The University of the Philippines Concert Chorus (U.P.C.C.) or Korus will participate and compete for the first time in the 12th International Festival of University Choirs, "Universitas Cantat” 2015", (24 – 27 June, 2015) in Poznan, Poland
Conductor: prof. Janet Sabas-Aracama
www.upconcertchorus.com
Thursday, June 25, GRODZISK WLKP
Rondo Cultural Centre Hall, ul. Kolejowa 12, 6PM
Performers:
University of Guayaquil Choir, Ecuador,
Conductor: Prof. Fernando Gil Estrada and
University of the Philippines Concert Chorus, The Philippines,
Conductor: Prof. Janet Sabas-Aracama
Friday, June 26, AMU Hall,
ul. Wieniawskiego 1, 7 PM
Performers:
Concert Choir of the University of Puerto Rico at Arecibo, Puerto Rico
Adam Mickiewicz University Academic Choir in Poznań, Poland
University of the Philippines Concert Chorus, The Philippines
The UP Concert Chorus, UPCC, or simply Korus, is the official choir of the University of the Philippines since 1962, based in the Diliman, Quezon City campus. It has a diverse repertoire of classical, folk, pop and Broadway musical genres with vibrant choreography. ChoreoCapella or choreographed a capella, is the ensemble's hallmark. In 2012 Korus received the first prize for the performance of a folk piece at the Festival Internacional de Cantonigros in Spain. In the same year the ensemble was the recipient of the prestigious Aliw Awards Foundation's Lifetime Achievement Award.
In 1999, Prof. Janet Sabas-Aracama, became the Artistic Director of the UPCC. and under her leadership, the group continues to perform internationally with great success. Prof. Aracama earned her Master’s degree in Music at the University of the Philippines College of Music in choral conducting, voice and ethnomusicology. Her mentors were Dean Rey T. Paguio in conducting, Josie Bailen, Fides Asensio and Elmo Makil in Voice. She is a versatile singer, not only singing opera, art songs and Broadway music, but crossing over to contemporary gospel, soul, jazz and Original Pilipino Music. She is also a vocal and choral trainer, performs the role of facilitator at music workshops in the Philippines and regularly serves as an adjudicator in choral competitions. She is currently a permanent faculty member of the University of the Philippines and Chair of the Conducting Department.
'Universitas Cantat' is an international choral celebration. Since 1998, it has been gathering young people from various universities - people who are musically talented, active and open to new friendships and to exchange of cultural experience - in Poznań (at the beginning every year and since 2003 - every two years). During the previous ten editions, the public had the chance to admire almost 100 choirs from 26 countries, including such distant parts of the world as Mexico or Ecuador. Since the beginning of existence of the event, its organisation has been handled by Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, AMU Chamber Choir and AMU Chamber Choir Association. The role of Professor Krzysztof Szydzisz - a choirmaster, a musicologist, a voice-building specialist, a speech therapist, a culture manager and since the very beginning - the director of 'Universitas Cantat' and Joanna Piech-Sławecka - an oboist, a choirmaster, a speech therapist and the vice-director of the festival, is invaluable. The festival concerts are held in various concert halls in Wielkopolska, mainly in the Assembly Hall of Adam Mickiewicz University which is famous for excellent acoustics. The choirs prepare inter alia the compositions promoting native music of the particular countries. At the end of the festival, all participants jointly perform a composition of a contemporary living composer. A symphonic orchestra usually accompanies them in this venture.
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