Philippine Madrigal Singers - Mindanao Tour

Goin for the Gold: The 50th Anniversary Outreach Concert Tour of the world renowned Philippine Madrigal Singers goes to Mindanao from February 28 to March 7, 2013.

The Mindanao tour is the second leg of the National Tour organized by the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) Cultural Exchange Department (CED).

The MADZ performed recently in Dumaguete, Bacolod, Roxas and Iloilo. As part of their tour, they held workshops and sang with hundreds of local singers in grand chorale performances which were very well-received.

Concert viewers applauded the musical pieces sang by the MADz. Among the crowd’s favorites were R. Genee’s Italian Salad (Parody of an Opera Scene), Tong Tong Pakitong arr. A. Piquero & R. Cayabyab’s Da Coconut.

Over 7,000 audiences from the local communities expressed their admiration for the outstanding artistry shown by the MADz and gave them standing ovations. The MADz performed encore numbers to the delight of everyone.

As one of the country’s longest existing art organizations that promotes excellence and artistry, the MADz will commemorate its 50th anniversary milestone to further promote and propagate the creativity, brilliance and uniqueness of the Filipino culture and heritage.

The last provincial tour of the MADZ was organized by the CCP Outreach in 2007. In that tour, MADz gave 12 concerts to over 30,000 audiences in 11 sites around the country.

Founded in 1963 by National Artist Professor Andrea O. Veneracion, the choir is one of the world’s most awarded, having consistently won all the top prizes in most of the world’s prestigious choral competitions.

They hold the distinction of being the first choir in the world to win the European Grand Prix for Choral Singing twice (1997 and 2007).

It is composed of students, faculty and alumni from the different colleges of the University of the Philippines (UP).

The ensemble performs a wide repertoire of various styles and forms: renaissance music, classical music, Filipino and international folksongs, contemporary and avant-garde music, opera and even popular music. Their specialization and focus on the madrigal idiom has inspired their unique set-up of singing while seated in a semi-circle, without a conductor.

The Madz is led by Mark Anthony Carpio, one of the foremost choral experts today.

In Mindanao, the Madz will also conduct workshops for local choirs as well as perform with these choirs in a grand public showcase.

They will also audition potential singers for the Sing Philippines Youth Choir which is a dream project of the MADz founder National Artist Andrea O. Veneracion.

From February 28 to March 2, 2013, the MADz will be in Cagayan de Oro City; March 2-4 in Iligan City, March 4-6 in Davao City and March 6-7 in Compostela Valley and Tagum City for two special Concerts for Healing for the victims/survivors of typhoon Pablo.

These outreach engagements are made possible in partnership with Capitol University, MSU-Iligan Institute of Technology, SM Supermalls Mindanao, Southern Phils. Foundation for Arts, Culture & Ecology and the Tagum City Tourism Council. The final leg of the 2013 tour will be in Luzon from October-November 2013.

For more information about the MADz 50th Anniversary Outreach Tour, contact the CCP Cultural Exchange Dept. at telefax no. 832-3674 & 832-1125 locals 1708-1709.