By: Mary Louise Macanaya-Alcantara
“Performing on a big stage is a fulfillment,” says Dexter Marcos. “It was a good show, considering we rehearsed our pieces for only three weeks!”Dexter is a member of the Echoes Chorus, the company choir of 24/7 CustomerPhilippines, Inc. Never did he imagine that he would perform in a big stage such as the Philamlife Auditorium, where some of the greatest local and international musical artists have performed.The Philippine Choral Guild, or Koro Filipino, has made this possible.Since 2008, the Koro Filipino started gathering choral groups from churches, schools, and nearby municipalities to form the first choral organization in the country. It sought to transform every Filipino chorister into world-class musicians.Koro Filipino Founder and Chairman April Rae Sunddie Manalo, herself a conductor and chorister, said the organization seeks to provide members opportunities to improve their music.“One way to do this is to give them the chance to perform in concerts,” she said.Recently, Koro Filipino staged a concert featuring seven choirs from different schools, churches, communities, and companies fromMetro Manila and nearby provinces. Featured choirs were the Alay Himig Chorale, MapuaConcert Singers, Echoes Chorus, Musicainta, Servi Domini, Novacoustic, and the Manila Chamber Singers.The concert opened with “Ehikier” (Ezekiel 37), set to music by Eudenice Palaruan, professor of the UP College of MusicConducting Department, and consultant of Koro Filipino. The pieces ranged from serious to comical, from sacred to novelty. Some were even choreographed and assisted with props, to the delight of the audience.“Through concerts like this, we introduce new and less experienced choirs to more experienced choirs. Koro Filipino now brings to the big stage choirs who may have only performed in their barangays, schools, offices, and churches,” said Sunddie.“In line with our future projects, these choirs will be given the venue to perform all over the country to reach out and inspire more people, both choristers and the local audience.”The concerts will also feature new works of Filipino composers and arrangers.Come September this year, the last batch of pioneer choir members of the organization will go on stage to perform new works by the Asian Composers League. A Grand Choir of at least a hundred voices, singing pieces for mass choirs accompanied by a full orchestra will be held at the Cultural Center of the Philippines in December.More than the experience of choral concerts, the guild has also introduced a music classroom program called “Musiklase,” where Koro Filipino brings accomplished music teachers to schools and communities to share their musical expertise. Those in the provinces don’t have to travel to music schools based here in Manilaanymore.For the past two summers, a summer camp was also held where choral music professionals conducted a three-day workshop in Subic. Members of the newly-formed group have taken advantage of this rare opportunity.For choristers like Dexter, there are indeed a lot of exciting things to look forward to.“We’re planning to have our own solo concert this year. Next year, we’re even planning to join an international choral competition,” he said.For Sunddie, it’s been a good start.“Many of the choirs performed on stage for the first time. They are our mission.
