The Philippine Madrigal Singers are marking their 63rd season with a full slate of international engagements, led by a nine-city tour of Japan in July and an appearance at the World Symposium on Choral Music in Macau this August.
They are tying these travels to a year of milestones that includes a new album, a major anniversary concert for their choirmaster and fresh performances on the UP campus.
The group recently opened their current season with “Tempus Est” at the Proscenium, a program built around the release of a new album featuring choral works by Filipino composer Dr. Eudenice Palaruan. They also joined the University of the Philippines Symphony Orchestra at the UP Theater to help mark the university’s 118th founding anniversary, performing a program that showcased the choir’s blend of tradition and contemporary Filipino repertoire.
Widely known as the Philippine Madrigal Singers or simply “Madz,” the ensemble is based at UP Diliman and has long been regarded as one of the country’s premier cultural ambassadors.
Founded in 1963 by National Artist for Music Andrea O. Veneracion, the choir was conceived as a way to raise choral standards at home through finely crafted a cappella performance. Over the decades, they have toured extensively, representing the Philippines in festivals, competitions and diplomatic cultural exchanges.
On the global stage, the UP Madrigal Singers are the first choir in history to win the European Grand Prix for Choral Singing twice, taking the prestigious title in 1997 and again in 2007.
They have also been named UNESCO Artists for Peace, reinforcing their reputation not only for artistic excellence but also for using music to promote understanding across borders.
The group is instantly recognizable for its semicircular, conductorless setup, a signature style that places performers in close communication with one another and with the audience.
Their repertoire ranges from Renaissance and classical works to Filipino and international folk songs, opera excerpts, contemporary pieces and even reimagined pop hits. Membership is drawn largely from UP students, faculty and alumni, with the roster updating as singers graduate and new voices are trained.
Today’s ensemble is led by choirmaster Mark Anthony A. Carpio, who was personally designated by Veneracion as her successor and is celebrating his 25th anniversary at the helm with the “reMARKable” concert series.
For their sustained artistic achievement and global cultural impact, the UP Madrigal Singers were honored last year in Las Vegas with a TOFA100 Award, underscoring their place as one of the Philippines’ most decorated and enduring choral institutions.
