Biography
The University of the Philippines Singing Ambassadors (UPSA), 2002, 2010 and 2011 ALIW Awardee for Best Choral Group, and 2004 Most Outstanding University Choir (Who's Who In the Philippines) was the official Philippine entry to the UNESCO International Music Prize (Paris, FRANCE) 2005.
Under Founder and Conductor ED MANGUIAT, the Group has won Grand Prizes, First Prizes and other top prizes in choral competitions in ITALY, SPAIN, FRANCE, The NETHERLANDS, CZECH REPUBLIC, BULGARIA, SLOVAKIA, BELGIUM, GERMANY, POLAND, WALES, HUNGARY and SWITZERLAND. Winning the Grand Prize in the most prestigious 49th Guido d' Arezzo Competitions in 2001 qualified UPSA to represent the Arezzo competitions and the Philippines in the 14th EUROPEAN GRAND PRIZE (EGP) FOR CHORAL SINGING in 2002. UPSA is only one of four (4) Filipino choirs (Phil. Madrigal Singers, UST Singers, Ateneo Glee Club & the UP Singing Ambassadors) that have gained EGP qualifications.
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Costume designed by Renee Salud
In its 6th European Tour & Competitions 2008, UPSA garnered two (2) Grand Prizes, seven (7) First Prizes and three (3) Third Prizes in five prestigious international choral competitions in FRANCE, POLAND, WALES, HUNGARY, and SWITZERLAND.
Performing music from the Classicals to the most modern genre, UPSA has showcased Philippine culture from the ethnic North and South Philippines which they have presented in EUROPE, AFRICA, ASIA and the USA.
UPSA has performed in many national and international music events; sung for weddings of the Philippines' most prominent families; done back-ups for the country's top artists and JOSH GROBAN in his "Awake" concert tour at the Phil. International Convention Center (PICC) in Manila (Oct. 2007); concertized in the most exclusive Petrarca Concert Hall in Arezzo, and Palazzio Vecchio in Florence, ITALY and the Sydney Opera House in AUSTRALIA.
Through its Outreach Program, UPSA does interactive choral workshop/clinics in the Philippines and abroad which have produced winners like the Silvestre Papa Choir of Sora, ITALY (Arezzo, ITALY) and the Loboc Children's Choir of Bohol (Barcelona, SPAIN), among others.
Now on its 30th year, the U.P. Singing Ambassadors finds fulfillment sharing its music to its regular local and international audiences, and more significantly, to the less privileged who are constant recipients of their musical generosity. The UPSA Outreach Program has involved the Group in fundraising activities for the sick and the needy and also visits hospital wards, home for the aged and orphanages.
UPSA is one of the Performing Groups based in the College of Arts & Letters.
Biography text from Last.fm, available under CC BY-SA.