It was only two Saturdays ago when the Kilyawan boys choir performed in front of parents and teachers during our first PTC assembly. They were literally begging for airfare tickets to be able to participate in the World Choir Olympics in Austria. The amount that they need was staggering. Claret School donated P100,000 plus the amount that was collected that day from the parents and teachers would surely help.
Among the 45 members of the group were 15 grade school students currently enrolled in Claret and the rest were mostly Claretian alumni, among them Gian Karlo Dapul (the champion in this year’s English-Speaking Union (ESU) speech contest held in England). Their choir director is Mark Anthony A. Carpio, the present choirmaster of the Philippine Madrigal Singers and their manager is Ms. Hazel P. Copiaco, our grade school music teacher.
Yesterday they returned with a harvest of medals. They won 3 Gold Diplomas, 1 Gold Medal and 2 Silver Medals. It was the toughest contest that they have ever participated in so far. The 5th World Choir Games in Graz, Austria this July is the largest competition in the history of choir music. There were 441 ensembles from 93 nations that participated. The large number of participating choirs is complemented by folk dance groups and brass music bands which are going to turn this event into a unique festival of different cultures.
The Kilyawan boys choir also won Gold diplomas and Silver and Bronze medals in the 4th World Choir Games held in China in 2006.
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