Before Imusicapella, a well-known choir, goes to Tolosa, Spain in October to compete in the world renowned European Grand Prix in Choral Singing, it recently bagged the Gold Prize Saturday night at the recently concluded 2025 Palawan International Choral Festival (PICF) held in various venues in Puerto Princesa City in Palawan.
According to Robert Delgado, President of the National Association of Filipino Choirs. Inc. (NAFCI) and the organizing body of the event, the victory of Imusicapella was overwhelming.
"It was a unanimous choice," said Delgado, a music enthusiast, arranger, candidate for a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Music degree from the University of the Philippines (UP) College of Music, music conductor of various choral groups including his official conducting of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) Chorale and former member of the Philippine Madrigal Singers or simply Madz.
Aside from performing at the recent "Exaudivit" solo concert at the Don Bosco Church in Makati City, the group, conducted by Tristan Ignacio, exhibited, competed and won with their collective voices at the 2025 PICF in Puerto Princesa City, both of which were sorts of send-off shows as well.
Apart from winning the Grand Prix, Imusicapella also took home the bacon in two other categories, namely the Sacred Category with Palawan Chorus Mixtus of Palawan and Mixed Category with Surigao Luminary Voices of Surigao del Norte.
The last two categories were both Gold Diplomas.
Meanwhile, the Rosewood Chorale of Alabang, Muntinlupa City romped away the prize in the Equal Voices Category and the plum in the Youth Chorus Category was clinched by the Barcelona BCHS Choral of Sorsogon Province.
The Board of Judges were composed of international music experts like Maestro Jae Joon Lee, a Korean Orchestra Conductor, Chairman. Dr. Joel Navarro, Dr. Beverly Cheng. Dr. Ed Manguiat, all from the Philippines; and Viktoriya Vakulishyna, from Ukraine who teaches music in China.
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