The Andrea O. Veneracion Sing Philippines Youth Choir (SPYC), under the leadership of Mark Anthony Carpio, earned fourth place in both the Polyphony and Folklore categories at the 55th Tolosako Abesbatza Lehiaketa (Tolosa Choral Competition) in Basque, Spain, on Oct. 31.
Competing against 16 countries, the choir captivated audiences with a diverse performance that earned applause from the international crowd.
This achievement adds to the SPYC’s international successes, including 2nd Prize and Gold Diplomas at the 2022 Busan International Choral Festival. The SPYC, founded in 2014, promotes Filipino culture and musical excellence through choral music. They have trained choristers from 56 communities nationwide, fulfilling National Artist Andrea O. Veneracion’s vision of a unified nation through song.
Since 1969, the Tolosa Choral Competition has brought together the world’s best choirs, fostering cultural exchange and showcasing the musical traditions of the Basque Country.
The SPYC also performed in European goodwill concerts, reaching over 3,000 audiences across Spain and Portugal. Their participation was organized by the Cultural Center of the Philippines, the AOV Sing Philippines Foundation, and the Tolosa Choral Contest, with support from PAGCOR and Newport World Resorts.
