TOUR PROFILE
The University of the Philippines Concert Chorus was born in 1962 during the incumbency of General Carlos P. Romulo as President of the University of the Philippines. Through its existence, the group has metamorphosed from being a simple university chorale into a musical force of national and world stature. The widely acclaimed university chorus is a melange of diferent backgrounds composed of select students and alumni from the diferent colleges of the university performing various potpourri of music ranging from Classic to the Contemporary.
“Korus”, as it is afectionately known, has been the pioneer of choreographed choral performances in the Philippines since the early ‘70s. With Artistic Director and Conductor Prof. Janet Sabas-Aracama, the UP Concert Chorus goes beyond the typical “stand-up” choir performance style. The summer tour theme title "CHOReo'Cappella" is based on the choral performance practice that is developed further into Choreographed Choral A Cappella styles. These are choral works in addition to the U.P. Concert Chorus' rich repertoire inspired by musical theater concert style.
On its 53rd year as cultural envoys of Filipino artistry in choral music, Korus pursues with continuing passion as it unites audiences of various cultural backgrounds through the gift of choral music. This tour commences at the end of May until August of 2016, covering main cities from the East Coast of the U.S.A. to the Choral Festivals in the cities of Quito and Guayaquil in Ecuador, some parts of Colombia then a visit to some cities in Canada.
The U.P.C.C. continues to plant a cultural seed and friendship across the globe. Once more, the Korus has gone beyond just entertaining and has been proven to be a tool for peace and understanding among countries. Through choral music, Korus continues to develop generations of Filipino artists with the mission to serenade the world for the love of the choral arts, for the university’s honor, for love of country and our Creator. UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES CONCERT CHORUS PROFILE (2015-2016)
The UP Concert Chorus, UPCC, or simply Korus, is the ofcial choir of the University of the Philippines. As an internationally-competitive performing group, Korus has mastered versatility in singing classical, folk, pop and Broadway musical genres with signature vibrant choreography. Korus has become a veritable icon of performing arts, as the pioneer of ChoreoCapella or choreographed a capella, in the Philippines.
Led by Professor Janet Sabas-Aracama, the "Korus" garnered the Grand Prix at the 6th International Krakow Choir Festival in Poland on June 14, 2015 for being the best choir of the festival, besting 23 other choirs from all over Europe and the USA. Along with this, Korus also won 1st Place in the Mixed Choirs Category, and 2nd Place in the Folk, Pop, and Gospel Category, astounding an international jury comprised of world-renowned music giants. In another acclaimed festival held in Poznan, Poland, the 12th International Festival of University Choirs, Korus left multitude of audiences awestruck with its signature outstanding performance. This earned Korus a spot in the local and international news headlines, being the only choir receiving multiple standing ovations during its festival performance alongside 10 other choirs from all over the world. In its Golden Year tour in 2012, Korus joined prestigious international competitions and triumphed in all of them. Korus won the First Prize in the Folk Category and Second Prize in the Mixed Category at the Festival Internacional de Musica de Cantonigros in Catalonia, Spain. Korus also won the Gold Diploma and Audience Prize at the 9th Cantemus International Festival in Nyiregyhaza, Hungary. With all of these international recognitions, Korus was feted with the 2012 Lifetime Achievement Award by the Aliw Awards Foundation and the 2013 Ani ng Dangal Award by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts.
Throughout the years, Korus has proven that it has done more than just showcasing exceptional talents. With a brilliant 53-year tradition of compelling interpretations, vibrant choreography, theatrical expressions, eye-catching costumes, and a charisma that is uniquely Filipino, UPCC continues to revolutionize choral performance arts in the country and even across the world. CONDUCTOR’S PROFILE Janet Sabas-Aracama
Prof. Aracama earned her Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Music at the University of the Philippines College of Music in choral conducting, voice and ethnomusicology. Her mentors were Dean Rey T. Paguio in conducting, Josie Bailen, Fides Asensio and Elmo Makil in Voice. She is a permanent faculty member of the University of the Philippines and was Chair of the Conducting Department (2000-2005).
In November 26, 1999, "Jai" was elected and appointed by the University to be Artistic Director and Conductor of the renowned University of the Philippines Concert Chorus, filling the shoes of the late Dean Rey T. Paguio. With great determination and musicianship, she led the chorus in nine (9) major international tours to the USA, Europe, Poland, Czech Republic, Switzerland, England, Scotland New Zealand, Malaysia in 2000, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2013 and 2015. Furthermore, she led the Concert Chorus to participate in prestigious choral festivals performing at the "Universitat Cantans", Festival of University Choirs 2015 in Poznan, Poland. She conducted the U.P.C.C. in 4 out of 12 invitations as the Festival's guest performers of the Aberdeen International Youth Festival, Scotland.
Jai has led the chorus to win in choral competitions. With hard work and passion, besting 24 prestigious and competitive European choirs, she led the chorus to win the overall Grand Prize, "Cracovia Cantans" Choral Competition 2015 (First Prize (Classical Mixed Choir Category and Second Prize Folk, Gospel and Pop Category) in Krakow, Poland in June. In 2012, the group reaped international distinctions such as First Prize in the Folk Category and Second Prize in the Mixed Category at the Festival Internacional de Musica de Cantonigros in Vic, Catalunya Region of Spain, They also won Gold Diploma and Folklore Audience Prize at the 9th Cantemus International Choral Festival in Nyiregyhaza, Hungary.
The UPCC was also selected as one of the six finalists—the first Asian choir to have done so—in the 4th Harald Andersén Chamber Choir Competition organized by the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki, Finland, September 2012. In 2008 the “Prix Excellence (Award for Excellence), First Prize Mixed Category” and “Prix du Public Premier Prize (Audience Award First Prize)” at the 44th Montreux Choral Festival in Montreux, Switzerland and being the main feature of the 60th Sagra del Vino Festival, in Casarsa della Delizia, Pordenone , Italy. In addition, the Concert Chorus won the “Primo Premio di Eccellenza (First Award of Excellence)” at the Concorso Internazionale di Canto Corale (International Competition of Choral Singing) at Gorizia, Italy in 2006.
In 2004, they received standing ovations at the 4th International Ruhr Universitat A Capella Festival in Bochum, Germany. In 2003, they won three Gold Prizes at the International Choral Competition in Mainhausen, Germany, the “Premio Pubblico Speziale (People’s Choice Award)” at the Festival Internazionale Canto di Folklorico (International Festival of Folk Song) in Tuscany, Italy, and became a finalist at the 51st Concorso Polifonico Internazionale (International Polyphonic Competition) in Guido d’Arrezo, Italy. The U.P. Concert Chorus captured the ALIW Awards 2013 Hall of Fame Awardee for Best Choral Group and the 2016 Ani Ng Dangal Excellence in Music award. As a soloist with the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra (PPO), MPO and Las Pinas Bamboo Festival, Prof. Janet Sabas Aracama has sung with such international conductors as Piero Gamba, Ruggero Barbieri, Julian Quirit and Oscar Yatco. On the concert platform, she has performed in Handel’s Messiah, Stravinsky’s Les Noces, Beethoven’s Choral Symphony No. 9, Verdi’s Stabat Mater and Requiem, Rutter’s Gloria, Rossini’s Petite Messe Solennelle, Mahler’s Symphony No. 8, Bach’s St John’s Passion, Bach’s Magnificat, Bruckner’s Te Deum and Dvořák’s Stabat Mater amongst others.
Opera and Broadway credits include the roles of Katisha in Gilbert and Sullivan’s The Mikado, Bloody Mary in Rodgers and Hammerstein’s South Pacific, Suzuki in Puccini’s Madama Butterfly, Mother in Jefrey Ching’s Rendezvous in Venice as well as major roles in Gershwin’s Candide and Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin amongst others. She is a versatile singer, not only singing opera, art songs and Broadway but crossing over to contemporary gospel, soul, jazz and Original Pilipino Music.
She is also vocal and choral trainer and facilitator of music workshops in the Philippines and regularly serves as an adjudicator in choral competitions. She has acted either as Music Director or Vocal Coach of many musical productions for Repertory Philippines' "Fiddler on the Roof" and "Into the Woods," New Voice Company's production of "Chess," Chase International's "Tribute to Boublil and Schonberg" (the composers of "Miss Saigon" and "Les Miserables"), "Once on this Island" and "Fantastiks." She coached the cast of "Miss Saigon" sent to Germany, Australia, London and the Netherlands as well as personalities from the classical music, theater and pop scenes. Currently she has been appointed as vocal coach of GMA 7 Television Arts Talent Program "Starstruck 2015" and many more.