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31 May 2013 – As a symbol of enduring friendship between the Philippines and Malaysia, the Philippine Embassy in Kuala Lumpur said that the internationally-acclaimed University of the Philippines Concert Chorus will be returning to Malaysia for a one-night, concert in Kota Kinabalu. The performance will be held on June 4 (Tuesday) at the Dewan Recital of the Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS), and is mounted in cooperation with the UMS and the Filipino community in Sabah.
“After their well-applauded concerts last year in Kuala Lumpur and Kuching, Sarawak, the UPCC returns here to entertain our Malaysian friends and members of the Filipino community in Sabah. We are again honored to have them again, as a symbol of enduring friendship between our two countries, and part of the Embassy’s commemoration of the 115th Anniversary of Philippine Independence,” Ambassador J. Eduardo Malaya said.
Last 23 October 2012, the UPCC performed at the Kuala Lumpur Cultural Centre (Panggung Bandaraya) in cooperation with the Office of the Mayor of Kuala Lumpur, which was graced by the presence of the Prime Minister’s spouse, Datin Rosmah Mansor.
They also had a performance the following day at the Cultural Centre of Universiti Malaya for their fellow students and other guests. On 25 October 2012, the group also performed in Kuching, in cooperation with the Rotary Club of Kuching.
The concerts in Kuala Lumpur and Kuching were part of their 50th anniversary celebration and their last stop to their 20th world tour.
The UPCC’s visit and performance in Malaysia is made possible with the generous support from collaborators and partners Cebu Pacific Air, PLDT Malaysia/Smart Pinoy, and the Federation of Filipino Association in Malaysia.
Since its establishment in 1962, the UPCC has metamorphosed from being a university chorale into a musical force of national and world stature. Aside from its undeniable musical prowess and versatility in performing classical, Filipino folk, pop, and Broadway genres, the group is recognized in the music world as the pioneer of choreographed singing for a choir.
It holds the distinction of having been chosen as "one of the world's best choirs" at the 4th Lincoln Center International Choral Festival in New York City in 2006, and holds the singular honor of having been requested four times to do command performances before Queen Elizabeth II. In July 2012, the UPCC received the First Prize in the Folk Category at the Festival International de Musica de Cantonigros, held in Catalunya, Spain.
Under the leadership of Conductor and Artistic Director Professor Janet Sabas-Aracama, the UPCC continues to foster friendship, goodwill and love for music around the world. END
