The Philippine Madrigal Singers

One of the jurors that awarded the Madrigal Singers the Grand Prix in the Européen du Chant Choral competition in France stated that the group's music was "the most beautiful sound on earth". Performing seated in a semi circle, closely following the ancient and refined traditions of the madrigal idiom, the singers break the cultural barriers and spread the message of peace through the universal language of music. The Singers are one of the Artists in Residence at this year's Kathaumixw.

Mark Anthony A. Carpio, Choirmaster

The muses must have highly favored Mark Anthony Carpio, whose love for music has made him one of their finest stewards today. His musical calling began at the tender age of eight when as a child prodigy his nimble fingers would scale up and down the piano like a playful cherub lost in mirth. Little did he know that his innate musicality would later lead him to assume the coveted reins of choirmaster of one of the world's most exalted choirs - the Philippine Madrigal Singers - an honor given by no less than the country's choral matriarch and the group's founder, Professor Andrea O. Veneracion.

Mark's musical career started to take shape during the early stages of his serious training. From a boy soprano singing for a school children's choir, he later played the flute for a school band in high school. It was during this time that his passion for music took on a more definitive course when he was granted a one-year piano scholarship from the Lucia Francisco Music Chorale. Through the strong encouragement of his father, Mark followed his dream and found himself pursuing his ideals at the U.P. College of Music. Majoring in piano, he studied under several notable professors, namely, Prof. Asuncion Laureola, the late Prof. Jose Ma. Contreras and Prof. Perlas Suaco.

To aid him in his studies, he auditioned for and passed the Music Promotion Foundation and the Jovita Fuentes MusiCultural Society scholarships. After graduating cum laude in 1992, Mark taught piano at the U.P. College of Music where his career took a major turn when he was accepted into the very competitive circle of the Philippine Madrigal Singers. He has since joined the group in its local and international concert tours and competitions including the prestigious European Grand Prix du Chant Chorale in 1997 where the Madz (as the group is fondly called) emerged as the Grand Champion. It was also during this year that Mark was accepted into the highly selective World Youth Choir held in Japan.

Backed by a solid track record of choral experiences, Mark decided to venture into choral conducting, which he now pursues as Master's Degree in UP. In-between Madz rehearsals and his studies, he devotes his spare time as conductor of several choirs such as the Pansol Choir, the Kilyawan Boys Choir and the MMDA Chorale, all of which are starting to carve their own niche in the choral field. In the few years that Mark has handled these groups, he has led them to win 1st prizes and major honors in the local competitions they have joined. To further share his gift of song, Mark imbues in his students the niceties and nuances of the choral art as a faculty member of the Choral Conducting Department of the U.P. College of Music.

Andrea Veneracion

Professor Veneracion is the founder of the Philippine Madrigal Singers. Through her tireless, single-handed guidance and direction, the Philippines today enjoys the unique distinction of having produced Asia's highly acclaimed and multi-awarded choir who have become country's ambassadors of good will throughout the world. In the last three decades her musical influence has spread to choirs all over the metropolis and islands of her country. She has not only altered the profile of Philippine choral music but has literally created the Philippine choral tradition that it is today. Through 37 years of choral artistry and choral pedagogy, she has been instrumental in bringing previously undiscovered treasures of Filipino music to light, popularizing the country's vast collection of folksongs. Madam Veneracion frequently conducts choral workshops and vocal seminars for choirs around the world; she is considered one of the world's foremost choral experts. Recently, her country bestowed upon her the National Artist Award for Music, an award which is usually reserved for composers.