INCHEON, South Korea — The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) Chorale brought pride to the Philippines after being crowned Grand Prix Champion at the Korea International Choir Competition held at Incheon National University.
The Filipino ensemble outperformed 47 other choirs from Indonesia, South Korea, Russia, Taiwan, Malaysia, the United States, Poland and the Philippines. Their final performances of “Puer Natus in Bethlehem” and “Te Lucis Ante Terminum” impressed a 14-member international jury of choral authorities and music professionals.
Beyond the overall Grand Prix title, the PCSO Chorale secured gold medals in both the Sacred Music and Mixed categories.
The victory earned the group a coveted slot in the Asia Choral Grand Prix, which assembles champions from major choral competitions across the region.
Meanwhile, Central Bicol State University claimed gold in the Pop and Jazz Category and silver in the Mixed Category.
Among the special awardees, Eunmi Yu of the Gyeyang District Boys and Girls Choir (South Korea) was named Best Conductor, while The Children’s Choir of the Ekaterinburg State Opera and Ballet Theater (Russia) received the Best Choreography award.
The PCSO Chorale is under the direction of conductor Robert Delgado and choirmaster Tristan Ignacio.
According to PCSO General Manager Melquiades Robles, the 2026 competition marked the chorale’s first foray into the international arena.
“Their victory demonstrates the excellence and global competitiveness of Filipino artists,” Robles said, assuring continued institutional support as the group prepares for future competitions.
Founded in 1998 and composed of PCSO employees, the chorale was revitalized in September 2023 under Robles’ leadership.
The Korea International Choir Competition, which originated in Songdo, South Korea, is regarded as a premier international choral gathering featuring contests, guest performances, workshops and masterclasses.
The PCSO Chorale is scheduled to compete in the 7th Asia Choral Grand Prix in Manila in August 2027, further solidifying its growing presence on the global choral stage.
