18 December 2013 - The performances of the Manila Chamber Singers (MCS) at four venues in Sydney from October 31 to November 03 were widely applauded by Filipino as well as Australian audiences.

On October 31, the MCS performed at the St. Aloysius College Chapel in Milsons Point, New South Wales (NSW). Not only were the audience treated to beautiful music that night, the MCS performance also helped the students of St. Aloysius College raise money for the construction of two houses for the poor and needy in Bagong Silang, Manila, through Gawad Kalinga.

On November 01, the Blacktown Arts Centre was filled with rousing applause from the audience who were treated to the MCS’ rendition of international choral songs as well as commissioned arrangements of popular music and OPM (Original Pilipino Music). The performance which delighted the audience the most was the group’s rendition of “Waltzing Matilda”.

On November 02 and 03, the halls of Our Lady of Dolours Parish in Chatswood and the St. David’s Uniting Church in Haberfield were filled with the uplifting voices of the MCS as they performed songs of praise and inspiration for the parishioners.

At their performances in Sydney, the MCS was joined by Miguel Castro of The Filipino Tenors who sang opera pieces and “kundiman” with Filipino-Australian talent Angelica Mauhay and the Sydney Sonata Singers.

During the call of the MCS on Consul General Anne Jalando-on Louis on October 31, she welcomed and thanked the group for sharing their gift of music and for promoting the richness of Philippine culture to audiences in Sydney. Consul General Louis also conveyed her thanks to all Filipino-Australian host-families of the MCS members during their stay in Sydney.

The arrangements for the performances of the MCS and their stay in Sydney were coordinated by Redland Events, an events company managed by Filipino-Australian couple, Dom and Marte Tagle.

The MCS was founded in April 1999 by students and non-professional singers and it has since represented the Philippines in various international choir festivals and competitions in Europe and Asia, garnering awards and recognition along the way. Talented and dedicated in their craft, the MCS carefully chooses its repertoire which includes standard international choral songs as well as commissioned arrangements of popular music and OPM (Original Pilipino Music). END