaching, choirs have the chance to work with international jury members and gain advice on their current level of achievement, receive proficient pedagogical and artistic information and obtain suggestions as to how to interpret the chosen piece.
Titsch assed that they prepared for the first ever international choir festival “Sing ‘n ‘Joy Bohol 2024,” before the pandemic, and had to postpone it twice.
The 15 choral groups that help InterKultur give life to its philosophy of Singing together brings nations together are:
the Barana’ Choir from Tikala, Toraja Utara Sulawesi Selatan Indonesia under the baton of Syefi Ary, London School of Public Relations Choir of Jakarta Indonesia under Sonja Nadya Simanjuntak, Universiti Technologi Malaysia (UiTM) Women’s Choir and UITM Chamber Choir of Shah Alam, Malaysia under the tempo of Maryann Magdalena Linnis, Dames of Hamonia of Kulala Lumpur under Terrence Ling Hung Shu.
From Republic of South Korea (ROK), the competing choirs are Korea Breast Cancer Survivors Choir of Seoul, ROK under Ji-Hyeun Jang , Seoungbuk District Women’s Choir of Seoungbuk-gu, ROK under Jungsoo Park, and Diversity Choir of Hanoi Vietnam with Le Nguyen Ha Ny conducting.
Domestic choirs joining the events are Bacoor Hpe Children’s Choir of Bacoor Cavite, under conductor Vell Litan, The Himig Singers of Davao City and the M6 Teens of Davao City all under the baton of Alvin Aviola, Fillira of Marikina, Metro Manila under Sergio Lumba Jr., and Huni Mandawe of Mandaue City, Cebu under conductor Niño James Bañares.
From Bohol, the two competing choirs are the Holy Name University Chorale of Tagbilaran City under the baton of Rev Fr Irvin Garsuta, and Koro Seraphin of Tagbilaran City under the leadership of Mary Aleli Antoni-Inting.
The groups competed in Children’s Choir, Religious Songs Category, Choirs of Mixed Voices, Choirs of Equal Voices, Folklore and Seniors Choir.
