THREE Thomasian composers from the Conservatory of Music were among the 15 winners of the choral writing competition of folk songs last Feb. 28 at the Center for Cultural Arts of the Philippines.
Music professor Fidel Calalang, Jr., Conducting major Lester Frederick Delgado, and Masters student Jude Edgar Balsamo were awarded for their compositions “Magtanim ay Di-biro,” “Orde-e,” and “Dagiti bitbituen Idiay Langit,” respectively, in a contest themed Awiting Bayan para sa Korong Pilipino.
“This reflects the talent of thomasian community and their advocacy in preserving folk songs,” Calalang told the Varsitarian.
The contest was organized by the National Commission for Culture and Arts (NCAA) and National Music Competition for Young Artists Foundation Inc. (NAMCYA) in response to the dearth of choral settings of songs in the local language and the need to popularize local languages in music. The three musical pieces were included in a book, Mga Awiting Bayan: A Choral Anthology by the NCAA and NAMCYA, launched during the awarding ceremonies. K. R.L.
