The San Pedro Chorale of Tarlac City defied all odds as it emerged Grand Prix champions in the recently concluded 4th North Sumatra International Choir Competition in Parapat-Laguboti, Lake Tuba, North Sumatra in Indonesia held from 27 to 31 August.

Besting a field of 18 participating countries, the group reaped three golds each in the mixed, pop and musica sacra categories to qualify for the Grand Prix, where they likewise prevailed via their renditions of classical and local medleys.

The group overcame all challenges and plights as they had a very short time to prepare for the event without proper funding, which caused them to buy discounted airline tickets which involved long layovers from Malaysia to Indonesia and opting to sleep in airports without the luxury of food and accommodations.

They also had no prior experience in joining any national or local singing competition, which made this had a big leap for the chorale in winning such a prestigious event which was participated by known juries around the world such as Bengt Ollen of Sweden, a choral conductor who formed the famous Sofia Vokalensemble.

As the grand prix champion, the San Pedro Chorale was invited to perform in different churches with an evening concert at the Universitas Sumatera Utara, the most famous university in the North Sumatra.