The College of Science Chorale was unanimously chosen as Karolfest 2010’s grand prize winner, besting nine other student choirs with what the judges called their “solid technique, musically.”
This is the second first prize win for the choir, having bagged the top prize in 2009. The choir was also named second prize winner in 2007.
Himig Maskom, the student choir of the College of Mass Communication, came in second for their “balanced repertoire and respect for the contest piece.” The chorale has been a consistent competition favorite, having won second place in 2009 and the third place in 2007.
The third place went to the College of Law’s Charivari choir for its “balanced choice of repertoire.” The choir placed second in 2008.
Now on its fourth year, Karolfest seeks the best student choir through the rendition of Christmas songs or carols. Participating choirs are required to sing at least two songs and a competition piece. The popular Christmas song “Pasko na Naman,” composed by Felipe de Leon with lyrics by Levi Celerio, was this year’s competition piece.
The College of Engineering chorale, which placed third both in 2009 and 2008, failed to make it to the magic three this year, along with the chorale from the College of Social Sciences and Philosophy, which was the chosen as the top winner when the contest was launched in 2007.
Other choirs in competition were from the colleges of Human Kinetics, Business Administration, Architecture and the schools of Economics and Statistics.
The choirs were judged by their musicianship or interpretation and technique and by their stage deportment— the appropriateness of their costumes and audience impact.
Three individuals comprised the board of judges: Verne de la Pena, PhD, ethnomusicologist, composer and Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Musicology at the UP College of Music; Malvin Bethooven P. Macasaet, a choral conductor, classical singer and vocal coach connected with the Music School of Ryan Cayabyab; and Nikos Ibarra Mante, piano and vocal pedagogue, musical lecturer and musical director of the UP Manila Chorale, UP Manila’s official performing group.
The program, held December 13 at the GT Toyota Auditorium of the UP Asian Center, was hosted by Aimee Joy Aringo and Peter Jeffrey Mololes.
Indak Oryantal, a new student organization comprising belly dancing enthusiasts, and Ugnayan ng Nagkakaisang Artista, provided very-well received intermission numbers.
Karolfest is a program of the Office of the Chancellor, as organized by the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs with the Office for Initiatives for Culture and the Arts in cooperation with UP Diliman Student Council.