UPang, Russian choir groups tie to win
WORLD MUSICFEST IN CHINA
When it rains, it pours for the University of Pangasinan.
After Gringo San Diego topped the recent nurses’ board exams, the university chalked up two more honors – national and international.
UPANG was adjudged one of two musical choirs, the other being Slovenia, Russia which bagged the silver honors in the 4th World Choir Games 2006 held in Xiamen, China last July l5.
According to Dr. Catalino Rivera Jr., UPANG president, the university choir bested more than 2,800 choirs from more than 90 countries.
“The choir games actually are taking the Olympic ideal into the arts to peacefully unify singing people and nations connected by song in a fair competition,” said World Choir Games founder and president Gunter Hitsch.
The Philippines through the University of Pangasinan Glee Club under Prof. Gilbert Allan Dispo and Slovenia, Russia tied for the Silver Honors with identical ratings in Category 6, Mixed Voice Ensembles.
Ten countries from a field of l,800 were nominated by Choir Olympic Qualifying Competition signed by Prof. Dr. Rail Eisenbeib, artistic director, and Gunter Tisch, Choir Games president
Both musical groups rendered and ethnic religious songs.
Prof. Dispo, choirmaster, and Prof. Leo Jun Jugo, thanked UPANG Chairman Cesar Duque, President Rivera, Senior Vice President Marietta Sorio, and Ofelia Rayos, dean for academic affairs, for their all-out support.
Dispo said “it was never in our wildest dreams to participate in a globally prestigious competition with high artistic standards and musical taste,” adding, the choir was simply participating in local competitions.
He said “our glee club never failed to awe the judges with their performances.”
Last December, the group placed second in the grand finals of the SIS Choral Competition at GMA 7.
The glee club’s bid to join the international contest was approved, Dispo said, adding “we zealously worked hard, hoped and prayed hard.”
“We really thanked God for this very, very rare honor,” he said.
Members of the UPANG Glee Club who performed at Xiamen were: Dispo, choirmaster; Jugo, assistant choirmaster; Ronald Idos, bass l; Jervy Penuliar, tenor l; Mark Anthony Lim, bass 2; Ren Maurice Alaba, tenor 2; Jonalyn Onza, soprano 2/l; Irene Frianeza, soprano l; Ma. Virginia Andaya, alto/soprano 2; Joana Rose Fontillas, alto l; Karen Rosario, soprano l; Cherry Anne Morley and alto l.
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