About Us
STUDENTS and young professionals who love music make up the Coro de Sta. Cecilia. There are college undergrads and graduate students. There are teachers, state university employees, a nursing student, an I.T. guru and others who go by the profession of “freelance.” All of them--whatever part of this topsy-turvy metropolis they work in or study at--rush to the University of the Philippines campus on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays to sing together.
The active members number around 20 now. But in 1996, there were only 10 and they didn’t even have a permanent conductor. They decided to call themselves the Coro de Sta. Cecilia after the patron saint of music and chose the Parish of the Holy Sacrifice in UP Campus as their base. The group
then spent months going through growing pains and looking for a conductor.
At that time, they were truly blessed to meet Chris Borela of the Philippine Madrigal Singers. Chris has since patiently guided and trained the group as musical director and choirmaster, generously allowing the group to sing his original arrangements.
The group had it's third major solo concert on December 2, 2000. “Salmo't Sari” (Psalms and Others) was held at the University of the Philippine's Dalisay Aldaba Recital Hall. It followed “More Than a Song” in 1999 and “Unang Konsiyerto” ("First Concert") in 1998.The choir sings regularly in the 4:00 and 5:00 p.m. Sunday masses at the U.P. Parish of the Holy Sacrifice as well as on certain days at the Holy Cross Parish in Krus Na Ligas. Coro also sings in various formal and non-formal gatherings in and out of the parish.
After years of hard work, Coro is proud to be a recognized member of the Madz Et. Al. family, a congregation of choirs conducted by the members, trainees and alumni of the Philippine Madrigal Singers. And with a lot more hard work and with Chris’ guidance, the group hopes to eventually join and compete in choir festivals abroad.
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