In 2013, the Philippine Madrigal Singers Have Been Invited to Perform During the American

University of the Philippines Madrigal Singers

The University of the Philippines Madrigal Singers was organized in 1963 by National Artist Professor Andrea O. Veneracion. The group is composed of students, faculty and alumni from the different colleges of the University of the Philippines (UP). They hold the distinction of being the first choir in the world to win the European Grand Prix for Choral Singing twice (1997 and 2007). Through the direction of Mark Anthony Carpio, the corps of composers and choral arrangers of the UP Madrigal Singers continue to produce new compositions and choral settings of Philippine, Asian and international songs, thus contributing to the growth of world choral literature. The group was recognized by the UNESCO as Artists for Peace (2009) and was the recipient of the Guidoneum Award from the Concorso Polifonico Guido d’ Arezzo Foundation (2010). In July 2012, the group became the first choir in the world to receive The BrandLaureate Premier Award (as the World’s Best Choral Ensemble) from the Asia Pacific Brands Foundation, in recognition for its “significant contribution to the world of choral music, producing new compositions and choral settings for Philippine, Asian and International songs, spreading the beauty of this genre and giving a good musical experience to the audience.”

In 2013, the Philippine Madrigal Singers have been invited to perform during the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) National Convention in Dallas, Texas and during the America Cantat in Bogota, Columbia. All these coincide with the group’s celebration of its 50th year.

Mark Anthony A. Carpio

Choirmaster

Mark Anthony Carpio graduated from the University of the Philippines College of Music with a Bachelor’s Degree in Piano cum laude in 1992. In 2001, Mark was personally chosen by Prof. Veneracion to succeed her as the choirmaster of the Philippine Madrigal Singers. Since then, he has led the group in its numerous successes, most notable of which were:first prizes in the Habanera and Polyphony categories in the Certámen Internacional de Habaneras y Polifonia (Torrevieja, Spain, 2004), the Grand Prix in the 35th Florilege Vocal de Tours, France (2006), and the Grand Prize in the European Grand Prix for Choral Singing (Arrezo, Italy, 2007). A much sought-after choral clinician and adjudicator, Mark frequently gives extensive and in-depth workshops all over the Philippines, as well as in various Asian and European countries. He also directs the Consortium of Voices, a choral society consisting of the Kilyawan Boys Choir, Kilyawan Men’s Choir and the Voces Auroræ Girls Choir. Mark is also a noted countertenor and accompanist. Presently, he is a faculty member of the Conducting Department of the UP College of Music.