Top choirs around Asia gathered together to compete at the 4th Cantata Macau International Choral Competition and Festival in Macau last November 8-10, 2019. This year’s Cantata Festival brought together choral groups from Hong Kong, the People’s Republic of China, the Philippines, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and Singapore.
Central Luzon State University’s Maestro Singers competed at said event, representing the university in two choral group categories.
Weeks of intensive rehearsals starting from 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm during weekdays bore fruit when the choral group won gold and silver in the said competition.
The Maestro singers performed Stroope’s “We Beheld Again the Stars,” Monteverdi’s “Ecco mormorar l'onde” and Palaruan’s “Gapas” for the Open Mix category that earned them the Gold. The group also competed on the Sacred Music category where they won silver performing selected compositions from the 1600 to present.
“It was really a tough competition because there are a lot of choirs there who competed na talaga namang top caliber choral groups,” Maestro Singers conductor and Trainer Dr. Florante P. Ibarra stated in an interview.
The Cantata Macau International Choral Competition and Festival aims to re-establish Macau as a place of spiritual heritage, and not just a “gambler’s destination.”
Upon their arrival at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport on November 12, the Maestro Singers immediately went to Pampanga to participate at the Culture and Arts Festival of State Universities and Colleges, Region III (CAASUC III) 2019. The choral group was able to place first runner up in the Traditional Choir category and at second runner up in the Show Choir category.
After their accomplishments in the 4th Cantata Macau and the 2019 CAASUC III, the Maestro Singers are gearing up for an upcoming competition in Japan this coming July 2020.
