In Focus: The Philippine Madrigal Singers

The Philippine Madrigal Singers
No need for lengthy debates--it is a universally accepted fact that the Philippine Madrigal Singers is one of the world’s best choirs after having consistently won all the top prizes in the world’s prestigious choral competitions for the last 42 years.

The Philippine Madrigal Singers (affectionately known as the “Madz”) was founded in 1963 by National Artist for Music, Professor Andrea O. Veneracion. The Madz is mostly composed of students, faculty and alumni from the University of the Philippines. The group’s trademark performance stance, singing in a semi-circle without a conductor, is instantly recognizable. A standard Madz performance clearly exhibits the seamless fusion of their musical virtuosity, technical proficiency and soulful singing. Their highly eclectic repertoire spans the breadth and length of vocal music: from Renaissance madrigals to the avant-garde, from Filipino and international folksongs to the latest pop hits, even from the most cerebral choral masterpieces to the most humorous of novelty numbers. This world-class choir can honestly sing anything with authenticity and professionalism while keeping their audience thoroughly entertained.

The group’s initial foray into the international scene took place in 1969 at the First Choruses of the World Festival held at the Lincoln Center in New York City with a critically-acclaimed performance that marked the beginning of a distinguished and illustrious musical legacy. To date, the Madz has consistently won top prizes in the most prestigious choral competitions held at Spittal, Austria; Arezzo and Gorizia in Italy; Neuchatel, Switzerland; Debrecen, Hungary; Varna, Bulgaria; Tolosa, Spain and Marktoberdorf, Germany. It was in June of 1997 when the Madz sealed their stature as the World’s Best Choir when they bagged the grand prize at the ultimate competition of global choral champions. The Philippine Madrigal Singers won over five other prizewinning European choirs at the Grand Prix European de Chant Choral Competition in Tours, France. Recently, the Madz won top prizes in the Certamenes Internacional Habaneras y Polifonia held in Torrevieja, Spain in 2004.

As Philippine ambassadors of culture and goodwill, the Madz have had the pleasure and privilege of giving command performances for royalty and heads of state. These include Pope Paul 6th, Presidents Gerald Ford and Richard Nixon, King Juan Carlos de Bourbon and Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew.

The Madz have over 35 Philippine and international recordings.. Also published s the award-winning book A Life Shaped By Music that chronicles the life of Prof. Veneracion and the history of the Madz. Many of the Madz's original choral arrangements and compositions are also in publication.

This choral institution has produced more than 200 choral and vocal pedagogues from its ranks, actively and constantly shaping the local and international choral landscape. Madz alumni are much sought-after as singers, conductors, arrangers and music educators. Its corps of composers and musical arrangers continue to produce new compositions and choral settings of Philippine music, thus contributing to the global growth of choral literature.

As resident artists of the Cultural Center of the Philippines, outreach concerts have taken the Madz to far-flung areas seldom reached by most performing artists. Averaging two international concert tours per year, the Madz relentlessly engages in the promotion of Philippine music and the Filipino Artist globally.

Presently under the masterful leadership of Madz alumnus Mark Anthony A. Carpio, the Philippine Madrigal Singers continues to set new standards of excellence at a global level. Since their humble beginnings as a university-based chamber ensemble throughout their legendary rise as international choral champions, this 42-yearold cultural icon known as the Philippine Madrigal Singers has irreversibly cemented its stature as one of world’s best choirs for all time. Data taken from http://www.philippinemadrigalsingers.com/profile.html

For more information about the Philippine Madrigal Singers, visit their official website at http://www.philippinemadrigalsingers.com