Saringhimig Singers Explained
The Philippine Saringhimig Singers (magical wings of song)[1] are a Filipino American choir based in San Francisco, California. In the mid 1980s the choir was also known as the Camerata singers as they toured as a chamber choir throughout Europe
The choir's maestro, George Gemora Hernandez, formed Saringhimig Singers in 1974 at the University of the Philippines together with the other students from the College of Music.[2]
This is a list of the choir's activity and achievements:
2014 – present Reorganized, Series of Concerts
- Concerts in Walnut Creek, San Francisco, Antioch, Fremont, Manteca and Daly City
2008 -2010 Annual Christmas Concerts & Short Performances
- Vallejo, Sunny Vale, Santa Clara and San Francisco
2007 Concert Series
- First California International Choral Festival and Competition, San Luis Obispo Third Place - Choir’s Choice Category
- Concerts in Glendale, Daly City, San Mateo, Stockton
2006 Canadian Concert Tour[3]
- XII International Choral Kathaumixw, Powell River, British Columbia, Canada First Place - Contemporary Choral Music Category Second Place - Adult Mixed Voice Choir Category
- Kathaumixw Concerts Around BC, Maple Ridge
- Concerts in San Mateo, San Francisco
- Annual Christmas Concert
2005 European Concert Tour
- LI International Habaneras and Polyphony Contest, Torrevieja, Spain Third Place - Polyphony Category
- California State Capitol Senate Floor, Sacramento Award of Recognition for “Excellence in Choral Performances in California and Around the World” presented by Senator Torlakson
- Participant, Founders 7th Annual International Choir Festival, Los Angeles
- 2005 World Musikahan with Ryan Cayabyab, Special Guest
- San Francisco City Hall Celebration of Philippine Month, Special Guest
- Concerts in San Francisco, Oakland, Fremont, and Manteca
- Annual Christmas Concert
2004 European Concert Tour
- 58th Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod, Wales Fifth Place - Both in Chamber Category and Folkloric Category
- XXII Festival Internacional de Musica de Cantonigros, Spain
- Participant, Founders 6th Annual International Choir Festival, Los Angeles
- Concerts in San Francisco, Milpitas, Oakland, Manteca and Los Angeles
- Annual Christmas Concert
2003 Mexico Concert Tour
- IV Festival Mundial de Coros, Puebla, Mexico Voted “Best Choir”
- Concerts in San Francisco, San Jose, Manteca and Milpitas
- Annual Christmas Concert
1996 Germany Concert Tour
- Concerts in different cities in Germany
1994 Spain Concert Tour
- Participant Cant’ Coral de Puig-reig, Spain
- Concerts Different cities in the Catalunya region of Spain
1983 European & Northern American Tour
- Top Prize XXXI Concorso Polifonico Internationale Guido D’Arezzo, Italy Folkloric Category
- Top Prize XXII International Choral Competition, Gorizia – Italy Folkloric Category
- Participant, Cant’ Coral de Puig-reig, Spain
- Concerts Germany, Italy, Spain, Czechoslovakia, United Kingdom, France, Canada, USA
1981 European Tour
- Third Prize Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod, Wales (Mixed Choir Category)
- Top Prize XXVIII Concorso Polifonico Internationale Guido D’Arezzo, Italy
- Male Choir Category (Ave Maria Male Choir)
- Participant Cant’ Coral de Puig-reig, Spain
- Participant Jornades Musicales Internacionales, Barcelona, Spain
- Participant East Mersea Music Camp, Essex, United Kingdom
- Concerts United Kingdom, Spain, Italy, Germany
1980 European Concert Tour
- Grand Prize Lehiateka Certamen Cancion y Polifonica Vascas, Tolosa, Spain
- Third Prize Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod, Wales - Folkloric Category (First Philippine Choir to participate in the Eisteddfod)
- Participant Sonnenberg Youth Music Camp, Germany
- Participant Cant’ Coral de Puig-reig, Spain
- Participant Cant’ Coral Barcelona, Spain
- Recording Radio Rundfunk Stuttgart, Germany
- Concerts Spain, United Kingdom, Germany, Austria, Denmark
1979 European Concert Tour
- First Prize XXVII Concorso Polifonico Internationale Guido D’Arezzo, Italy
- Participant Cant’ Coral de Puig-reig, Spain
- Participant XV Dia del Cant’ Coral Barcelona, Spain
- Performance at The World Premiere of Dieter Salbert’s Theaterliche Messe in Ansberg, Germany
- Performance at The 800th year Celebration of the Rhine Cathedral of Cologne, Germany
- Concerts United Kingdom, Germany, Spain, Yugoslavia, Poland, Italy
In 1980 Hernandez also conducted the Ave Maria Male Choral and received the First prize for the male choir category at the XXVIII Concorso Polifonico Internationale, Guido d’ Arezzo, Italy. He restarted the Saringhimig choir in 2002; in 2003 they were voted “Best Choir” in the World Choral Festival in Puebla, Mexico. They also won 4th place at the LLangollen International Musical Eisteddfod in 2004,Third prize at the International Habaneras and Polyphony Contest of Torrevieja, Spain in 2005 andFirst prize and Second Prize at Kathaumiwx International Choral Competition in Powell River, BC, Canada in 2006. Between 2009-2014 the choir was on a hiatus but since late 2014 the choir is once again active. Their most recent engagement was a music festival during July 2016 in Loreto, Italy [4]
External links
Notes and References
- News: Saringhimig to join int'l choral festival . . May 2003 . 2008-03-25 .
- News: Romina . Saha . Saringhimig Singers: Voices with wings . . 2004 . 2008-03-25 .
- Web site: International Choral Kathaumixw. www.kathaumixw.org. Mar 21, 2020.
- Web site: RASSEGNA INTERNAZIONALE MUSICA SACRA "VIRGO LAURETANA" – LORETO – AN. Mar 21, 2020.
