Renowned UP Concert Chorus touring North and South America
WATCH: Korus video by Romeo Herrera
TORONTO, Ontario — Korus, aka the University of the Philippines Concert Chorus (UPCC), is currently blazing a musical trail through five countries in North and South America.
Korus was born in 1962 under the term of then UP President Carlos P. Romulo. In the ‘70s, the UPCC pioneered choreographed choral performances. Under the leadership of Professor Janet (Jai) Sabas-Aracama, Korus goes beyond the usual static choir formation while singing.
Instead, the 16 singers have mastered the winning combination of vibrant choreography with gorgeous harmonies, for selections ranging from classical staples to Broadway songs, Original Pilipino Music (OPM) and pop.
Its current “CHOReo ‘Cappella 2016, Tour of the Americas,” started in New York/New Jersey on May 26. It has been to Pittsburgh, Chicago, Kansas City, Missouri and in Texas in Beaumont, Houston and Austin.
It had stops in the states of Ohio and Alabama, and later in Tampa, Florida. Korus is scheduled in Colombia, Venezuela and Ecuador. It will stop in Canada August 7 to 17, before heading back to Manila on August 17.
Korus draws from its 53-year tradition of compelling interpretations, eye-catching costumes and charisma that is uniquely Filipino to win prize after major prize in the world of choral competitions.
Most recently, Korus won the Grand Prix at the 6th International Krakow Choir Festival in Poland on June 14, 2015, besting 23 choirs from all over Europe and the US. At the same time, Korus won First Place in the Mixed Choirs Category, and second Slace in the Folk, Pop, and Gospel category.
In its Golden Year Tour in 2012, Korus won First Prize in the Folk Category and Second Prize in the Mixed Category at the Festival Internacional de Musica de Cantonigros in Catalonia, Spain. Korus also won the Gold Diploma and Audience Prize at the 9th Cantemus International Festival in Nyiregyhaza, Hungary.
For bringing honor to the Philippines through these international competitions, Korus received the 2012 Lifetime Achievement Award from the Aliw Awards Foundation and the 2013 Ani ng Dangal Award from the National Commission for Culture and the Arts.
Korus members are drawn from students and alumni from different colleges of the University of the Philippines. The current tour members are Lesley Fabros, Yna Moralejo, Lia Reyes, Misha Buensuceso, Tia Aracama (sopranos); Keisha Paulo, Airom Camua, Pola del Monte (altos); Myron De La Cruz, Manny Aquino, Jasper Domingo (pianist), Pao Castillo (tenors); and Jojo Mendoza, Agoy Patacsil (tour manager), Julius Sinoy, Theo Uyehara (basses).
Professor Jai Sabas-Aracama is the conductor and artistic director.
CHOReoCappella 2016’s Toronto presentation will be held on August 13, Saturday at 6 p.m. at Toronto International Celebration Church, 190 Railside Road, North York, Ontario. The show is sponsored by the University of the Philippines Alumni Association of Toronto.
Tickets are $25, $45, and $100 may be ordered through https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/choreo-capella-2016-tour-of-the-americas-tickets-26381380419 or by email through Alice Herrera at [email protected] or [email protected].
The UPAA Toronto Scholarship and Endowment Funds are the beneficiaries of the concert proceeds.
