All-male group wins top prizes in choral contest in Spain

Male Ensemble Philippines or MEn clinched top prizes at the 54th Tolosa Choral Contest held from 31 October to 5 November in the town of Tolosa in the Basque Region of Spain.

Led by their musical director Ily Matthew Maniano, the group secured first prize in the Secular Music Category and second prize in the Sacred Music Category under the Vocal Groups Category of the competition, surpassing competitors from the United Kingdom, Italy, Iceland and Sweden.

MEn is a six-member vocal ensemble under the Philippine Madrigal Singers Company of Artists, composed of singers from different choral groups — Ily Matthew Maniano (countertenor), Amiel Job Liwanagan (countertenor), Tomas Umberto Virtucio, Jr. (tenor), John Philip Bautista (tenor), Dwight Benedict Chavez (baritone) and Nil's Emerson Flores (bass).

Regarded as "one of the most important choral events in the world," the Tolosa Choral Contest brings together top choirs from around the globe. It aims to bring together the best choirs in the world, in order to enable an exchange of styles, interpretation, choral literature, vocal education and customs of each country, as well as raise awareness of the musical and cultural tradition of the Basque Country. Established in 1969, the competition has become one of the most important choral events in the world through the years. To date, almost 1,200 different choirs from all over the world have come to Tolosa to make their music.

"The Cultural Center of the Philippines is proud of the success that the Male Ensemble Philippines achieved in the Tolosa Choral Contest. We laud them for epitomizing solid musicianship as well as championing artistic discipline and respect. Our Filipino artists have been making their mark on both local and international stages, and the CCP supports them in their artistic journey," said CCP president Michelle Nikki Junia.

MEn is currently on its 2023 European Concert Tour from 20 October to 19 December, conducting concerts, performances and workshops in France, Spain, Sweden, Denmark, Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands and Austria. Recently, they performed at the prestigious Moscow State Tchaikovsky Conservatory, following the invitation of the Philippine Embassy in Russia. They also had performed at Cultural Center of the Philippines events.

For more information, contact the group via email at male.ensemble.ph@gmail.com or follow them on Facebook and Instagram (@maleensembleph).