The Cantata Manila Ensemble is a community-based choir founded on August 12, 2019, named after the Cantata Macau International Choir Festival, where their conductor, Gerard Dela Peña was featured as the festival song composer. The vision of the group is to be a prominent community choir that represents the Philippines on a worldwide scale, uniting voices from many generations and backgrounds and fostering cultural pride through the transformational power of music.
Cantata Manila Ensemble is composed of students and professionals coming from the Greater Manila area who share the same passion for choral singing.
Preparing for the Macau Choir Festival poses a significant challenge for the Cantata Manila Ensemble, as this marks their first international competition. Given that most of the ensemble members are students, the journey has been particularly demanding. However, they have faced these challenges collectively, promoting strong bonds and connections within the group.
The careful selection of repertoire for each category is crucial in showcasing the choir’s versatility. A carefully chosen setlist allows the choir to demonstrate its range by strategically choosing songs that highlight the choir’s strengths and challenge their abilities, resulting in a fascinating and memorable performance.
Cantata Manila Ensemble won the following awards at the Macau International Competition and Festival:
- Grand Prix Winner
- Folklore Category Winner with Gold Diploma Award
- Sacred Category Winner with Gold Diploma Award
- Most Outstanding Conductor
After winning the competition, Cantata Manila Ensemble will be organizing the Gerard Dela Peña Choral Festival and Competition that will be held on December 15, 2024; Where it will be featuring a variety of talented groups from college choirs, community choirs and church choirs.
About the Competition
Macau International Choir Festival and Competition, Cantata Macau 2024 – THE SABBATICAL – is a prestigious event that celebrates the beauty and diversity of choral music from around the world. It brings together talented choirs and choral enthusiasts, providing a platform for artistic exchange and cultural enrichment. (reference: Cantata Macau Website)