Pride and Presence of Madz

Many Filipinos around the world continue to make us proud with their presence. From Efren Bata Jr. to Lea Salonga, their presence alone on any form of stage will make Pinoys like me proud.

Add the The Philippine Madrigal Singers to the list of Filipinos. They recently won the prestigious European Grand Prix for Choral Singing held last Sunday in at the Church of Sta. Maria della Pieve in Arezzo, Italy.

The 44-strong Philippine choir is the first and only choir to win twice in what is known as the choral Olympics of the world. The Madrigals beat formidable choirs such as Russia’s Vesna Children’s Choir, Hungary’s Cantemos Mixed Choir, Cuba’s Schola Cantorum Coralina and the Taipei Chamber Singers.

“Its overwhelming. Up to now we are very happy and pleased. No words can describe it,” Mark Anthony Carpio, the Madrigal’s choirmaster in a article published in the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

Founded in 1963 by National Artist for Music Andrea O. Veneracion, The Philippine Madrigal Singers has won many choral competitions from all over the world.

Their impressive track record and musical virtuosity, they are now regarded as the one of the world's best choirs.

The Madrigal Singers first earned critical acclaim during their performance in the First Choruses of the World Festival at the Lincoln Center in New York in 1969.

They have performed before for royalty and heads of state like Pope Paul VI, Presidents Gerald Ford and Richard Nixon, King Juan Carlos de Bourbon and Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew.

Find out more about the Madrigal singers at: http://www.philippinemadrigalsingers.com/