The boys are now grown men, with grown voices.
The Kilyawan Boys Choir (Kilyawan Core Group) reunites in this special one-night only concert this Saturday, November 8, 2014, 8:00 PM at the Music Museum.
The Kilyawan Boys Choir celebrates their 20th anniversary this year with a series of concerts and performances. Early this year, the Kilyawan Male Ensemble traveled to Japan to compete in the 7th Fukushima Vocal Ensemble Competition where they bagged a Silver Prize for Category III. Last September, they presented a concert, entitled Beyond the Score, featuring the Consortium of Voices, the umbrella organization of choirs formed under the leadership of the Kilyawan Boys Choir, Inc. Founder and Artistic Director, Mark Anthony Carpio.
The group traces back its roots as the Claret Boys Choir formed in 1994 by Mark Carpio, current choirmaster of the Philippine Madrigal Singers. The Kilyawan Boys Choir derives its name from the songbird Kilyawan, or the Golden Oriole, whose male counterpart is said to be a better warbler or singer. An award-winning and sought-after group, the Kilyawan Boys Choir has performed and competed extensively in prestigious halls in the Philippines and abroad. They bagged the Vocal Ensemble A Cappella Category Championship trophy in the 5th World Choir Games in Austria in 2008. Aside from the boys choir, the Consortium of Voices has expanded and formed the Kilyawan Male Choir and the Voces Aurorae Girls Choir.
Singing for this concert are pioneer members of the Kilyawan Boys Choir. Rem Valenzuela recalls, “This is the group where I learned how to sing. It has been 20 years and we share not only our music but our friendship with you. Before joining the Philippine Madrigal Singers, Kilyawan exposed me to beautiful music making.” Rem, an alumnus of the Kilyawan and the Philippine Madrigal Singers, is a Registered Nurse who is currently taking up medicine.
The boys are indeed grown men now, who are professionals, among them a lawyer, corporate managers of multinational companies, entrepreneurs, and a sound engineer.
Something to watch out for in this concert is a singing choirmaster. Mark will be singing with the ensemble the whole time, and not conducting.
“The Guys are very excited in this reunion concert. They have stopped singing together since 2009 because of studies and career opportunities here and abroad,” said Hazel Copiaco, manager of the Consortium of Voices.
Be prepared for a concert of pure a cappella music—from pop, dance, classical, alternative to the mushiest of love songs.
Tickets for the concert are at P500 and P300. For ticket reservations contact 0917-8169349.