THE WORLD-renowned UST Singers began their international concert tour with a classical and contemporary repertoire on June 24 in Goslar, Germany.
“For the past 25 years, [we have] been traveling almost every year around the world. Our theme has and always will be ‘Thomasian and Filipino excellence and artistry in music to the world,'” said founder and choirmaster Fidel Calalang in an interview with the Varsitarian.
The UST Singers’ international tour, marking its 25th founding anniversary, spans 18 destinations in Sweden, Denmark, Belgium, France, Spain and Germany.
In Germany, the Singers performed Spanish composer Josu Elberdin’s “Cantate Domino,” American composer Frederick Mabalot’s “Ubi Caritas,” Filipino composer George Hernandez’s “Paru-parong Bukid” and Calalang’s own arrangement of “Pangarap Ko ang Ibigin Ka.”
The tour serves as an avenue “to introduce and to expose” the new batch of members to the international scene.
“It also brings us to the prime and important mission of being the University’s ambassadors of culture for our country abroad, giving us the opportunity to represent the Philippines in international musical events,” Calalang said.
The ensemble will be performing as guest choir at the International Habaneras Choral Competition in Torrevieja, Spain this July.
Founded in 1992, the UST Singers consists of alumni and students from different colleges and faculties in the University.
It has brought home international music awards, such as the “Choir of the World Grand Prize-Luciano Pavarotti Trophy” in 1995 and in 2010.
