PHILIPPINE CHOIR ADDED TO FESTIVAL LINEUP, CONGO CHOIR WITHDRAWS FROM COMPETITION
Prime Note Ensemble, a Filipino choir based in Southern California will be participating in the 2011 California International Choral Festival & Competition on June 24, 25, and 26 in the Performing Arts Center, San Luis Obispo. Pat Harris, Executive Director of the Festival said, “We are very happy that Prime Note Ensemble is going to be able to join us. They were a very popular choir, full of energy and fun when they participated in the 2009 Festival.”
Prime Note Ensemble has competed in two world Choir Games, one in China in 2006 and the other in Austria in 2008 where it won Silver and Bronze medals in the male chamber category. This year, they won Gold in the Folklore Category and two Silvers in the Male Chamber and Pop Categories respectively at the American International Choir Festival & Competition held in Reno, Nevada. The Ensemble participated in the 2009 California International Choral Festival & Competition.
Because Prime Note is an all-male choir, they will not compete in the Required Pieces Competition, but will compete in the Folk Song Competition and the Choir’s Choice Competition. The Required Pieces Competition is geared for mixed (both male and female) voices.
CHOIRS* HAVE BEEN CHOSEN FOR THE 2011
COMPETITION
The University of Redlands Chapel Singers, Redlands, California • Jean-Sebastien Vallee, Director The Chapel Singers is an advanced chamber ensemble composed of undergraduate and graduate music students. Founded in 1965, the choir is the University of Redlands premier choral group. They perform concerts, church services, and educational workshops across California. The Chapel Singers were selected to perform for the 2010 California Music Educators Association convention. They have toured nationally and internationally and this year, celebrate their 45th anniversary of sharing music with many audiences.
Christ the King Church Choir, Kampala, Uganda • Louis Sekyewa, Director Christ the King Church Choir, in the service of Christ the King Parish, has sung the morning Mass every Sunday for 75 years. They perform the music of African composers as well as Bach, Mozart, Handel and other classic composers. The choir has performed for His Majesty Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II, King of Buganda Kingdom and for other special guests including the Chief Justices, the Rt. Hon. Prime Minister of Uganda, ambassadors, ministers and members of parliament. They have been invited to sing at music festivals in Kenya, Canada, Germany, Netherlands, Rwanda, and Oregon, and participated in the 2007 California International Choral Festival.
PEKTORAL CHOIR HAS, UNFORTUNATELY, HAD TO WITHDRAW FROM THE COMPETITION. THEY WERE UNABLE TO GET FUNDING TO SUPPORT THEIR TRAVEL TO THE U.S.
Pektoral, Kyiv, Ukraine • Andriy Karpinets, Director This chamber choir is part of the City House of Teachers in Kiev. It brings together young singers, most of whom have received higher music education. Pektoral’s creative energy focuses on the study and performance of masterpieces taken from religious and national choral music. Its repertoire includes treasures of Ukranian vocal music and works by international composers. The choir has participated in festivals and competitions both at home and abroad, and have given guest performances in Norway, Slovakia, Estonia and Lithuania. Pektoral has recorded and released two CDs of their music.
Lembaga Karsa Cipta Indonesia, • Gita Menaka Kumentas, Director Lembaga Karsa Cipta is dedicated to introducing, promoting and preserving the cultural wealth of Indonesia. It provides an opportunity for young people to channel their artistic talent and the choir hopes in these efforts to strengthen friendships between countries.
Soli Deo Gloria, Fresno, California • Julie Carter, Director The all-women’s chorale derives its name from the practice of Johann Sebastian Bach who inscribed many of his compositions with the Latin phrase, Soli De0 Gloria which means “to God alone be the glory.” Committed to excellence in the performance of diverse and challenging classical and contempory choral literature for women’s voices, the chorale delights audiences in the Fresno area.
Riverside City College Chamber Singers, Riverside, California • John Byun, Director The Chamber Singers are a select group of vocalists who perform a wide range of music. They participate in many collegiate invitational festivals and tour every year. Past tours included New York, Hawaii, San Francisco, Seattle and Europe. In 2009, they participated in the Eisteddfod Choral Competition in Llangollen, Wales, where they garnered prizes including 1st in the Mixed Competition.
BANGELUS CHOIR HAS, UNFORTUNATELY, HAD TO WITHDRAW FROM THE COMPETITION. THEY WERE UNABLE TO OBTAIN VISAS THAT WOULD ALLOW THEM TO TRAVEL TO THE U.S.
Bangelus Choir, Brazzaville, Republic of Congo • Jaebets Bakala, Director
“The Angels” is the translation of “Bangelus” and the choir sings of love, peace, charity and spirituality equally among all people. They sing in French, English and local languages such as Lingala, Kikongo, Lari and others. They have won prizes from the Arts and Cultural Ministry in Brazzaville for their performances. They are always in demand for special events, cultural activities and music festivals. Bangelus has been invited to perform in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Republic of Cameroon and Angola.
*Because of possible visa and travel difficulties, the participation of all international choirs is subject to change.
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Choirs that participated in the 2009 Festival
The Prime Note Ensemble, Saudi Arabia Novem G. Cabios, Director The Prime Note Ensemble is the first Filipino a cappella choir in Saudi Arabia. Its members are part of a group called Overseas Filipino Workers and in its ranks are representatives of nearly every trade and profession. The choir performs two concerts every year with proceeds benefiting different charities in the Philippines. Since 2001, the group has given numerous performances in Saudi Arabia and gained international exposure by winning the Bronze Medal in the 4th World Choir Games in China and winning the Silver Medal and Gold Certificate in the 5th World Choir Games in Austria in 2008. The group was recently ranked as one of the top 50 Male Choirs in the world by Musica Mundi. 
Fullerton College Concert Choir, California USA John Tebay, Director This 70 voice ensemble has performed throughout the West, Pacific Northwest, and the East Coast of the United States as well as Canada, Mainland China, the United Kingdom, and Italy. They have been a featured choir at American Choral Directors Association Conventions. The choir has competed at the International Eisteddfod Music Festival Competition in Wales, and the Seghizzi International Choral Competition in Gorizia, Italy.
Saint Zlata Meglenska, Republic of Macedonia Letka Dimovska Polizova, Director The St. Zlata Meglenska Women’s Chamber Choir exists as a part of the Macedonian Orthodox Church and it is the first of its kind in Macedonia. They most recently took the Grand Prize at both the 2008 Rimini International Choral Competition in Italy and the 2006 National Multicultural Festival in Canberra, Australia. A first place prize was awarded at the 2007 International Choral Festival of Popular Singing in Barcelona. The choir has competed in Festivals in the United Kingdom, Greece, Slovenia, Slovakia, Croatia, Poland, Yugoslavia and other European countries.
Sikama Choir, Brazzaville, Republic of Congo Elisabeth Makosso, Director Following a year of civil war and serious political turmoil, Makosso Safou created this singers’ group in 1994 to represent the unity of all Congolese people regardless of origins, and to spread the Gospel throughout the world. Composed of 30 members, Sikama Choir stands for a group of Christians who are always ready to act and react for love, fraternity and unity throughout the world by the means of traditional/folk gospel songs. The choir has traveled to the cities of Luozi and Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and the Republic of Central Africa.
The University of Santo Tomas Singers, Philippines Fidel G. Calalang, Jr., Director The choir is made up of a blend of singers who are students and alumni representing the different colleges and faculties of the Royal and Pontifical University of Santo Tomas. In the course of 16 years, the UST singers have completed 15 concert tours in Europe, the US, Canada, Mexico and Asia, and have earned more than 45 top prizes in various international choral competitions. In 2002, the choir won five Gold Prizes in five categories at the Mundi Cantat Festa Musicale in the Czech Republic and in 2004, it earned the “Excellence Avec Distinction” having earned the highest score in the mixed choir category at the Montreux International Choral Festival in Switzerland. The choir has sung for Pope John Paul II, King Juan Carlos I and Queen Sofia of Spain, Luciano Pavarotti and four Philippine Presidents.
Cuesta College Chamber Singers, California USA John Knutson, Director The Cuesta Chamber Singers, Cuesta College’s premier choral ensemble, perform a wide variety of choral works to excellent critical acclaim. Since its inception in 1997, the ensemble has toured extensively through the Western United States. In the summer of 2005, the Chamber Singers toured the Czech Republic, Austria, Switzerland, and Germany, performing consistently to packed houses and standing ovations. The Chamber Singers returned to Europe in 2008 to perform in Spain, and at the Festival International en Provence in France.
