The UST Alumni Australia in partnership with the UST Office of Alumni Relations proudly presents “Afterglow” a virtual concert on Saturday, 30 April, 2022. The show will start at 1:00pm and will be available on live streamed throughout Australia and the Philippines.
It’ll be a touch of nostalgia as the hybrid concert will capture memories of the good, old UST days. It will include special guest appearances of by some UST alumni who have become Philippine celebrities to include: Award-winning journalist and ANC Anchor of “After the Fact” – Christian Esguerra; Bb Pilipinas and Miss Universe 1st Runner Up 1999 – Miriam Quiambao; John “Sweet” Lapus, actor, comedian and director, the UST Growling Tigers basketball team. Pop icon, Nonoy Zuniga will also be making a special guest appearance.
“It’s our way of connecting to fellow Thomasians in Australia and rekindling the spirit,” said USTAA spokesperson, Albert Prias. “The show will also feature the UST talents here in Australia,” he added.
The highlight of the show is UST’s pride and joy – world renowned and multi award winning, UST Singers. It is the premiere mixed choral mixed choral ensemble composed of a select group of students and alumni representing the different colleges and faculties of Asia’s oldest university. Founded in 1992, the University of Santo Tomas Singers, under the baton of its founder and conductor, Prof. Fidel Gener Calalang Jr.
Prof. Calalang is a piano and Bachelor of Music in Piano performance and a master of arts in music from the UST Conservatory of music. He also teaches in the Graduate School of Music in UST. He has led the choir in 31 international concert tours and in winning 82 top prizes in different choral competitions around the world.
Since 1993, they’ve been unstoppable, performing on the international scene for world leaders and reaping the top awards through the years.
In 2019, the choir was awarded the “Choir of the World Champion of Champions” title, besting 31 Choir of the World winners from Europe, North America, Australia, and the Asia Pacific at the world’s oldest choir competition, the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod in Wales, The United Kingdom.
To perform in front of a 2000-strong audience in attendance in “Amor y Amistad: 28 Years of Love and Friendship.” The festival was held at the iconic Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo (Main Theater) at the Cultural Center of the Philippines Complex on February 16, 2020.
2020 was a milestone year for the choir as it produced one of the largest choral festivals for that year where eight choral groups from all over the Philippines and the United States joined together on stage.
Amid the global COVID-19 pandemic, the UST Singers was able to continuously spread its message of peace and goodwill through its music using the digital platform. In 2020 and 2021, they were featured as guest artists in the first and second international choral festival, entitled “Le Musica es Vida”; 8th
International Choral Festival Canta America held in Peru; Choral Fest Costa Rica; 22nd World Choral Festival Puebla Mexico; Passio, Música, y Espiritualidad – Holy Week Concert in Chile; and, the City of Derry International Choir Festival held in Derry, Ireland.
They were also invited as guest artist at the “Unite the World in Peace and Harmony,” a TV special presented by the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod in Wales, The United Kingdom presented virtually through the S4C Television Network and the BBC Two Wales aired all over the United Kingdom.
The UST Singers were in Australia in 2016 and performed to a packed venue in Blacktown, Sydney. On Saturday, April 1, 2022, the UST Singers will once again shine as they entertain the whole of Australia!
The UST Alumni Australia invites everyone to enjoy its maiden offering “Afterglow.” Watch out for the Live Stream notification on the UST Alumni Australia FB page: https://www.facebook.com/USTAlumniAustralia
