Seven bemedalled choir groups, one of which is the University of Mindanao Chorale, received recognition from the President at the Malacañang Palace on Sunday following their respective outstanding showings on the international stage.

Consistent to the theme’s objective of Honoring the Champion Choirs of 2024, ‘Gintong Parangal’ saw seven globally-acclaimed singing ensembles receive P200,000 each, plaques and certificates of recognition, and all the spotlight they’re due for their award-winning performances. 

University of Mindanao’s varsity choir group won the Grand Prix at the 2024 Taipei International Choral Festival in Taiwan, where they also topped the mixed and musica sacra categories, according to a report by GMA News Online’s Mariel Celine Serquiña.

They’ve also punched their ticket to the 2025 World Choral Championship.

The six other choir groups recognized at Gintong Parangal:

University of the Philippines Manila Chorale (UPMC)

  • Grand Prix champion, 59th Prof. Jan Szyrocki International Choral Festival (Miedzyzdroje, Poland)
    • Winner, Mai Amber Halo of St. Peter the Apostle- Musica Sacra Category 
    • Gold diplomas, Musica Sacra Category and Mixed Category

Quezon City Performing Arts (QCPA) Development Foundation Concert Chorus 

  • Champion, World Choir Games Mixed Chamber Choirs Category in Champions Competition (Auckland, New Zealand)
    • Gold, Mixed Chorale Category and the Sacred Choral Music with Accompaniment Category

Sola Gratia Chorale 

  • Grand Prix Champion, Singapore International Choral Festival 2024 (Singapore)
    • Gold, Mixed Voices, Musica Sacra, and Folklore Categories

Los Cantantes De Manila

  • Grand Prix champion, Concorso Polifónico Internazionale Guido d'Arezzo (Italy)
    • First Prize, Sacred, Secular and Obligatory Categories
  • Qualifier, 2025 European Grand Prix for Chorale Singing

 IMUSICAPELLA

  • Grand Prix champion, 2024 Béla Bartók International Choir Competition (Hungary) 
  • Grand Prix champion, International Baltic Sea Choir Competition (Latvia)
  • Qualifier, 2025 European Grand Prix for Chorale Singing

University of Santo Tomas Singers 

  • Grand Prix champion, 10th Edward Grieg International Choir Festival (Norway)
    • First Prize, Mixed Choir Category
    • Second Prize, Folk Music Category. 

A total of P1.4 million in cash incentives were handed out during the momentous event, duly led by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and First Lady Louise Araneta-Marcos.

President Marcos, according to an official news release by the Presidential Communications Office, highlighted the importance of acknowledging the globally-renowned feats of world-class Filipino talents in order to inspire future generations. 

“This is a world-class international level… Not only because you have achieved such greatness in the international arena but because you have — in doing so, you have shown once again that very important part of the Filipino culture, which is music,” said PBBM in his speech.