The UP Singing Ambassadors Wows Europe Once More!
The UP Singing Ambassadors (UPSA) just arrived from its successful 7th European Goodwill Concert Tour in celebration of its 30th Anniversary. UPSA is the first and only Asian choir to have won the Grand Prize in the most prestigious Arezzo competitions in ITALY, and one of only four Filipino choirs to have qualified in the European Grand Prix (EGP) for Choral Singing, along with the UST Singers, Ateneo Glee Club and the Philippine Madrigal Singers which has won it twice.
Performing Western Period music in French, German, Italian, Latin, and contemporary Spanish and American jazz music, UPSA presented mainly Filipino works in songs and dances. Receiving standing ovations in almost all of its performances, the Group wowed the audience with its prize-winning blend and versatility in interpreting folkloric dances like Tinikling, Itik-itik, and Pandanggo sa Ilaw, and choreographed Filipino contemporary music like CAYABYAB’s Kay Ganda ng Ating Musika, GRANADA’s Salamat Musika and PEDERO’s Isang Mundo, Isang Awit, courtesy of the genius of Prof. VAN MANALO of the UP Filipiniana Dance Troupe.
Sure show-stoppers were traditional love songs and haranas like Dungawin Mo Hirang, Batisan, Lagi Kitang Naaalala, and the humorous Pamaypay ng Maynila and Balut Penoy (especially arranged for UPSA by composer ARNEL DE PANO).
European audiences in French-speaking BELGIUM and the Alsace Region in FRANCE were especially smitten by the romanticism of ROBERT DELGADO’s arrangements of Comme d’Habitude (My Way), Je Suis Malade, and C’est Fini la Comedie.
The highlights of the UPSA Outreach Tour (April 1 – June 11) in BELGIUM, FRANCE, GERMANY, LUXEMBOURG and THE NETHERLANDS were heartwarming performances in 12 Maison de Retraites (Homes for the Aged) which brought smiles to the residents while teary-eyed UPSA members serenaded them, workshops in dance and music with children from 5 different schools, and interaction and workshops with 6 local choirs and a gospel group.
The over 30 concert performances, in a way, empowered Filipinas married to locals through self-sufficiency in organizational skills, fundraising, networking and uplifting the image of the Philippines as a whole through quality cultural performances of fellow Filipinos – the UPSA.
Historic Berlin, a new favorite city of the Group, was venue to UPSA’s two performances in celebration of the Philippine Independence. These included program tributes to National Hero JOSE RIZAL and to the young artist/painter JANA BENITEZ, courtesy of Amb. DELIA DOMINGO-ALBERT, JOAN DE ASIS and Mr. WASHINGTON SYCIP.
Cultural exchanges, fellowships and friendships, peace and unity, education and personal development, joy and a sense of achievement, among others, are the fruits of this Goodwill Tour made possible with the generosity of Ms. IMELDA COJUANGCO, PAGCOR, offices of Sen. ED ANGARA and Cong. SONNY ANGARA, GABI GEIGER and most especially Filipinos and other friends in various Belgian communities led by the first UPSA President Manny Yap and Nurses and Filipino Organization in Charleroi.
With Founder/Conductor ED MANGUIAT, UPSA cordially invites the public to the UP SINGING AMBASSADORS’ Homecoming Concert, “Comme d’Habitude” (As Always), at the PHILAMLIFE AUDITORIUM, UN Ave., Manila, this Saturday, June 19, at 7 pm. Tickets are at P150, students with ID at P100. For details, contact 0906-295-1290/ 09062966797/ #924-9378.
Advance Invitation: To the UPSA 30th Anniversary Concert, at the Cultural Center of the Philippines on Thursday, 26 August 2010, 8pm!