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Manila Bulletin devider Entertainment devider Music and Concerts devider Filipino-renowned Imusicapella wins Grand Prix at 2025 Palawan International Choral Festival

Filipino-renowned Imusicapella wins Grand Prix at 2025 Palawan International Choral Festival

Published Aug 21, 2025 11:22 pm
Imusicapella
Imusicapella

For their unique, versatile, and innovative performances, Filipino-acclaimed Imusicapella romped away with the Grand Prix Saturday night at the recently concluded 2025 Palawan International Choral Festival (PICF) held at the Palawan Coliseum.

"With 16 choirs, an international panel of experts, inspiring workshops and discussions, the festival created lasting memories for all who took part," shared Robert Delgado, President of the National Association of Filipino Choirs, Inc. (NAFCI), organizer of the event.

Imusicapella, a group of highly trained musicians from the CALABARZON Region under the baton of Tristan Ignacio, also bagged the plum for the best in the Sacred Category and Mixed Category.

Imusicapella, as Grand Prix, received P300,000.00 from PCSO. The same group was also proclaimed the Mayor's Choice.

Barcelona NCHS Chorale of Sorsogon City
Barcelona NCHS Chorale of Sorsogon City

The Palawan Chorus Mixtus from Palawan also won in the Sacred Category, while the Surigao Luminary Voices from Surigao City was recognized as well in the Mixed Category, both winning Gold Diplomas.

Meanwhile, Woodrose Chorale from Ayala Alabang won topmost in the Equal Voices Category while the Barcelona National Comprehensive High School (NCHS)Chorale from Sorsogon City took home top prize exclusively in the Youth Choir Category.

Woodrose Choral brought home the Public Prize or Audience Choice Award and Best in Traditional Folklore with Palawan Chorus Mixtus.

The jury was composed of highly esteemed international music greats, namely Korean Maestro Jae Joon Lee, Orchestra Conductor. Chairman; Filipino music visionaries Dr. Joel Navarro, Dr. Beverly Cheng, and Dr. Ed Manguiat; Ukrainian music teacher and conductor in China, Viktoriya Vakulishyna.

The 2025 PICF, which was supported by the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) and NAFCI, a non-stock and non-profit organization under the presidency of Delgado, conductor of various choirs in the country and a former member of Madz or the Philippine Madrigal Singers.

Woodrose Choral of Ayala Alabang
Woodrose Choral of Ayala Alabang

According to Delgado, he was honored by the participation of the internationally awarded Imusicapella because that was the first time it had competed locally.

"Their artistry not only elevated the festival's prestige but also set a new high standard for the competition itself. I am humbled and proud to have welcomed them, and to see their excellence recognized," he said.

During the four-day choral event, music education was enhanced through conferences, workshops, discussions, tours, and non-competitive exercises participated in by Filipino and foreign delegates.

At the welcome ceremony on Aug. 13, 2025, Conference Chair Dr. Raul Navarro talked about the background of the 2025 PICF and presented National Artist for Music Ramon P. Santos, who expounded the significance of choral singing as a means of unity and transformation among members of society.

In the evening before the festival proper, a pulsating display of traditional songs and dances by participants from various regions in the Philippines was staged at the Provincial Government of Palawan (PGP) Center. 

(From left) Tristan Ignacio, Conductor of Imusicapella, Dr. Joel Navarro, and jurors Dr. Ed Manguiat, Prof. Viktoriya Vakulishyna, Dr. Beverly Cheng, and Maestro Jae Jooj Lee
(From left) Tristan Ignacio, Conductor of Imusicapella, Dr. Joel Navarro, and jurors Dr. Ed Manguiat, Prof. Viktoriya Vakulishyna, Dr. Beverly Cheng, and Maestro Jae Jooj Lee

Festival Director Lee opened the choral fest.

At the plenary session on Day One, a subtopic on worship and liturgy as discussed by Fr. Joel de los Reyes and Dr. Joel Magus Navarro with Dr. Raul Navarro and Dr. Bien Constantino, Jr. as moderators. Government as an institution was also tackled as an important stakeholder in the growth and development of choral music with the scheduled speech of Hon. Ravin Manuel Villalon and Polish speaker Kamil Gojowy. A non-competitive exhibition of various choral groups in the country was presented at the Palawan State University (PSU) Theater.

On Day Two, choral singing workshops were facilitated by Prof. Vakulishyna, Dr. Markus Detterbeck, a German musicologist, Dr. Manguiat, Dr. Joel Navarro, and Dr. Cheng.

Day Three was devoted to the Grand Prix competition at the Palawan Coliseum.

The awarding ceremony invoked excitement and pride among the contestants, judges, organizers, and guests of the festival.  

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