MANILA, Philippines - The best choirs from local schools, parishes and community groups nationwide are set to face off at this year’s MBC National Choral Competition, presented by the Manila Broadcasting Company and Star City. The competition will be held from Dec. 8 to 12 at the Aliw Theater.
Following regional eliminations conducted by radio stations Love Radio, Yes-FM, and Easy Rock in Cauayan, Iloilo, Cebu, General Santos City, Cagayan de Oro, Calasiao, and Metro Manila, MBC recently announced the roster of choirs that qualified for the semifinal round scheduled on the first four days of the competition.
A total of 80 choirs from all over the country participated in the nationwide audition legs, which yielded a bumper crop of entries from the provinces, and equally outstanding participants from Mega-Manila.
In the children’s division, Boscorale will go up against Himig Rosena, St. Scholastica’s Academy Marikina and Bagong Sibol Choir of Urdaneta, Pangasinan. Calasiao Children’s Chorus, in turn, is bracketed with Pasig Catholic College, Balon Dagupan Children’s Choir, and the Junior Chorale of St. Paul College Pasig. Public high schools from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao slug it out when the Serenata Chorale of San Nicolas National High School in Ilocos Norte sings against Himig Cauayenyo of Cauayan City National High School, Pavia National High School of Iloilo, and Polomolok National High School’s Values Core Group. On the last semifinal round, Corpus Christi Foundation’s Falsettos from Cagayan de Oro will be up against the Angels of St. Joseph City School of Balanga, Angelicus Children’s Choir of Cebu, and the Animo BED Chorale of De La Salle-Araneta University.
For the open category, TIP Choral Society will see action on day one against Regina Coeli, Coro Obcento, Gloria Patri Singers, Mapua Cardinal Singers, Chorus Vocales Philippines, and the EARIST Amang-Awit. Day two will feature Ligao National High School of Albay against, Tarlac State University Chorale, PUP Bagong Himig Serenata, Bulacan Master Chorale, Urdaneta City University Music Ensemble, St. Paul College Pasig High School Chorale, and the Oton National High School SPA Music Ensemble. Defending champion University of Baguio Voices Chorale opens its bid to retain the title when it competes against St. Mary’s University Choral Society of Nueva Vizcaya, the OMPHP Youth Ensemble V of Bauan, Kinaadman Chorale of Iloilo, Koro Deo Duce of Binan, the Adamson University Chorale, and University of Perpetual Help (DALTA)-Calamba. Competing on day four are the Father Saturnino Urios University Voices of Light Chorale from Butuan, San Sebastian Chamber Singers, Tarlac Chamber Choir, The La Salle Chorale Bacolod, Kalibnusan Male Vocal Ensemble of PNU-Isabela, GenSan Ambassadors Chorale, and the Nueva Ecija University of Science and Technology Chorale.
Winners of the semifinal rounds will compete in the grand finals on Dec. 12. The champion choirs will taking home over P100,000 in prizes.
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MBC National Choral Competition will run from Dec. 8 to 12 at the Aliw Theater. Show starts at 7 p.m. Admission is free.