The University of Santo Tomas Singers or UST Singers is the premiere mixed choral ensemble of Asia's oldest university, the University of Santo Tomas. It was founded in 1992 by Prof. Fidel Calalang Jr. and is composed of students and alumni from the different colleges of the university.

Discography

Year Title1998 UST Singers 19981999 UST Singers 19992000 UST Singers 20002002 UST Singers 2002 (2 CDs)2003 In Concert (Live)2004 Celebrate2005 Journey On! (best of...) (2 CDs)2005 New York LIVE2008 American Encore2009 Farewell Concert (Live)2010 Then Sings My Soul2014 The University of Santo Tomas Singers (Live): Through the Years2021UST Singers LIVE: The Choral Works of Fidel Gener Calalang Jr.

Awards

Date/YearLocation of competitionCompetitionAwards received 1993 LindenholzhausenHarmonie International Choral Competition Second Prize - Folklore Category Third Prize - Chamber Choir Category 1993 Wales47th Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod Second Prize - Folklore Category Third Prize - Mixed Choirs Category 1995 Wales49th Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod First Prize - Youth Choirs Category First Prize - Folklore Category W.S. Gwynn Williams Jury Prize First Prize - Chamber Choirs Category Grand Prize - Choir of the World at Llangollen 1998 Tours27th Florilege Vocal de Tours First Prize - Mixed Choirs Category First Prize - Free Programme Category Prix du Public 1998 Gorizia37th Concorso Internazionale di Canto Corale C.A. Seghizzi First Prize - Polifonica Programma Monografico First Prize - Folklore Category Second Prize - Gruppo Vocale (no declared 1st & 3rd Prize winners) Premio del Pubblico Premio Renascirnento Europeo (European Renaissance Prize) Gran Premio Citta di Gorizia 1999 Varna11th European Grand Prix for Choral Singing Finalist 2002 Puebla2002 World Choral Festival Best Choir 2002 Olomouc2002 Mundi Cantat - Festa Musicale First Prize - Mixed Choir First Prize - Chamber Choir First Prize - Folk Category First Prize - Spiritual/Jazz First Prize - Sacred 2002 Gorizia41st Concorso Internazionale di Canto Corale C.A. Seghizzi First Prize - Folk Category First Prize - Spiritual/Jazz Third Prize Monographic Category Third Prize Gruppo Vocale 2002 Seghizzi Jury Prize Premio del Publico 2002 Miltenberg4th Internationaler Chorwettweberb Miltenberg First Prize - Polyphony Category Second Prize - Folklore and Public Prize Honor Prize - awarded by the Bavarian Prime Minister President for the Best Interpretation of the compulsory piece Magnificat by Josef Swider. 2002 MonsterInternationaler TONEN 2002 First Prize - Sacred Category Mixed First Prize - Secular Category Mixed First Prize - Folk Category Festival Choir of the Year Best Conductor award given to Prof. Calalang On December 30, 2003, the UST Singers was recognized as Asia's Most Outstanding Choir, an award given by the National Consumer Affairs Foundation and the Rizal Day National Celebration Committee. 2004 Montreux2004 Montreux International Choral Festival Excellence Avec Distinction garnering the highest score in the mixed choir category Ville De Vevey Jury Prize for Best Programming and Interpretation 2004 PueblaWorld Choral Festival 2004 Best Choir In August 2004, the choir was given a special recognition by the Honorable Jeremy Harris, mayor of Honolulu, declaring August 20 as UST Singers Day in Hawaii. May 2009 California2009 California International Choral Festival and Competition First Prize - Required Piece Competition First Prize - Folk Competition People's Choice Award April 9, 2010 Northern Ireland17th Bangor International Competition Grand Prize - Open Choral Competition First Prize - Mixed Choir Category First Prize - Madrigal Category First Prize - Sacred Music Category Second Prize - Light Entertainment Category Best Visiting Choir April 19–23, 2010 Sopot6th Mundus Cantat International Choral Festival First Prize - Sacred Category (96.3%) First Prize - Folk/Secular Category (99.0%) First Prize - Spiritual/Jazz/Gospel (98.0%) Grand Prix 2010 April 28–May 2, 2010 Cork56th Cork International Choral Festival Lady Dorothy Mayer Memorial Trophy Best Interpretation of a Piece "GAPAS" by Eudenice Palaruan July 10–12, 2010 WalesLlangollen International Musical Eisteddfod 2010 First Prize - Mixed Choir Category First Prize - Youth Choir Category Third Prize - Folk Song Category Grand Prize - Choir of the World and The Pavarotti Trophy July 15–18, 2010 Catalonia28th Festival International de Musica de Cantonigros First Prize - Mixed Choir Category First Prize - Folk Song Category July 26–28, 2010 AlicanteFestival Internacional de Polifonía y Habaneras First Prize - Habaneras Category Public Prize Grand International Prize June 11–17, 2013 YeosuYeosu International Choral Competition Finalist - Grand Prix Second Prize - Mixed Choir Category Third Prize - Sacred Category Third Prize - Folk, Negro Spiritual and Gospel Category Third Prize - Pop and Jazz Category July 23–25, 2015 Florence4th Florence International Choir Festival Golden David Trophy 2015 - Grand Prix First Prize, Mixed Choirs Adult Category First Prize, Pop, Folk, Gospel and Barbershop Ensembles Category First Prize, Sacred Music Category First Prize, Modern and Contemporary Music Category Best Male Soloist Best Contemporary Work's Arrangement ("My Heart and I" by Ennio Morricone/arr. Fidel Calalang Jr.) Best Interpretation of the Required Piece ("Vergine, O Natura Sacra" by Gaetano Lorandi)June 9–11, 2017 Mainhausen 10th International Choir Days Mainhausen Gold Prize, Jazz/Pop Choir Category Gold Prize, Mixed Choir CategoryJune 22–25, 2017 Baden 3rd International Choral Competition Ave Verum ICC Ave Verum Grand Prix Niederösterreich 1st Prize (Gold Superior) Best Interpretation of a 20th Century Piece September 29, 2024 Bergen, Norway10th Edward Grieg International Choir Festival Grand Prix First Prize, Mixed Category Second Prize, Folkloric CategoryOctober 22 - 26, 2025Derry, Northern Ireland2025 City of Derry International Choir Festival Oak Tree of Derry Contemporary Music Centre Award (Best performance of a work by an Irish composer; "The Destroyer" by Sean Doherty) Bishop's Gate Hotel Award (Best performance of a work composed before 1750)

References

Official Facebook page

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