The University of the Philippines Medicine Choir (UP MedChoir) was founded in the 1980's as an offshoot of the College of Medicine’s annual Tao Rin Pala inter-class choral competition. The choir has since grown by leaps and bounds to be one of the most active medical choirs in Asia, with multiple concerts, tours, and six CD recordings to their name. The group is the seven-time champion of the Association of Philippine Medical Colleges’ acclaimed inter-medical school choral competition MediRhythmia. The choir has also received the Gawad ng Dekano (Dean’s Citation) for meritorious performances in Southern California, Delaware Valley, New York, St. Louis and Baltimore during a goodwill tour of the United States in 2001. Internationally, the choir earned great acclaim for performances in Germany, France, Spain and Ireland during the group’s first European Tour in 2005. In the group’s first international competition—the 51st International Fleischmann Trophy Competition in Cork, Ireland—they won the P.E.A.C.E Trophy (Public Prize) for rendering the most enjoyable performance. The choir was also given the honor of performing last in the competition’s closing Gala Concert. In July 2006 the group competed in the 4th World Choir Games in Xiamen, China against over 400 choirs from all over the world. There, the UP MedChoir garnered two Gold Diplomas in the Musica Sacra and Mixed Chamber Choir categories during the qualifying round. After two spectacular performances in the final round, the choir was awarded silver medals in both categories. For its outstanding achievements, the choir was again given the Gawad ng Dekano and was recognized as The Most Outstanding Organization in UP Manila. In 2008, the choir embarked on a second Goodwill Tour to the United States where they gave exemplary performances in Michigan, New Jersey, Washington, DC, Las Vegas, and California. In 2009, the choir competed in the first Philippine National Choral Competition held at the CCP, and gained three silver awards in the Sacred, Mixed Chamber, and Folk Song categories. Accolades aside, the group continues to fulfill its mission as the official choir of the UP College of Medicine, doing charity work and performing for the patients of the Philippine General Hospital in addition to staging at least two major concerts each year. The UP MedChoir’s repertoire includes an eclectic mix of classic and contemporary styles, blending together distinct flavors of Eastern and Western music in an effort to free the mind, quench the heart, and heal the soul.
