A Return To Song: The 2012 European Tour Homecoming Concert

I've dreamed of passing the entrance exam and becoming a legit student at the Ateneo de Manila University. You could say it's my dream school mehehe. But anyway, last Sunday we had the awesome opportunity to watch the world renowned Ateneo College Glee Club perform live for their homecoming from Europe concert!

My sister drove us to PhilAm Life Theatre where the concert was held! We got chaperoned by kuya Victor who is the funniest in the world! We arrived a bit early so we decided to get some snacks first at the nearby cafe.

Kuya Victor!

Shoes we were gonna wear! My sister's on the left and mine on the right hihi...Chloe..

We got stuck in traffic in Baclaran I think so took a bunch of photos to sort of keep myself occupado! Mostly of myself, but I did manage to take pictures of the surroundings nyahaha.

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY EVERYONE!

My very weird crease-y smile

At a gas station..naks

Upon arriving at the theatre, I was bombarded with memories from the last time I set foot in that place..which was the Voices in Harmony competition! I remember it was our first ever contest for MSHS Chorale Batch 2011-2012. I was so nervous and I seriously felt like puking when I saw the other contestants in their crisp costumes and game faces on while we fretted over our accused backless costumes. So when these memories came at me with a vengeance, I couldn't help but yearn for another mini-reunion with the other members hehe.

Shiny shiny

We were greeted by a mini exhibit all about the ACGC (duh). Showcased were pictures, their trophies and a couple of certificates. From what I know, they were also selling some memorabilia. 

Didn't know the theatre was this pretty!

One of my favorites!!!!

The first part of the concert was filled with foreign songs. I did get goosebumps when they performed 'Silence My Soul' (not really sure on the title)! I remember doing it during the conducting masterclass in UP Diliman and our attempt at the recognition day in MaSci!! All of the songs were so beautifully sung but I'd have to say I absolutely loved De Profundis. It really was such a coincidinky that the day before the day before Sunday, the alumni were singing it at the mini MSHS Chorale reunion thingy.

During the 15 minute break after the first part!

The second part..was so cute!!! It was so funny too. But dominantly it could still be described as very very very beautiful. I liked the change of costume as well since I could imagine them donning the highly indigenous-looking outfits all over Europe. My favorite for this part was Koyu no Tebulul hehe!! Plus the song about the 3 drums haha although Im not quite sure which part of the concert that belonged to.

<3!!!!

So yes, the concert was really entertaining! They deserve every recognition they got and DID NOT GET! Seriously, they were da bomb. They were so smooth and clear. The sopranos were their soprano selves, all high and crystal-like and bright, the altos were warm and definitely buzzing, the tenors sounded like opera singers (!!!!!so good!!!!!) and the basses! THE BASSES WERE SO DEEP. They were rolling in the deep hahahaha joke. They were so good, it felt like their voices were coming from the core of the Earth!! Wooo.  I hope our basses in MaSci can all go through a mass growth spurt or something so their voices could go way deep and very air condition-like haha! 

Watching it made me miss my choir days and really got me revved up for the Rotary Contest this year. It also fueled my desire to pass the ACET and audition for the ACGC, ahhh really keeping my fingers crossed for these! 

We met up with my sister's friend ate Dani who is a member of the ACGC after the show. I was starstruck huhu.

Ate Dani and her boyfriend! <3

Mehehe here's Gab the sunflower to finish this post!!!!!!!!

Of Sand Filled Shoes & Listening To The Blues: Manila Music Festival 2012

I am probably the last person who will post about the Manila Music Festival that was held last Labor Day haha. I only brought my film camera so after a series of delays in the developing, my dad finally took it to Photoline and had the pictures developed. 

I'm not really well versed when it comes to the local music scene so on the day of the concert, I was really preparing myself for a day under the sun with Chloe, to live out my music festival dreams sans acts from Florence and the Machine and the like and to feed my xenophilia hehe. 

The super super super super duper duper duper wild crowd

Chloe with her float on

Squinty squint squint. Too bad this is my only picture from the concert huhu

 I couldnt really keep track of the set list since we moved around a bit. I liked Nameless Heroes and totally adored June Marieezy. The Nameless Heroes was the band that got the most votes and thats why they were given the first slot to perform yay for them. June Marieezy on the other hand was such a cutie! She gave off this very fairy like vibe hehe and the way she talked to the crowd just goes to show how charismatic she really is.

There were triangular canvases scattered between the main stage and the redbull stage, they were to be painted on by very talented graffiti people

Cotton Candy man hmmm someone should tell Stan Lee to make a superhero with the same name

I think it'd have been nicer if the venue was a wee bit smaller and if there had been more stuff to do albeit it was still fun to spend the day with Chloe milling about, talking, eating and having a kickass background music. I hope to attend next year's shindig with more of our friends tho, I think we've had enough of the questioning glances that came our way deciphering if we were a couple hahaha.

A Choral Encounter

Last March 16, the Manila Science High School Chorale had the mind-blowing opportunity to perform alongside amazing choirs such as the The Phillipine Women's University Festival Chorus, Novo Concertante Manila, UP Concert Chorus and the world-renowned Philippine Madrigal Singers. It was held at the Abelardo Hall Auditorium in UP Diliman.

Before the actual event, we attended a Voice Masterclass by Dr. Ramon Acoymo. He was unbelievably funny and knows a ton of stuff about physics! I thought we were just there for the sound check so I sat in the front, when surprise surprise, the emcee told us that we were to have the said masterclass. My palms got clammy since I'm not a fan of sitting in the front during seminars because of the high percentage of being asked to be a volunteer haha. To my relief, none of that sort happened to me!

We had our Conducting Masterclass right after. It was led by Professor Eudenice Palaruan, a former member of the Philippine Madz! His aura was so chill and the entire class could be summed up by the word zen. He talked about different ethnic instruments and ancient methods of conducting. He then made us try singing a bunch of communal songs, one was even written by him! No words can come close to describing the feeling of being a part of something so ancient and simply wonderful.

Being the first act, we had to rush rush rush! Plus, the fact that we were dismissed late because of the workshops, and the overdue sound checking didn't help much either. So while backstage, we were all nervous with our sleepy voices and tangled nerves.

The Grand Chorale! While singing Tagumpay Nating Lahat

With a few members of Madz! This was taken after the concert. Apparently, they were to shoot a music video pa woo 

The Tenors :)

Some of our fellow Mascians who came to see the concert. Go MSHSC '13!

I was seriously touched by the Mascians who came to see us perform! It made me feel like they had our back haha. 

Yay Madz!

Here's a picture with Ms.Bianca Lopez! 

The ever supportive MSHSC Alumni with our conductor Mr. Abella.We seriously would be nothing without their help!

The Manila Science High School Chorale 2012!

A Choral Encounter was our last official performance as the MSHSC batch 2012. I remember the time when we were all new to each other. The times when only Kuya Erwin or Kuya Thomas would be the only ones who would crack jokes because the others would still be too shy to do so. The ghosts that could be felt whenever we would practice til 7pm in the so called haunted music room. I even occasionally miss my Alto days!  How time flies! Even though I'm dreading the last day of our togetherness, I am on the bright side looking forward to getting to know the new members. I hope we can add good memories to the ones that I have of the choir now :)