15 July 2011 [Girlie Mae Andrada/Ray Puen/BUC News] A choir from the Adventist University of the Philippines won three top awards at the 2011 Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod Festival in Wales, 4-10 July, 2011. After gaining first place in both the Mixed Choir and Chamber Choir categories, they went on to win the coveted “Choir of the World – Pavarotti Trophy on Saturday night. The Llangollen Eisteddfod, with Terry Waite CBE as its President, is among the world’s most prestigious choral competitions.
The trophy was made even more special for them as the event organisers moved the starting time of the Saturday evening competition to accommodate the Sabbath-keeping choir. After winning the first two categories, and therefore gaining entry to the final, the group had already decided that they would not compete during the Sabbath hours. However after much prayer and supplication, the group was delighted when the competition was moved to 9:30 pm, after sunset!
That does not mean they wasted the Sabbath hours! During the competition they enjoyed the exceptional hospitality and friendliness of the Welsh people who accommodated the group in their own homes in the village. In return for their kindness and hospitality, the group organised a Sabbath concert for the villagers. Whilst the 
rest of the competitors were busy rehearsing and preparing for the competition, the ‘Ambassadors’ the official name of the choir, were giving glory to God through singing and sharing their faith with the community. They were able to answer many questions about Adventists as many of the locals had never heard of Adventists. Tenor Zhean Manalo reported that “it was the first time that they had met people like us, that we were ‘different’ and how deeply we touched people’s lives.” A local resident, Peter, had been assigned to host the choir. He told them he was honoured to have been given that assignment, and felt very blessed.
The choir, led by Ramon Lijauco Jr arrived in the UK on Thursday, 7 July, the night before the first competition. Despite jet lag and fatigue from the 12-hour flight, the group gave their all as they battled with top choirs from all over the world and won the first prize in the Chamber Choir and Mixed Choir categories. The 30-voice Ambassadors had a juggling trick to do. The minimum requirement for Mixed Choir is 30 voices, the maximum for Chamber Choir is 29 voices. An alto volunteered to drop out in order for the group to qualify to compete in the Chamber Choir category.
For the Mixed Choir category, the group sang “Agnus Dei” by Krzysztof Penderecki and “Itako” an original composition by the conductor, Ramon Lijauco Jr. For the Chamber Choir competition, where they beat Mansfield University Concert Choir from the United States and CF1 from Wales, they sang “Amor de mi Alma” by Z Randall Stroope and “Bagbagto” by Nilo Alcala. On Saturday evening they went head to head with five other choirs for the most prestigious award, the Choir of the World 2011 and the most coveted Pavarotti Trophy. Printed adjudication notes were given to the choir read: “We were in no doubt this is a quality corporate instrument of very high calibre, based on a strong individual vocal culture moulded towards a clearly understood choral sound.”
The AUP Ambassadors is the official chorus of the Adventist University of the Philippines. It was founded in 1957 by an American missionary, Elder Elton Wallace, as an all-male chorus. In 1971, under the leadership of Mrs Minerva Arit-Penaranda, the group began accepting female members and has since become a mixed choir. They have been actively involved in promoting Adventist education by visiting churches all over the Philippines and other countries in Asia and the United States. In 2006, the Ambassadors joined the World Choir Games in China and came home Champion in the Gospel and Spiritual categories. This has inspired them to join more choral competitions, not only to win medals and trophies but most importantly, to raise the profile of the Adventist Church in the music community, the latest being the LLangollen International Musical Eisteddfod Festival.
Raising the £50,000 needed for the 32 members of the choir to travel was a challenge but did not daunt their spirits or their faith. Since the Eisteddfod they have continued to share their faith – and complete their fundraising with invitations to sing in St Chad’s church, Wrexham, followed by a concert in Stockport Adventist church and then a flight to Aberdeen where a series of concerts were arranged by local pastor, Lorance Johnson.
Those in the London area will be able to experience the joy of their music this weekend in a series of performances at local churches and a gala concert at the Advent Centre.
Friday 7:00 pm: Wimbledon International church
Sabbath 9:30 am: Holloway church
Sabbath 11:30 am: Central London church, Advent Centre
Sabbath 7:00 pm: London Filipino International church
Sunday 7:00 pm: Gala Concert, Advent Centre
Aware of the image they project for church and school, the Ambassadors strive to perform to the glory of God at every performance. At Llangollen and elsewhere, they deflect all compliments to the glory of God, acknowledging at every opportunity that they are blessed to be singing ambassadors for Christ.
Highlights of the competition can be seen on the Llangollen TV website. [tedNEWS]
tedNEWS Staff: Miroslav Pujic, director; Deana Stojkovic, editor
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