As a choral conductor, it has always been a dream to see children and youth choirs across the globe sing as one, but I never thought that this would come to fruition during this trying time. All rehearsals, performances, and church singing were halted during quarantine, and this abrupt change to the usual creative process and collaboration really did affect choral artists.
Although it will take more time before we can rehearse and sing with our choirs again, I believe that this time is when musicians are called to give hope and inspiration to their countrymen and to the world and continue to develop the skills of our choristers amid the pandemic. More than just singing, music is our art, our passion and a significant part of our lives in which we find growth and joy—something we want to share with everyone.
Heavenly voices in concert halls, moving music during masses, weekly rehearsals with choristers—these are the things that have changed in the choral scene for the past nine months. Things have been different than usual as musicians have now utilized digital technology to produce a choral performance—learning a piece individually, recording them to perfection, and taking a video in front of the camera, soon to be stitched together into one production.
But amid this trying time of adjustment and solitude, where social interaction has shifted to the virtual scene, choral groups consisting of children and youth have stepped up and used their art to inspire, to express, and to connect—as music soars beyond boundaries and extends its wings to where harmony is needed most.
Last June 24, 2020, the Treble Association of the Philippines (TCAP)successfully launched the Young Voices of the World through a virtual choral performance—with the theme Sing As One, music by Jude B. Roldan and lyrics by Ignatia Adeline, Charise Delson and Jude B. Roldan—in unity with children and youth choral artists from different countries as the world fights against the COVID-19 pandemic. This initiative, which was premiered on YouTube, featured 37 amazing choirs from 17 countries including our scholar choirs, the Young Voices of the Philippines and Kantabella. These choirs are from Asia, Africa, America, and Europe.
The TCAP is a non-profit organization committed to cultivating young choral artists, spearhead research and development for children and youth choral movement, and promote Philippine music within the country and across the world. Aside from the Young Voices of the World, they have also launched variations in Asia and the Philippines, connecting 37 treble choirs across the globe with music. For the group, choral music is more than a discipline that cultivates exemplary skill and artistry, but also an effective medium to unify people through message and song—harmonizing for hope and solidarity amidst the adversity.
Here is the list of choral groups
Young Voices of the World
Cantemus Children’s Choir (Hungary)
Maestro Dénes Szabó
Hamilton Children’s Choir (Canada)
Ms. Zimfira Poloz
Kantabella (Philippines)
Mr. Jude B. Roldan
Kinderchor der Staatsoper Unter den Linden (Germany)
Mr. Vinzenz Weissenburger
Kodaly Conservatory Children’s Choir (Greece)
Mr. Michalis Patseas
Leioa Kantika Korala Children’s Choir (Basque Country, Spain)
Mr. Basilio Astúlez
Ponomaryov Vesna Children’s Choir (Russia)
Dr. Nadezhda Averina
Shenandoah Valley Children’s Choir (USA)
Dr. Janet Hostetter
Soul Sounds Academy (Sri Lanka)
Ms. Soundarie David Rodrigo
Tygerberg Children’s Choir (South Africa)
Ms. Karina Erasmus
The Bel Canto Youth Chorus of the Bach Choir of Bethlehem (USA)
Dr. Joy Hirokawa
Young Voices of the Philippines (Philippines)
Mr. Jude B. Roldan and Dr. Maria Theresa Vizconde-Roldan
Young Voices of Asia
(https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=abxk_sSvDRI)
Hai Sing Catholic Secondary School Choir
Punggol Secondary School Choir (Singapore)
Mr. Marcus Lee
Ikeda Junior Choir (Japan)
Ms. Kayoko Shibuya
Kuala Lumpur Children’s Choir (Malaysia)
Ms. Susanna Saw
Saint Angela Choir(Indonesia)
Mr. Roni Sugiarto
Seongam International Trade High School Choir (Korea)
Ms. Kwon Yong-sik
Taipei Philharmonic Youth and Children’s Choir (Taiwan)
Ms. Sandy Fu
Wattana Girls’ Chorus (Thailand)
Mr. Sathit Sukchongchaipruk
Kantabella (Philippines)
Young Voices of the Philippines
Mr. Jude B. Roldan and Dr. Maria Theresa Vizconde-Roldan
Young Voices of the Philippines Festival Choir
(https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=0KvAXWoXL3k)
Baao Children & Youth Choir
Mr. Hermelino Briones
Bitik Children’s Choir
Mr. Ron April Frias
Calasiao Children’s Chorus
Mr. Gilbert Allan Dispo
Dagupan City Children’s Choir
Ms. Virginia Llamas-Mendoza
Dreamweavers Children’s Choir
Ms. Perlyn Joy Enriquez
Himig Zamora Children’s Choir
Mr. Ivan Grulla
Kilyawan Boys Choir and Voces Aurorae Girls Choir
Mr. Mark Anthony Carpio
Laoag City Children’s Choir
Mr. Vernix Magayano
Las Piñas Boys Choir
Mr. Armando Salarza
Loboc Children’s Choir
Ms. Lea Claudia Cal
Mandaue Children & Youth Chorus
Mr. Dennis Gregory Sugarol
Raz Singing Cherubim
Ms. Alijah May Raz
Savio Singers
Mr. Frinz Charles Casas
St. John the Baptist Children’s Choir
Mr. Bryan Lejano
Voices of the South Children’s Choir
Mr. Peter Buaya
Young Voices of the Philippines,
Living Learning Children’s Chorus, Prayer Bible Fellowship Children’s Choir
Mr. Jude B. Roldan and Dr. Maria Theresa Vizconde-Roldan
Maria Theresa Vizconde-Roldan finished her Doctor of Musical Arts in Music Education degree at Saint Paul University Manila. She also graduated with a degree of Bachelor of Music in Music Education, cum laude and Master of Arts in Choral Conducting at the University of Santo Tomas Conservatory of Music. She is currently teaching Conducting, Large Ensemble Class and Music Education at the University of Santo Tomas Conservatory of Music, Centro Escolar University Conservatory of Music and CEU Graduate School. As a sought after choral pedagogue and children’s choir conductor, Theresa has been invited as guest conductor, choral clinician and has been giving conducting master classes, choral and music education lectures and workshops around the Philippines, Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Indonesia, South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, China, and the United States of America. She has also been invited to adjudicate in prestigious international choral festivals and competitions and served as chairman for choir competition at the National Music Competitions for Young Artists (NAMCYA) in the Philippines. To propagate the Filipino choral music and in their advocacy to strengthen the children’s choral movement in the Philippines, Theresa, together with her husband Jude, arranges Filipino folksongs and writes choral music for children’s choirs. They also founded the Treble Choir Association of the Philippines and its scholar choirs, the Young Voices of the Philippines and Kantabella, where she is the conductor and the co-artistic director. She led the Hail Mary the Queen Children’s Choir to choral competitions winning first-ever Children’s Choir of the World title at the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod in North Wales, United Kingdom and Choir Olympic Champion at the World Choir Games in Bremen, Germany. Under her leadership, the choir was featured and guested in international choir festivals such as the 12th Cantemus International Choral Festival and Conducting Mastercourse in Nyíregyháza, Hungary, Pacific International Choral Festival in Oregon Bach Festival, USA, 6th World Vision International Children’s Choir Festival in South Korea. Presently, Dr. Maria Theresa Vizconde-Roldan is also the Vice President for Projects of the Philippine Choral Directors Association. Email: mtvizconderoldan@yahoo.com
