The Rousing Success of AOVICF Manila 2025

The Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP), in collaboration with the Philippine Madrigal Singers, now in partnership with Areté, Ateneo de Manila University, once again celebrated the power of music through the Andrea O. Veneracion International Choral Festival (AOVICF) Manila 2025 from August 20 to August 24 this year.

The cream of the crop: Winners of the AOVICF Manila 2025
Now on its sixth edition, AOVICF Manila 2025 held six (6) competition categories: Children’s Choir, Equal Voices, Folk Song and Indigenous Music, Mixed Choir, Musica Sacra, and Popular Music.

For the Children’s Choir category, the Kirana Teenage Choir (Surabaya, Indonesia), with conductor Redemptus Arzde Widartha, was named Grand Champion. Sta. Teresa College Children's Choir (Batangas, Philippines), conducted by Aurelio Manalo Jr., won second place, while the Marbel Children's Chorus (Koronadal City, South Cotabato) placed third with conductor Jeward T. Cardenas.

Koro Ilustrado (Makati City, NCR), under the direction of Anna Abeleda-Piquero and Edmund Piquero, Jr., emerged as the Grand Champion for the Equal Voices Category; the Tarlac Männerchor clinched Second Place with conductor Darwin B. Vargas; and the Miriam College High School Glee Club (Quezon City, NCR), directed by Nancy C. Roman, was awarded Third Place. 

The Eastern Chamber Singers (ECS) of Antipolo City, Rizal, conducted by Anna Abeleda-Piquero, was declared the Grand Champion of the Popular Music Category. In Second Place was the Technological Institute of the Philippines Choral Society (Quezon City, NCR) with conductor Cyro Bon Cloui H. Moral. Malang, Indonesia’s FLOICE, with conductor Agustinus Wahyu Permadi, won Third Place.

In the Musica Sacra Category, the Far Eastern University Chorale (Manila, Philippines), with conductor Roijin Suarez, was named Grand Champion. The Philippine Vocal Ensemble (Pasay City, NCR), conducted by Cyro Bon Cloui H. Moral, claimed Second Place, and the ECS also received Third Place with conductor Anna Abeleda-Piquero. 
Choirmaster Normita R. Pablico led the St. Louis University Glee Club (Baguio City, Benguet) to win the Folk Song and Indigenous Music Category, with the Letran Singing Ambassadors (Manila, Philippines), conducted by Anthony Go Villanueva, and the Tarlac State University Chorale, led by conductor Joshua Ysmael D. Fontanilla, earning Second and Third Prizes, respectively.  

The Mixed Choir Category Grand Prize winner was, again, the Eastern Chamber Singers (ECS). In this category, Koro Seraphim from Tagbilaran City, Bohol (led by Mari Aleli Antoni-Inting) clinched the Second Place, and was also given the Special Prize for Best Interpretation of the Contest Piece, National Artist for Music Ryan Cayabyab’s Umáy Gu-lai. The Letran Singing Ambassadors (Manila, Philippines), with conductor Anthony Go Villanueva, placed third.

The grand winner of the Mixed Choir Category received a cash prize of Php 200,000 and a trophy, while the grand winners of the other categories were granted Php 150,000 and trophies. All winners have also been awarded certificates. The Eastern Chamber Singers and the Far Eastern University Chorale were also selected to become Asia Choral Grand Prix (ACGP) finalists in 2026 and 2027, respectively. 

The AOVICF Manila also launched its first Choral Composition Competition with Salmo 96 by Jem Talaroc (Philippines) being declared the Grand Prize winner. Christian Bucal’s Sopas earned the Second Prize, while Thai composer Kawin Chinpong claimed the Third Prize with his composition entitled Pho Mueng Tai. 

The three compositions were proclaimed the winners after being shortlisted, along with the following remarkable pieces:

• Kahit Walang Walang Hanggan by Jomar Marquez Castañeda (Philippines)
• when i sing to myself, who listens? by Paul Gabriel Cosme (Philippines)
• where all languages end by Bill Cutter (USA)
• Ang Tutubi by Alexander Louise Ibarra (Philippines)
• Raios de sol em minha face by Felipe Jacob (Brazil)
• Jubilate Deo by Gabriel Legaspi (Philippines)
• Purihin si Yahweh by Nathan Macabanti (Philippines)
• The Destruction of Sennacherib by Michał Malec (Poland)
• Requiem by Eugenio Monni (Italy)
• Gloria! by Edgar David Talanay (Philippines)

AOVICF Manila 2025 as the bright future of choral music in the PH
“AOVICF brilliantly demonstrates music’s power to bring people together. While proving that art knows no bounds, it opened our ears and unlocked our minds to welcome stories woven into melodies,” remarked CCP President Kaye C. Tinga in the festival’s awarding ceremonies.

AOVICF, while inciting inspiration from musicians across the globe, has always carried its namesake’s mission of singing from the heart. “It is her [Andrea O. Veneracion] love for the arts that flows through every performance. Through this festival, Ma’am OA’s legacy lives on and resonates with us,” shared CCP Vice President and Artistic Director Dennis M. Marasigan.

Marasigan congratulated the participating choirs and excitedly announced that the Philippines will host the prestigious Asia Choral Grand Prix again. Slated in 2027, “the competition of champions” gathers the winning choirs from the five ACGP member-festivals: the AOVICF (Philippines), the Bali International Choir Festival (Indonesia), the Korea International Choir Competition, the Malaysian Choral Eisteddfod International Choir Festival (Malaysia), and the Singapore International Choral Festival (Singapore).

The CCP, through AOVICF Manila 2025, continues to uphold its mission of distributing and promoting the nation’s cultural tapestry. While fulfilling its role as the Philippines’ leading arts and cultural institution, it nurtures talent and harbors a community bound by passion and artistry. 

To get the latest updates on shows and events, visit CCP's official social media accounts on Facebook, X, Instagram, and TikTok. For more news, visit the CCP's official website (www.culturalcenter.gov.ph).