Has it ever occurred to you that music is an essential part of dining? In case you haven’t noticed, all restaurants match the cuisine of their food with music that makes customers appreciate the ambience of the restaurant or to make people enjoy their food better. For instance, when entering a Spanish restaurant— you hear tango music or those singing trio with their guitars serenading diners.
But not all music is music. Some people do it for a living. Some people make music just for the sake of being called musicians. But there are others who make music expecting nothing in return only because they love singing and the joy it brings to people is actually enough to sustain them in their struggle as artists.
Being an artist is not an easy job. For instance, there are a lot of sacrifices you would have to make: a high paying salary, time spent with friends and family, being able to have your own time and the discipline it comes with. Plus the hard work of memorizing pieces and constantly improving the quality of your voice. Marketing is also a problem for some struggling artists.
Singing is an art that needs to be improved on a daily basis. You can be a great singer today and can even be greater tomorrow You just have to keep polishing, practicing and taking care of that God given talent.
This is where the Philippine Madrigal Singers through the leadership of their choirmaster Mark Anthony Carpio enter the picture. Yes, they are famous for singing while seated down. They are the only choir in the world to be able to win the European Grand Prix twice in 1997 and 2007. Also in 2009, they were named Artists for Peace by UNESCO. They are also one of the choirs in the Philippines who keep setting the bar of excellence higher and higher. As a matter of fact, when people hear the Madz sing, you can see that expression on their faces that says “beautiful.. perfect..” Based on my experience, they usually gave me goosebumps and tears. Their way of singing just makes their audience feel like they’re a part of the song because the way the Madz sing I guess is that they really internalize every bit of the song and sing it with their souls and their hearts.
2011 is the year of the Great American Tour. The United States of America, Canada and South America were in the itinerary of the Madz. They have been on tour since April 2011 and were invited by several institutions to perform for them. Last April in Utah, they were invited by The Mormon Tabernacle Choir to perform for their Sunday worship.
They also performed at the annual World Symposium of Choirs in Puerto Madryn, Argentina. This is a milestone for the Philippine Madrigal Singers since they are the only Filipino choir in the whole history of choral singing invited to perform at this prestigious symposium where all award winning choirs and composers were present.
Of course the members of the Madz are also human despite the group’s greatness. It’s not as if the singers don’t get exhausted or when they wake up in the morning eh their vocal chords are ready for action! Haha! Pearl Reyes, a member of the group told me ” We had a humbling experience today… As soon as we realized that something was wrong with the way we were singing, we focused even more and ended up delivering it well pa rin. Presence of mind is very important with choral singing. What’s also important is we should learn from the experience and use it to make ourselves better. After all, singing is a skill. The more you practice, the better you get! Mabuhay!”
The Madz recently had a concert t the Merkin Hall in New York City last October 8, 2011 organized by its alumni, Leo Paolo Leal and Enrico Lagasca. Of course the concert was a huge success. They still have several performances in New York before they end the last leg of their Great American Tour.
Must be a fun experience eating at a good restaurant while the Madz is singing on the background. 🙂 Till we meet again Madz!
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For more information on the concerts of the Madz, you may visit: http://www.facebook.com/upmadz
Angel Mercado said:
I love the madz! Congratulations!
Tonio Salva said:
Ang galing ng madz! Sikat na sikat na kayo!
Melissa Vergara said:
I’ve heard the Madz perform at high street once this year. The best!
prettygurl22 said:
Idol ko po ang madz dati pa.
cherry sabido said:
when’s their next concert?
thegustation said:
Hi Cherry,
I heard they might have a home coming concert sometime in November. Will ask. 🙂
Mary Mathleen Mangahas said:
Pearl is the middle alto? I met her in one of their concerts in Philam Auditorium last January. She’s very warm and humble.
thegustation said:
Hi Mary,
Yes. She’s the central alto. 🙂 She is indeed very nice. 🙂
nathaniel nicolas said:
go madz! support to you!
Stella Aquino said:
I wish they will have a concert in december like last year. I always watch their concerts with my mom. A friend of ours hosted them in California.
Mabuhay kayo!
Edmund E. said:
Watch their valentine’s concert with your loved ones and you’ll fall in love with the madz!
kristine dy said:
love madz. 🙂
thegustation said:
Likewise! 😉
karl flores said:
i see them all the time in UP. they look like normal people pero once they open their mouth kala mo hindi tao!
thegustation said:
Hi Karl,
Of course they are human! 🙂 You are funny. They sound like angels tho.
tina acebedo said:
galing! congrats!
rochelle baguyot said:
Keep it up UP Madrigal Singers!
Rob N. said:
You make me a proud alumnus of the UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES!
Rob N. said:
Guys watch this!
http://www.youtube.com/upmadz
CLAP CLAP CLAP!
Jerry De Guzman said:
The soloist here has a beautiful voice.
http://www.youtube.com/upmadz#p/a/u/2/We2uB6BgVmg
diego s. said:
Only the most beautiful sound on the planet! Mabuhay ang MADZ! Madz forever fan!
Wilma Dayap said:
God bless the Madz!
luisa guanzon said:
the best choral group in the world! i ❤ the Madz 🙂
Karla Joson said:
I want the Madrigals to sing in my wedding. How can I get in touch with them?
thegustation said:
Hi Karla!
I can send you the email address of the person in charge in private. 🙂
Thanks!
April Oliveros said:
I want to watch their concert! Ang galing ng videos! Naluha ako… :’)
camille said:
Where’s their next concert? I heard nga they are on tour for a long time!
charizza tejada said:
Si Miss Pearl! Ang galing galing niya. Ganda pa ng boses. :))
Leslie Zamora said:
I havent seen them perform but I’d love to!
Ralph Ramos said:
ang lamig ng boses nung babaeng soloista..
enjoy kayo…
isabel said:
Ang hiyas na perlas noong paslit pa ay hilig magpaligid-ligid and magtampisaw sa ulanan…
At kung di na naulan at naipinid pansamanatala sa simpleng kahoy na kolong-kolong
Malayo palang ang maliit na tinig ng tatlong gulang pa lamang ito ay pumapailanglang sa hangin sa saliw ng pambansang awit ng Pilipinas.
[ to be cont…]
thegustation said:
Hi Isabel,
Sounds like a very free spirit. Artist talaga 🙂 How are you? I hope you dont mind. I placed a link to your blog on my sidebar. 🙂 Love your poems!
Geraldine Ocampo said:
I love the Madz! More power to you guys!
abby lorenzo said:
I watched the Madz in their concert before in italy. Beautiful voices.. Hands down kaming lahat sa audience. Their music truly touched our hearts.
Joan Garcia said:
The Philippine Madrigal Singers is one of the Philippines’ pride. Keep it up guys! Congratulations to all of you and to Mark Anthony Carpio!
arianne callejas said:
are they still in New York? I want to watch them! Where are they performing next?
thegustation said:
Hi Arianne!
You can watch them at the Floral Park 7pm on October 14. This would be their last concert. Hope you can make it! 🙂
elsie dela torre said:
I was in Merkin Hall for their concert. It was a great night! How I wish my whole family was with me.
apple fernandez said:
i love madz! I used to hear them practice when I was in college 10 years ago. i get goosebumps.
Donnie Pimentel said:
New York will miss you Madz!