Manila Chamber Singers

MCS continues its 4^th European Tour

By Agnes van de Beek-Pavia (FCC)
The Hague-The Netherlands
May 30, 2015



In Scheveningen, the Filipino Catholic Community (FCC) The Hague hosted an evening concert for MCS on May 23, 2015 at St. Anthony Abbot Church. The Filipino Catholic Communities in Gouda and Rotterdam also organized afternoon concerts on 24 May 2015 and 25 May 2015 respectively.

Guests were officials of the Philippine Embassy in The Hague, with His Excellency Ambassador Jaime Victor B. Ledda, members of the Diplomatic Corps, leaders and representatives of different Filipino communities in The Netherlands and other friends. The choir also performed at the English Speaking International Roman Catholic Parish in The Hague during its Sunday mass last 24 May 2015. The performances in these locations were warmly accepted and critically acclaimed. The choir’s passionate singers and dynamic repertoire, which included standard international choral songs and well-chosen list of popular traditional folk music and OPM (Original Pilipino Music), left the audience in overwhelming admiration and applauded much longer asking for more.

The Manila Chamber Singers, conducted by William Lloyd Cordero, performed a good range of pieces all beautifully arranged and cleverly performed. It was surely an evening to remember with a bunch of sixteen energetic, enthusiastic and passionate performers. The glorious “a capella” performance of the songs “C’est fini la Comedie”, “Song of Praise”, “Oratio Sancti di Francisci”, “Tota Pulchra Es”, among others left the audience too awe struck to applaud. The fast-beat and dancy numbers of “Everytime I Feel the Spirit”, “Sing a Song of Sixpence” and “Man in the Mirror” also brought the crowd to dance and clap along. The musical enchantment went on with the sound of popular folk songs “Paruparong Bukid” and “Rosas Pandan”, while the all-time favorite OPM songs “Ngayon at Kailanman”, “Umagang Kay Ganda”, and “Minsan Lang Kitang IIbigin” further melted the hearts of the audience. The crowd was even more enchanted with the songs “For Good”, “What a wonderful World”, “For the First Time” and ABBA medley.  Their blend of vocal technique, dynamics and expressive singing resulted to a resounding standing ovation.

This year’s Spring Concert in The Netherlands is organized by FCC Rotterdam, FCC The Hague and FCC Gouda in coordination with the Philippine Embassy in The Hague. The free concerts were a fund-raising venture to support the Manila Chambers Singers on their 4^th European tour; which aims to share their passion for music and promote Filipino culture to audiences all over the world. The inexhaustible efforts and support of organizers, communities, sponsors, host families and guests made this year’s Spring Concert an overwhelming success.

The Manila Chamber Singers continues their musical journey to Egeln, Germany for their much-awaited reunion with Young Voices; joining them on their 8th Sine Musica Nulla Vita International Choral Festival from 28 May to 2 June and then performing more concerts in Germany from 28 May – 02 June, in Austria from 03 – 17 June and from 18- 29 June in Italy.
“We are still overwhelmed with the very warm acceptance of the Filipino communities in The Netherlands, so warm na nilabanan nya ang lamig (so warm that it resisted the cold)”;   said Christine Izha A. Lao, President, Manila Chamber Singers; “We will surely bring with us the fun times we had and that will inspire us to do good in the next performances. Hope we will make Filipinos proud in the Germany festival and in the next concerts”.

The choir, composed of students and young professional singers from different vocations who share a passion for choral music,  has been performing to audiences at home in the Philippines and has represented the Philippines in various international choir festivals and competitions in Europe and Asia since it  was formed in 1999.

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MCS In YouTube:
“ MINSAN LANG KITA IIBIGIN”       


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KK5SDMHxhDs&fb_action_ids=1583150041973414&fb_action_types=og.shares&fb_source=other_multiline&action_object_map=%5B826075400819052%5D&action_type_map=%5B%22og.shares%22%5D&action_ref_map=%5B%5D


“FOR GOOD” 


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b2701rQ_Ha0

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See related article:
MANILA CHAMBER SINGERS (MCS)  Choir leaves audience in awe in The Netherlands