The Loboc Children's Choir

Tagbilaran, Wednesday, 23 July 2003 (updated: Tuesday, 25 April 2006)

Voices, so pure and angelic, burst through the gathering silence and darkness of the tropical evening as thirty children get together for their daily choir rehearsals.... Most evenings are like this in the

The Loboc Children's Choir

Founded in 1980, the Loboc Children's Choir is composed of thirty schoolchildren between nine and thirteen years old, who all attend the Loboc Central Elementary School. However, from an ordinary school choir, established to give color to school and community events, this choir has blossomed into one of the most outstanding choirs in the Philippines today. The Loboc Children's Choir became the National Champion in the category of Children's Choirs during the National Music Competitions for Young Artists in 2001. These competitions are the most prestigious music competitions in the Philippines. And not for the first time: they garnered the same First Prize in 1993 and 1995.

In its twenty-three years of existence, the Choir has held concerts all over the country as well as in other parts of the world. In 2000, it represented the country during the International Children's Culture and Arts Festival in Tianjin, China, and held concerts in Beijing and Hong Kong. In 1996, in a concert dubbed, "On Angels' Wings: From Bohol to the World", the choir toured key cities in the United States. It has performed with the World Youth Orchestra during its concerts in Bohol and Cebu in 1999, and with the University of Santo Tomas Symphony Orchestra. As a 'cultural treasure' of the Province, the group often sings for visiting dignitaries, and local and foreign tourists. Its concert repertoire is a combination of classical, folk, modern and children's songs.

Its latest memorable project was its partnership with the Metropolitan Museum of Manila, the leading art museum in the Philippines, which launched an exhibit on the arts and culture of Bohol. The Choir, under the

In Front of Loboc Church

However, the Loboc Children's Choir is not only heard in concert halls or auditoriums, but also in prisons, hospitals, orphanages, and homes for the aged, where its music of hope, love, and joy also find its meaning. It continues to take active part in school, town, and provincial activities.

Alma Fernando-Taldo, Musical Director and Conductor

Ma'am Taldo, as she is fondly called by the children, is a fifth grade teacher of Loboc Central

Ma'am Taldo and Choir

For more information, please contact:

Lutgardo Labad and Damaris Taldo
Loboc Children's Choir
St. Peter the Apostle Convent
Loboc, Bohol
PHILIPPINES

Telephone: +63 38 537 9022
E-mail: dftaldo@yahoo.com
Cc: la_boholana@excite.com

The Loboc Children’s Choir European Tour

The children’s choir springs from generations of composers, singers, musicians, and conductors, who have become the driving force behind Lobo town‚s numerous bands, rondallas or comparzas, and choirs.

Under the sustained artistic and mentoring guidance of a team of teachers led by the able maestra or conductor Alma Fernando Taldo, the Children’s Choir in the last seven years has begun to enlarge its mark and artistic mettle by holding concerts locally and internationally. They have performed in the United States, the People’s Republic of China, and Hongkong. Everywhere, whether in their hometown or province or abroad, they have captivated audiences with their unique musicality, endearing and spontaneous showmanship, and the kind of genuine and pure spirit they imbue their singing with. The children, chosen from a yearly audition every June, come from the Loboc Central Elementary School.

The Choir has recently figured in a series of activities in collaboration with the Diocese of Tagbilaran and the Metropolitan Museum of Manila which has selected Bohol as a model partner in developing its art and development programs. According to the Choir public relations artists, exhibits and workshops mounted at the Museum and in Bohol, this collaboration seeks "to develop in concrete terms how arts and culture can be major drivers in the total development of a community.

Major sponsors of the concert tour include the Metropolitan Museum of Manila, Beatriz Zobel de Ayala and family, National Commission for Culture and the Arts, the provincial government of Bohol, and Imelda O. Cojuangco. Farewell concerts have been held prior to the children’s departure. On September 2, 7 p.m., the children will perform at the Studio at the Riverbank, Marikina, under the sponsorship of the Pinatubo sa Pagkakaisa Foundation

Parts of the proceeds of the September 2nd performance will go to the salaries of teachers at the Wenceslao Village Elementary School at the Wenceslao Village resettlement project in Dau, Lubao, Pampanga.

The Loboc Children's Choir's CD Cover

Tickets will be available at the Studio gate. For more information about this project, call the Metropolitan Museum at tel. 521-1517 and ask for Garby Labad, tour manager, or Ino Manalo, the Museum director.

The Loboc Children's Choir on CD

During its European Tour, the Loboc Children's Choir is selling its latest CD, ...And A Child's Heart Sings. This CD, recorded in the St. Peter the Apostle Church in Loboc, contains a selection of the music performed by the Choir. On the CD are classical, religious, and traditional as well as contemporary music and children's music in a balanced mix.

On the CD are the following tracks:

If there is sufficient interest, we can try to make these CD's available for sale on this website as well.

Damaris Taldo & Domini M. Torrevillas

What readers think...

Read all 318 comments by readers.

Also give your comments on this article

We reserve the right to remove or edit comments posted on this website. Please read our conditions of use for details. You can use <i>italics</i>, <b>bold</b>, <p> new paragraph, <a href="url">link</a>. Other markup will be removed. Use of the forums for advertising is prohibited. Enterprises located in Bohol can request to be added to the business directory.

This article has been viewed 265 times.