Madz wins Grand Prix in Italy

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine Madrigal Singers, also known as The Madz headed by choirmaster Mark Anthony Carpio, won the Gran Premio Città di Arezzo in the 64th International Choral Competition Polifonico Guido d’ Arrezo in Arrezo, Tuscany, Italy on Aug. 27.

The Grand Prix Award was attributed to the choral group’s impressive performances in seven categories: Compulsory Program, first prize; Sacred Music, first prize; Secular Music, second prize; Monographic Program, first prize; International Festival of Choral Music, Listening Committee’s Choice; Arrezo Colour’s Prize, Listening Committee’s Choice and Public’s Choice; and Micrologus Prize Gregorian Chant: Monodic Medieval Liturgic, Best Performance.

The world-acclaimed choral group received the Guido d’Arezzo Trophy (by Alessandro Marrone), cash prize of Euro 2,000 (approximately $2,400) and the right to compete in the 2017 European Grand Prix for Choral Music in Tolosa, Spain.

The Madz holds the singular distinction as the one and only choir in the world that had won the European Grand Prix for Choral Music twice, in 1997 and 2007.

Before proceeding to Arrezo, Madz members collectively said that they were  blessed when they sang during the Eucharistic celebration at the Basilica of Saint Anthony de Padua during their stop over in Padova, Italy.

In 2010, the Concorso Polifonico Guido d’ Arrezo Foundation honored the Madz with the Guidoneum Award for “their artistic and choral promotion activity.”

The Madz is one of the most awarded choirs in Asia and in the world. The group has consistently won major prizes in the most prestigious international choral competitions for decades. Because of its impressive track record and musical virtuosity, the group is now regarded as one of the best choirs in the world.

The Madz was initially organized as the University of the Philippines Madrigal Singers in 1963 by Prof. Andrea Veneracion, proclaimed National Artist for Music in 1999. In 2001, after almost four decades of leadership, Prof. Veneracion passed on her legacy to Carpio.

On July 27, 2009, UNESCO director-general Koïchiro Matsuura designated the Philippine Madrigal Singers as UNESCO Artists for Peace at a ceremony which took place just before the group’s concert at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris. 

Choirmaster Mark Anthony Carpio receives the award