July 30, 2015, 6:34 p.m. – THE UST
Singers reigned supreme in the 4th Florence International Choir Festival,
bagging the overall best choir award and bringing home the grand prix, the
Golden David Trophy 2015.
The
32-member chorale bested 14 ensembles from various countries such as Armenia,
Bulgaria, China, England, Estonia, Hong Kong and Italy in the competition held
July 22-25 in Florence, Italy.
The UST
Singers emerged as first-prize winners in the Mixed Choirs Adult Category, Pop,
Folk, Gospel and Barbershop Ensembles Category, Sacred Music Category, and
Modern and Contemporary Music Category.
Roberto
Tagalog, group’s baritone specialist and
College of Science alumnus, won as Best Male Soloist for his part in
“Gabag-an” by Ruben Federizon.
“We
studied Gabag-an just last June. I did not expect this award because my solo
part only lasted a couple of seconds in the introduction of the song,”
Tagalog said in an interview with the Varsitarian.
Fidel
Calalang Jr., the conductor the UST Singers, also won special prizes for Best
Contemporary Work’s Arrangement for his choral arrangement of Ennio Morricone’s
“My Heart and I” and the Best Interpretation of the Required Piece “Vergine O
Natura” by Gaetano Lorandi.
The UST
Singers will be continuing their tour in Germany and will hold a thanksgiving
concert upon arrival in Manila. The world-renowned choir, the 2010 Choir of The
World champion, will have another concert in South Korea in October 2015. Amierielle
Anne A. Bulan and Ma. Czarina A. Fernandez
It should be “Gabaq-an” spelled using a ‘Q.’ And the required piece should be “Vergine, O Natura Sacra”