The Lyceum of the Philippines University Chorale has theoretically existed since the inception of the school itself, because its founder, former President Jose P. Since then, the chorale has been a source of pride for the institution. Its membership is composed of students from the freshman up to the senior levels, coming from different fields of study. The Chorale regularly performs in the social and academic functions. Other than that, they have also performed in notable events outside the campus and have also joined in both national and international chorale competitions. Nicanor C. Infante went through rigorous voice training and regular rehearsals to ensure that the group’s sound will match chorale standards both here and abroad. This will also equip the group for future competitions inside and outside the country. In the past years, the group has performed in different events which showcased its talent and has also improved the group’s capabilities. They performed in the Annual Awards Convocations where Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was the guest of honor, and in the “Harmonies Festival” at the Philam Life Theater. There, they sang with various world-renowned choirs such as UP Singing Ambassadors, UST Coro Tomasino, and the Ateneo Chamber Singers. Together with the Manila Philharmonic Orchestra, they were also given the chance to perform with the country’s finest tenor Mr. Nolyn Cabahug, and most sought-after soprano Ms. Rachelle Gerodias the same year. To complete the package, they serenaded at the Hyatt Regency Manila Hotel for their Christmas presentation, “Voices at the Lobby”. The group has also been performing in different television programs like GMA 7’s Unang Hirit, Mel and Joey, the noontime show Eat Bulaga!, All Star K! The One Million Peso Videoke Challenge, NBN 4’s “Sining Gising: NCCA Ugnayan sa Tinig ng Bayan” hosted by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts under Ms. Cecile Guidote Alvarez, The Young Once, the morning show One Morning and ABS-CBN’s Umagang kay Ganda. This has proven that the group has improved in time and can be considered as a note-worthy Philippine Chorale. These performances further improved the chorale’s sound and in no time started competing in different choir competitions like the National Music Competition for Young Artists – College Choir Category in October where they placed fourth in the NCR division of schools. They have also joined “St. Thomas Square Christmas Chorale Competition” where they won first prize and the “Pasko sa Avenida” where they bagged the third prize. All these experiences gave the chorale the “go signal” to reach farther heights and on November 2-10 of 2007, the Lyceum Chorale embarked on their biggest journey yet: their first international competition in the 1st Asian Choir Games at Jakarta, Indonesia. All their struggles, hard work, perseverance and prayers paid off when they were awarded Gold medals for Musica Sacra and Mixed Youth Choir Category and a Silver Medal for Folkloric Category. This had entitled them to be recipients of the recent Ani ng Dangal Award, an award bestowed recently by the National Commission for Culture and Arts for triumphant artists who competed abroad. Moreover, the group also gained a lot of winning in a number of competitions outside the university bounds. These include winning the Grand Prize in the 50th Pipe Organ Festival and Choir Competition of the Manila Cathedral, and a Second Prize at the Annual Vivere Suites Christmas Chorale Competition at Alabang. The chorale’s past achievement has now placed them in Musica Mundi’s Top 1,000 Choirs of the world, along with other Filipino chorale groups. The updated listing has placed the group in the organization’s Top 150 chorales. The group occasionally performs at the Open Air Auditorium in Rizal Park, various hotels such as Bayleaf, Hyatt, Manila Hotel, Dusit Thani, Marriott Hotel, Heritage Hotel and Solaire Resort and Casino. The group was also invited to lead the opening of the Hot Air Balloon Festival, Feb. 11, 2016, in Clark, Pampanga. All of the group’s endeavors has made them more united and has given them strength to reach better heights while keeping their feet on the ground and never forgetting the group’s humble beginnings. The group, together with the current conductor, Maestro Fidel Calalang Jr., is still aiming to improve their skill as a chorale and believes that perfection can never be reached by just trying once but can be achieved by continuously aiming for improvement and excellence in one’s craft.
