A Filipino choir group has cemented the Philippines' reputation as a nation of natural-born singers.
The multi-awarded Himig Singers of Davao City swept the First Asian Choir Games held in Jakarta, Indonesia, from Nov. 2 to 10, winning the top prize in the mixed vocal ensembles category, besting rival groups from China, Malaysia, Russia, South Korea, Sri Lanka and Thailand.
They performed the Visayan folk song "Usahay" (Sometimes), "Circle of Life" by Elton John and the gospel hymn "Walls of Jericho."
Other Philippine groups also won top prizes in other categories in the Jakarta tilt.
In the mixed youth choir category, the Lyceum University of the Philippines Chorale took the gold diploma, a mere point away from the Gema Sangkakala Youth Choir of Indonesia, which was declared champion.
The Lyceum Chorale won the silver diploma in the folklore category while the Mandaue City's Mandaue School for the Arts Children's Choir finished second after Indonesia's Voice of YPJ, which was declared champion.
Philippine representatives also performed well in the Asian Open phase of the contest, with Quezon City's Coro de Sta. Cecilia winning the silver diploma in the mixed vocal ensembles category and the Mandaue School for the Arts Children's Choir bagging the gold in the children's choir category.
The Himig Singers won the National Music Commission for Young Artists awards in 1990 and 1993. It also brought home the Award of the Audience at the 2004 Vivace International Choral Festival in Veszprém, Hungary.
In 1997, the group won first prize in the mixed category and the grand prize in the 26th International Youth and Music Festival in Vienna, Austria, garnering the highest rating ever of 99.93 percent in the history of the competition.
source: Good News Pilipinas
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