MANILA, July 15, 2008—The 20-voice Las Piñas Boys Choir (LPBC) won a gold medal and were declared “world champions” in the 5th World Choir Games, children’s category which ended yesterday in Graz, Austria.
They won the category against 70 other specially selected choirs from around the world.
The LPBC, conducted by Prof. Armando Salarza, also won a silver medal in the Musica Sacra Category.
“This is a proud moment not only for the Las Piñas Boys Choir, not only for Las Piñas but for the Filipino People! Once again, we have shown the world that the Filipino talent is world class!,” exulted Fr. Benjmain “Didoy” Molina, who is part of the management team.
The choir members are: George Angeles II, Bernard Paolo Caro, Alvin Joshua Cayetano, Josiah de los Santos, Justin Claude Fernandez, Jadlae Aivan Fernandez, Joseph Vincent Gregorio, Carl Paolo Hernandez, Japheth Juanillo, Herman Manalang, Jhansseen Martinez, Dhonel Martinicio, Alwyn Dominique Panoso, Rupert Kim Pastrana, Ramon Paolo Quintero, Chazz Reyes, Karlo Reyes, Francis David Salonga, Joshua Gabriel, and Samiley and Joe Sengson.
Present at the choir’s winning performances were Alejandro Consolacion II, accompanist; staff and consultants January Hernandez, Norie Salarza, Leo and Donna Renier and managers Msgr. Albert Venus and Molina.
The LPBC is a well-known group in the Philippines and in international youth choir contests.
Under the artistic direction of Salarza, the group is a regular performer in the annual Bamboo Organ International Music Festival. It emerged champion at the 2005 Vivere Choral Competition.
The 5th World Choir Games, which started July 9 has 441 registered choirs from 93 nations and around 20,000 active participants, including four choir groups from the Philippines—Coro Ilocano, Kilyawan Boys Choir, Himig Singer and Las Pinas Boys Choir.
Held every two years in different countries, the competition is the largest international choir competition. Past competitions were held in Xiamen, China (2006); Bremen , Germany (2004); Busan , South Korea (2002) and Linz , Austria (2000). (CBCPNews)
