University of the Philippines Singing Ambassadors

The University of the Philippines Singing Ambassadors (UPSA) is one of the Philippines' foremost choral groups. In its 32 years of existence, UPSA has consistently brought honor and prestige to the country, winning various prizes and awards in competitions in ITALY, SPAIN, FRANCE, NETHERLANDS, CZECH REPUBLIC, BULGARIA, SLOVAKIA, BELGIUM, GERMANY, POLAND, WALES, HUNGARY and SWITZERLAND. It is one of the only four Filipino choirs to have qualified to join the 14th European Grand Prix for Choral Singing ‑ the world'S most coveted choral prize. UPSA was also the official entry of the Philippines to the UNESCO International Music Prize in 2005.

In the Philippines, it was named the Best University Choir in 2012 and 2004 at the “Who’s Who in the Philippines” 19th and 27th Consumers’ Choice Awards, respectively. Similarly, UPSA was also chosen as Best Choir in 2011, 2010 and 2002 by the ALIW Awards Foundation which recognizes excellence and achievement in the live entertainment industry.

History

UPSA Conductor Ed Manguiat founded the group in 1980 as a freshman dormitory choir at the State University. He has studied under world-renowned choral musicians and trained under respected names in vocal pedagogy and choral conducting in the Philippines. He has also won various international conductor's awards in choral competitions.

In 2012, UPSA has embarked on its 8th European Competitions and Goodwill Tour (July–September 2012). It won 3rd Prize in the Chamber Choirs Category at the Béla Bartók 25th International Choral Competition in Debrecen, HUNGARY in July. Ed Manguiat also won a Special Prize for Excellent Conducting Performance in the same competition. UPSA also won two (2) 1st Prizes in the Romantic Period Music & Folkloric Categories, and a Second Prize in the Mixed Choirs Category during the 60th Guido d’Arezzo International Polyphonic Competition in Arezzo, ITALY in August.

Activities

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.

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 U.P. College of Arts & Letters.

Conductor

ED MANGUIAT, the Founder and Conductor of the University of the Philippines Singing Ambassadors (UPSA), has led the UPSA to win Grand Prizes, First Prizes and other Top Prizes in prestigious choral competitions inArezzo & Gorizia, ITALY; Debrecen, HUNGARY; Tours, FRANCE; Varna, BULGARIA; Langollen, WALES;Neuchatel, SWITZERLAND; Torrevieja and Cantonigros, SPAIN; Sopot, POLAND; Trenscianske Tiplice, SLOVAKIA; Maasmechelen, BELGIUM; Wernigerode, GERMANY; Arnhem, the NETHERLANDS and Prague &Pardubice, the CZECH REPUBLIC.

Winning the Grand Prize in the most prestigious Guido d' Arezzo Competitions in 2001 qualified UPSA to represent ITALY and the PHILIPPINES in the 14th EUROPEAN GRAND PRIZE FOR CHORAL SINGING in 2002.

Ed received the Dirigentenpreis (Conductor's Award) in the 2001 Johannes Brahms International Choir Competitions in GERMANY. As a member of the International Federation on Choral Music (IFCM), he attended classes/workshops under international choral masters like the world-renowned Eric Ericson of SWEDEN, among others, in the 1st & 4th World Symposium on Choral Music in Vienna, AUSTRIA and Sydney, AUSTRALIA in 1987 & 1986. respectively.As a student of the U.P. College of Music, he earned the best mentorship under Prof. ANDREA O. VENERACION (U.P. Madrigal Singers), DR. JOEL NAVARRO (Ateneo College Glee Club), Prof. REY PAGUIO (U.P. Concert Chorus) and opera singers Prof. AURELIO ESTANESLAO, Prof. ELMO MAKIL and Prof. FIDES CUYUGAN-ASENCIO. Ed also enrolled at the UST Conservatory of Music under Dean RAUL SUNICO nad worked with Prof. FIDEL CALALANG of the UST Singers.

Being at the helm of UPSA for thirty (30) years, he has created and formulated specific vocalizations for curing and improving voices of non-singers. As a conductor, clinician or workshop moderator, Ed has handled almost fifty (50) corporate, church and community chiors which have also been recipients of this training.As a composer, he has collaborated with three (3) National Artists - Maestro LUCIO SAN PEDRO, Dr. BIENVENIDO LUMBERA and Dr. VIRGILIO ALMARIO either as lyricist or as composer. His works include several hymns and inspirational songs (for choirs and soloists) for his church (INC) and other institutions, namely "Ipagdiwang, Kanyang Kaningningan", "Sing for Me", and "Mga Bayani Nitong Bayan", among others. He also composed one of the themes in the internationally acclaimed film "Magnifico".

Ed was nominated and inducted to the Phi Kappa Phi International Honor Society following the recognitions he received from the Rotary Club of Manila and the DSWD (2007) for his voluntary works for the less privileged. He received recognitions from the Rotary Club and the City Government of Lipa in 2008, the Golden Achievers' Award in Lipa City's 50th Anniversary Celebrations (1997) following an award as the Most outstanding Lipeño in the Field of Music (1993). Ed is an alumnus of the University of the Philippines Concert Chorus (UPCC) and holds a degree in BS Hotel and Restaurant Administration, also from the University of the Philippines.

Awards & Recognitions

National Recognition

External links

• Official website
• http://www.youtube.com/user/melvicgcano
• Facebook page
• UP Singing Ambassadors Twitter account
• The UP Singing Ambassarors' rendition of "Hymne a l'Amour"
• The UP Singing Ambassarors with JOSH GROBAN (Awake World Tour)

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