University of Santo Tomas Singers

The University of Santo Tomas Singers or UST Singers is the premiere mixed choral ensemble of Asia's oldest university, the University of Santo Tomas. It was founded in 1992 by Prof. Fidel Calalang Jr. and is composed of students and alumni from the different colleges of the university.

University of Santo Tomas Singers
Also known asUST Singers
OriginManila, Philippines
GenresChoral music
Years active1992–present

Discography edit

  JB Music Producer and Label

Year Title
1998 UST Singers 1998
1999 UST Singers 1999
2000 UST Singers 2000
2002 UST Singers 2002 (2 CDs)
2003 In Concert (Live)
2004 Celebrate
2005 Journey On! (best of...) (2 CDs)
2005 New York LIVE
2008 American Encore
2009 Farewell Concert (Live)
2010 Then Sings My Soul
2014 The University of Santo Tomas Singers (Live): Through the Years

Awards edit

Date/Year Location of competition Competition Awards received
1993   Lindenholzhausen Harmonie International Choral Competition
  • Second Prize - Folklore Category
  • Third Prize - Chamber Choir Category
1993   Wales 47th Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod
  • Second Prize - Folklore Category
  • Third Prize - Mixed Choirs Category
1995   Wales 49th Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod
  • First Prize - Youth Choirs Category
  • First Prize - Folklore Category
  • W.S. Gwynn Williams Jury Prize
  • First Prize - Chamber Choirs Category
  • Grand Prize - Choir of the World at Llangollen
1998   Tours 27th Florilege Vocal de Tours
  • First Prize - Mixed Choirs Category
  • First Prize - Free Programme Category
  • Prix du Public
1998   Gorizia 37th Concorso Internazionale di Canto Corale C.A. Seghizzi
  • First Prize - Polifonica Programma Monografico
  • First Prize - Folklore Category
  • Second Prize - Gruppo Vocale (no declared 1st & 3rd Prize winners)
  • Premio del Pubblico
  • Premio Renascirnento Europeo (European Renaissance Prize)
  • Gran Premio Citta di Gorizia
1999   Varna 11th European Grand Prix for Choral Singing
  • Finalist
2002   Puebla 2002 World Choral Festival
  • Best Choir
2002   Olomouc 2002 Mundi Cantat - Festa Musicale
  • First Prize - Mixed Choir
  • First Prize - Chamber Choir
  • First Prize - Folk Category
  • First Prize - Spiritual/Jazz
  • First Prize - Sacred
2002   Gorizia 41st Concorso Internazionale di Canto Corale C.A. Seghizzi
  • First Prize - Folk Category
  • First Prize - Spiritual/Jazz
  • Third Prize Monographic Category
  • Third Prize Gruppo Vocale
  • 2002 Seghizzi Jury Prize
  • Premio del Publico
2002   Miltenberg 4th Internationaler Chorwettweberb Miltenberg
  • First Prize - Polyphony Category
  • Second Prize - Folklore and Public Prize
  • Honor Prize - awarded by the Bavarian Prime Minister President for the Best Interpretation of the compulsory piece Magnificat by Josef Swider.
2002   Monster Internationaler TONEN 2002
  • First Prize - Sacred Category Mixed
  • First Prize - Secular Category Mixed
  • First Prize - Folk Category
  • Festival Choir of the Year
  • Best Conductor award given to Prof. Calalang
On December 30, 2003, the UST Singers was recognized as Asia's Most Outstanding Choir, an award given by the National Consumer Affairs Foundation and the Rizal Day National Celebration Committee.
2004   Montreux 2004 Montreux International Choral Festival
  • Excellence Avec Distinction garnering the highest score in the mixed choir category
  • Ville De Vevey Jury Prize for Best Programming and Interpretation
2004   Puebla World Choral Festival 2004
  • Best Choir
In August 2004, the choir was given a special recognition by the Honorable Jeremy Harris, mayor of Honolulu, declaring August 20 as UST Singers Day in Hawaii.
May 2009   California 2009 California International Choral Festival and Competition
  • First Prize - Required Piece Competition
  • First Prize - Folk Competition
  • People's Choice Award
April 9, 2010   Northern Ireland 17th Bangor International Competition
  • Grand Prize - Open Choral Competition
  • First Prize - Mixed Choir Category
  • First Prize - Madrigal Category
  • First Prize - Sacred Music Category
  • Second Prize - Light Entertainment Category
  • Best Visiting Choir
April 19–23, 2010   Sopot 6th Mundus Cantat International Choral Festival
  • First Prize - Sacred Category (96.3%)
  • First Prize - Folk/Secular Category (99.0%)
  • First Prize - Spiritual/Jazz/Gospel (98.0%)
  • Grand Prix 2010
April 28–May 2, 2010   Cork 56th Cork International Choral Festival
  • Lady Dorothy Mayer Memorial Trophy
  • Best Interpretation of a Piece "GAPAS" by Eudenice Palaruan
July 10–12, 2010   Wales Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod 2010
  • First Prize - Mixed Choir Category
  • First Prize - Youth Choir Category
  • Third Prize - Folk Song Category
  • Grand Prize - Choir of the World and The Pavarotti Trophy
July 15–18, 2010   Catalonia 28th Festival International de Musica de Cantonigros
  • First Prize - Mixed Choir Category
  • First Prize - Folk Song Category
July 26–28, 2010   Alicante Festival Internacional de Polifonía y Habaneras
  • First Prize - Habaneras Category
  • Public Prize
  • Grand International Prize
June 11–17, 2013   Yeosu Yeosu International Choral Competition
  • Finalist - Grand Prix
  • Second Prize - Mixed Choir Category
  • Third Prize - Sacred Category
  • Third Prize - Folk, Negro Spiritual and Gospel Category
  • Third Prize - Pop and Jazz Category
July 23–25, 2015   Florence 4th Florence International Choir Festival
  • Golden David Trophy 2015 - Grand Prix
  • First Prize, Mixed Choirs Adult Category
  • First Prize, Pop, Folk, Gospel and Barbershop Ensembles Category
  • First Prize, Sacred Music Category
  • First Prize, Modern and Contemporary Music Category
  • Best Male Soloist
  • Best Contemporary Work's Arrangement ("My Heart and I" by Ennio Morricone/arr. Fidel Calalang Jr.)
  • Best Interpretation of the Required Piece ("Vergine, O Natura Sacra" by Gaetano Lorandi)
June 9–11, 2017   Mainhausen 10th International Choir Days Mainhausen
  • Gold Prize, Jazz/Pop Choir Category
  • Gold Prize, Mixed Choir Category
June 22–25, 2017   Baden 3rd International Choral Competition Ave Verum
  • ICC Ave Verum Grand Prix Niederösterreich
  • 1st Prize (Gold Superior)
  • Best Interpretation of a 20th Century Piece

References edit