FESTIVAL

Recognized by UNESCO as Artists for Peace for “using their fame and influence to promote cultural diversity and a culture of peace,” the Philippine Madrigal Singers (commonly known as MADZ) is celebrated as one of the most awarded choirs in the world.

MADZ has consistently claimed top honors in the world’s most prestigious choral competitions, including the Grand Prize at the 2016 Guido d’Arezzo International Polyphonic Competition in Italy. Notably, it is the first choir in the world to win the European Grand Prix for Choral Singing twice—in 1997 and 2007. In 2012, MADZ became the first Asian choir to receive the BrandLaureate Premiere Award from the Asia Pacific Brands Foundation.

Their profound emotional impact on audiences worldwide stems from their exceptional versatility, their continuous advocacy for Filipino choral works, and their distinctive performance style—seated in a semicircle and singing without a conductor. This pioneering approach has established MADZ not only as leaders in the choral world, but also as a source of inspiration for other choirs.

Founded in 1963 by National Artist for Music Andrea O. Veneracion, MADZ is currently led by Mark Anthony Carpio, her appointed successor. Under his leadership, the ensemble continues to make a significant impact both in the Philippines and globally.

Beyond performing, MADZ actively nurtures the next generation of conductors and choral groups through a wide range of educational and development programs, continuing to move hearts and elevate souls with every performance.

Since its founding in 1981, the Incheon City Choir was reestablished in 1995 under the artistic direction of former conductor Hakwon Yoon. Since then, the choir has been invited to prestigious international choral festivals such as the International Federation for Choral Music (IFCM) and the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) conventions, delivering profound inspiration and fresh excitement to audiences worldwide. Through these achievements, the choir has grown to become a representative choral ensemble of both Incheon and South Korea.

As the official choir representing Incheon Metropolitan City, the Incheon City Choir is dedicated to providing citizens with moving and high-quality choral music. The choir also strives to expand and elevate the local choral scene through events like the <Incheon Choral Festival>, which unites over three million citizens of Incheon through the power of choral singing.

With the appointment of conductor Eui-Jung Yoon as the 8th artistic director in January 2024, the Incheon City Choir is accelerating its global activities. In January 2025, the choir was invited to participate in the Bandung Choral Symposium in Indonesia, further promoting the excellence of Korean choral music and the Incheon City Choir on the world stage.

Founded in June 2016 under the leadership of Director Sang-Hyun Ahn, the Naju City Choir has consistently delivered emotional and inspiring performances to the public, showcasing a wide-ranging repertoire from traditional choral music to popular genres with exceptional skill and passion.

Since the appointment of Artistic Director Jin Jeon in 2022, the choir has broadened its artistic horizons through more diverse and in-depth programming. Notable performances include Mass by Steve Dobrogosz, a concert of newly composed Korean art songs themed around Naju in collaboration with the Korean Choral Composers Association, and in 2024, the premiere of commissioned choral works based on the poetry of Do Jong-hwan.

The choir has also presented genre-crossing programs such as Dichterliebe and Frauenliebe und Leben by Robert Schumann, Misa Tango by Martín Palmeri, a Les Misérables musical gala concert, and Songs of the Streets featuring historical narration by historian Jin-oh Joo — all offering audiences a rich variety of emotional and musical experiences.

In particular, the February 2025 performance A Festival of Choral Creation, their second collaboration with the Korean Choral Composers Association, featured an entire program of original works, setting a new milestone in Korean choral music and generating significant acclaim. Following the 2022 production of the music drama Na Hye-Seok, the choir partnered with the Busan City Theatre in 2023 to stage Arangsa Abisa, a musical adaptation of the Yeongsangang River’s Angam Rock legend. This performance brought renewed attention to the cultural heritage of Naju and received an enthusiastic response with repeated requests for encore performances. Additionally, the choir actively fulfills its role as a cultural ambassador through community events such as the Camping Concert, Bitgaram Park Concert, collaborative performances with the Forest Resources Research Institute, and participation in local festivals that celebrate Naju’s rich history and traditions.

In 2025, the choir gained international attention at the Jeju International Choral Festival (JICF) for its outstanding programming and performance, and has since been invited to prestigious events including the Busan Choral Festival & Competition, the Korea Choral Grand Festival, and the Yeongho-Nam Cultural Exchange Concerts in Busan and Gumi.

With sold-out performances at every concert, the Naju City Choir continues to raise the cultural profile of Naju City through artistically refined yet accessible programs, striving to be a choir that remains close to the hearts of its citizens under the artistic direction of Jin Jeon.