ROXAS City – The Colegio de la Purisima Concepcion (CPC) Chorale from this city ruled the world stage as it won the Golden Diploma (Level IV) Award for the Folklore and Indigenous Music a cappella Category of the Open Competition Level of the World Choir Games (WCG) on July 13 in Auckland, New Zealand.
The competition is considered the Olympics of choir performance.
“Masadya kag nakaka-proud kay damo ang ga-support sa amon. Actually, halo ang ga-cheer, indi lang Pinoy, maskin iban nga lahi grabe ang support kag pagpalakpak sa amon,” said CPC Chorale conductor Jofferson Dela Cruz.
Twenty-four singers, six priests, a conductor, school dean and cultural coordinator made up the CPC Chorale delegation to the WCG 2024.
He added that the preparations were tough but it was worth all the efforts and sacrifices.
Dela Cruz is CPC Junior High School’s Music, Arts, Physical Education, and Health (MAPEH) teacher and the chorale’s conductor since 2019.
He also thanked those who facilitated workshops for the chorale as well as the Department of Tourism and Capiz Provincial Tourism and Cultural Affairs Office for tapping their choir during major activities which also served as a confidence building towards national and international performances.
The CPC chorale has also been a finalist to the Chamber Music category of the Medici International Musical Online Competition in July 2022.
During the WCG 2023 in Gangneung, South Korea, the Capiz State University Main Chorale (CMC) also won the Golden Diploma (Level IV) Award for the Folklore A Capella Category of the Open Competition – Level of the WGC.
The province also took pride in Filamer Christian University Chorale for winning the Silver Medal of the Mixed Youth Category during the 12th Bali International Choir Festival in Bali, Indonesia last July 2023. (Philippine Information Agency)