By Ray Chen S. Bahinting
THE SILLIMAN UNIVERSITY (SU) Campus Choristers won first place in “Daygon: First Provincial Open Choral Competition” last Dec. 10 at Bayawan City.
The choristers, who also won during the First Dumaguete Christmas Choral Competition last Dec. 5, entertained the crowd with their own version of “Carol of the Hearts,” “Munting Sanggol,” and “Maghihintay Sa’yo” during the contest.
Mark Ian Caballes, conductor of the SU Campus Choristers, said: “We only knew the final date and song requirements of the provincial open two days before [the] competition.”
Caballes added that choreography was also required and they only had a day to practice their routine before the competition.
“Thank God my group had the fighting spirit and focus to accomplish [the job],” said Caballes.
Guide Dadang, accompanist and tenor of the choristers, said: “The very first reason why we won is because of our faith. Whatever [happened], [it was] for the Lord.”
Dadang, a first year piano major from the College of Performing and Visual Arts (COPVA), also acknowledged the “full support” of COPVA and the whole university.
Five groups from Negros Oriental and Siquijor also joined the contest. San Antonio Labrador Chorale of Bais City placed second on the provincial choral competition while the Adventist Academy from Siquijor won third place.
Meanwhile, Caballes said that choral music has been ‘alive’ in SU.
“The [SU] Campus Choristers was a prize winner in the [National Music Competitions for Young Artists Foundation] in 1998, under the directorship of Dr. Elizabeth Vista-Suarez,” added Caballes.
Caballes also said that with the strong and competitive choral singing in the Philippines today, the SU Campus Choristers takes choral singing “slowly and carefully.”
“Granting the right opportunity comes, along with the support, we would like to take the challenge in pushing further… All for Silliman, for the glory of God,” Caballes said.~
