UPCC Batch 1974 - UPCC's First International Concert Tour

UP Concert Chorus Batch 1974
1st International Concert Tour
April 18 to June 3, 1974
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First international tour of the UPCC
Tour silver jubilarians for 1999

• The 1974 tour marked the start of what is now a long series of international travels of the UP Concert Chorus.
• Tour highlight: “The World Singing Together”
  

4th Lincoln Center International Choral Festival.
Featuring 13 choirs from 5 continents: Austria, Brazil, Columbia, Hungary, Japan, Liberia, Malagasy Republic, Poland, PHILIPPINES, Romania, Sweden, Yugoslavia & United States.

This was a gathering of 13 of the best university choirs in the world selected through a series of competitive auditions conducted by the Festival Director himself, James R. Bjorge who visited various campuses in the Philippines for that purpose.

• UPCC chosen as one of the world’s best university choirs.
• Dean Rey T. Paguio, then a maverick 39-year old (yes, Virginia, he was once young – with some hair to boot), pioneered:

1. His signature UPCC “formula” of classics, Filipino songs and (gasp!) popular selections and choreography.
2. Ditto with what is known as the UPCC’s “audition formation.” Whereas other choral groups traditionally grouped all the sopranos, all the altos, et al. together, Rey experimented with with placement by quartets – such that no one stood beside anyone else singing the same melodic line.Talk about knowing your music…
3. Oratorios, black spirituals, Filipino serenades, avant-garde, etc., nothing was was too new or too radical for this intrepid conductor and his high-spirited motley group.
4. Along with that formula came the now de rigueur “pusod” and pearl earrings (and no watch, bracelet and necklaces) for the girls to go with stylized Filipino traditional costumes.

• To date, most if not all Filipino choirs who have won in international choral competitions and who go on international tours, have adopted this unbeatable combination.

1974 UPCC TOUR GROUP

Rey T. Paguio, Conductor
Mary Hedwig Satuito-Thornsberry, Pianist
Pedro Abraham, Choreographer


OFFICERS
Norma Ramirez, President
Dodo Crisol, Vice President
Ida Firme-Vargas, PRO
Victoriano Lecaros, PRO
Leo Mascarinas, business manager
Rita Tamondong, Secretary

SOPRANOS

1. Nita Abrogar-Quinto
2. Charito Encomienda-Seneres
3. Diane Espejo-Velasco
4. Rafaelita Gonzales
5. Agnes Inventor
6. Victoria F. Magsalin
7. Elvira Marquez Garcia
8. Stella Mendieta
9. Mary Evelie D. Sales
10. Marian Saenz-Luna
11. Rita Tamondong Jocson

ALTOS

1. Sandra Bello
2. Rebecca Demetillo-Abraham
3. Ida Firme-Vargas
4. Susan Malahay-de Jesus
5. Jewel Marabut Baga
6. Marilyn Odchimar
7. Evangeline Perez-Miranda
8. Norma Ramirez
9. Regina Lourdes Reyes-del Mundo
10. Ma. Rosario Unite

TENORS

1. Danilo Bernabe
2. Cesar Capacete
3. William Cowper
4. Edgardo Crisol
5. Alberto Cruz
6. Eric Evidente
7. Alberto Miranda
8. Elidoro Primero
9. Samuel Ildefonso "Pons" Raya III
10. Michael Rivera
11. Dodds Simangan

BASSES

1. Robert Antonio
2. David Bacho
3. George Hernandez
4. Victoriano Lecaros
5. Elmer Manalo
6. Enrico Manlapaz
7. Leo Mascarinas
8. Gershon Napod
9. Joel Magus Navarro
10. Levi Velasco
11. Leo Michael Ver

UPCC HARANA QUARTET
Danilo Bernabe and Alberto Cruz, tenor soloists
George Hernandez, bass
Victoriano Lecaros, baritone/guitarist

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POST-LINCOLN CENTER CONCERTS FOR DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM
BALIKBAYAN PROGRAM

• Ramon Gil Alonso, guest artist
• Francisco Aseniero, business manager
• Antonio de Jesus, PRO
• Elisa Ugarte, stage manager/lights

ITINERARY
En route to Lincoln Center, New York City (April 18 to June 3, 1974)

CITY/TOWN PERFORMANCE VENUE

• Los Angeles, CaliforniaUniversity of Southern California
• Logan, Utah Utah State University
• Laramie, Wyoming University of Wyoming
• Norman, Oklahoma University of Oklahoma
• Louisville, Kentucky University of Louisville
• Alliance, Ohio Mount Union College
• Geneseo, New York State University of New York
• Port Chester, New York Ridge Street School
• Washington D.C. John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
• New York City Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts

“The World Singing Together”
4^th LINCOLN CENTER
INTERNATIONAL CHORAL FESTIVAL
Featuring 13 choirs from 5 continents: Austria, Brazil, Colombia, Hungary, Japan, Liberia, Malagasy Republic, Poland, PHILIPPINES, Romania, Sweden, Yugoslavia & United States.

FOR THE MINISTRY OF TOURISM’S BALIKBAYAN PROGRAM
On the way home from New York City

CITY/TOWN PERFORMANCE VENUE

• Chicago, Illinois Rizal Center Auditorium
• Los Angeles, California Echo Park Methodist Church
• San Francisco, California War Veterans Memorial Center
• Honolulu, Hawaii University of Hawaii
• East-West Center Farrington Auditorium

TOUR REPERTOIRE

Gaudeamus Igitur arr. Marshall Bartholomew
Chichester Psalms, first movement Leonard Bernstein
Alleluia Randall Thompson
Ave Maria arr. Jean Mouton
Ave Maria Anton Bruckner
Un Peu Plus Haut Passereau
Roslein dreie in der Reihe Johannes Brahms

Anthony O’Daly Samuel Barbers
He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands arr. Charles Higgins
Las Agachadas arr. Aaron Copland

Sa Mahal kong Bayan - National Artist Lucio D. San Pedro
Kami’y Magmamani - National Artist Lucio D. San Pedro
Leron Leron Sinta - arr. Felipe de Leon
Pamaypay ng Maynila
Pong Pong Ginapong - Eliseo Pajaro
Ay Kalisud - arr. Restituto Umali
Ili-ili Tulog Anay - arr. Fabian Obispo
Iddem-dem Mallida - arr. Elmo Makil
Da-Ba-Da - Reynaldo T. Paguio
Ding Ding nga Diyawa - Ramon P. Santos

By the UPCC Harana Quartet:
Ti Ayat Ti Meysa nga Ubing
Maalaala Mo Kaya



- From the tour records of Ambassador Vic Lecaros and Ida Firme Vargas, UPCC 1974 Tour PROs