“Young Voices of the Philippines,” 12th Golden Gate Int’l Choral Festival Champion, Visits PH Consulate in SF

Press Release /

“YOUNG VOICES OF THE PHILIPPINES,” 12TH GOLDEN GATE INT’L CHORAL FESTIVAL CHAMPION, VISITS PH CONSULATE IN SF

Philippine Consulate General officials and the “Young Voices of the Philippines” make the pusong Pinoy (Filipino heart) hand gesture, following the latter’s call at the Sentro Rizal of the Philippine Center in San Francisco on 18 July 2023. (San Francisco PCG photo)

SAN FRANCISCO, USA – The Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco welcomed the Filipino children’s choral group “Young Voices of the Philippines” (YVP) during the latter’s call at the Sentro Rizal of the Philippine Center in San Francisco on 18 July 2023.

The YVP swept all four top prizes at the recently concluded 12th Golden Gate International Choral Festival in the Bay Area, winning the first prize in the historical, folk, gospel, and contemporary categories. 13 other choral groups from the United States, Australia, Canada, Estonia, Georgia, and Lithuania took part in the 12th edition of the triennial festival.

Deputy Consul General and Acting Head of Post Raquel Solano congratulated the YVP—led by Conductor Dr. Ma. Theresa Vizconde-Roldan, and Artistic Director Prof. Jude Roldan—for their exceptional feat at the festival. She encouraged the YVP’s members to continue harnessing their talent and keep soaring high “for the Philippines and for the Filipino people.”

Prior to the call, the YVP sang the Philippine National Anthem during the Consulate’s daily dual citizenship oath-taking ceremony, where 32 Filipino Americans took their oaths as Filipino citizens.

The group also performed three songs during the ceremony, to the delight of the newly minted dual citizens. A full recording of their song “Orde-e,” a folk song inspired by the soundscapes of the Philippine Cordillera Region, has been uploaded on the Consulate’s official Facebook and Instagram pages.

Founded in 2020, the YVP is a church and community choir under the Treble Choir Association of the Philippines, composed of young Filipino choristers from various social backgrounds.

The YVP performed at the inauguration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., singing “Pilipinas Kong Mahal” alongside Filipino soprano Cris Villonco. As part of their first U.S. tour, the YVP became the first Filipino children’s choir to perform at the renowned Carnegie Hall in New York City. END

The “Young Voices of the Philippines” leads the Philippine National Anthem during the oath-taking ceremony of dual citizenship applicants, at the Kalayaan Hall of the Philippine Center in San Francisco on 18 July 2023. (San Francisco PCG photo)
The “Young Voices of the Philippines” renders songs for successful dual citizenship applicants, at the Kalayaan Hall of the Philippine Center in San Francisco on 18 July 2023. (San Francisco PCG photos)
Deputy Consul General and Acting Head of Post Raquel Solano gives her remarks during the call of the “Young Voices of the Philippines” at Sentro Rizal of the Philippine Center in San Francisco on 18 July 2023. (San Francisco PCG photo)
“Young Voices of the Philippines” Conductor Dr. Ma. Theresa Vizconde-Roldan expresses her gratitude during their call at the Philippine Center in San Francisco on 18 July 2023. (San Francisco PCG photo)