The Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) and the Andrea O. Veneracion (AOV) Sing Philippines Foundation bring together 35 passionate singers from different parts of the country for a week-long music camp at the CCP Tanghalang Ignacio B. Gimenez from August 19 to 23, 2026.
Selected from 121 applications from all over the country, these young singers will be part of the fifth batch of the Sing Philippines Youth Choir (SPYC), sharing love for music and a commitment to uplifting local communities. Inspired by the legacy of the Philippine Madrigal Singers (MADz), these choir singers carry forward National Artist Andrea O. Veneracion’s heartwarming dream of a nation united in song.
The SPYC Batch 5 will undergo an intensive music camp to learn advanced vocal techniques, refine ensemble mastery, and build lifelong friendships under the gentle guidance of Prof. Mark Anthony Carpio, the choirmaster-conductor of Madz. The transformative week will culminate with a grand performance, as part of the 25th anniversary celebration concert honoring Prof. Carpio at the Newport Performing Arts Theater on August 22 and 23, 2026.
“This journey is a deeply personal one, a story of overcoming self-doubt, healing through music, and stepping into our potential. For many of us, the SPYC is far more than a personal milestone—it is a gift that we intend to pass on. Upon returning to our hometowns, schools, and church ministries, we plan to serve as mentors and guides, sharing the lessons, discipline, and joy we gained during the camp.
By bringing high-level training back to our roots, we hope to spark new hope in younger singers, raise local performance standards, and prove that talent from every corner of the Philippines deserves to shine,” collectively shared by some of the singers, namely bass Jacob Miguel Villa (NCR), bass Eljohn Capitan (Lanao del Norte), tenor Jeric Gianan (Catanduanes), altos Mary Gwyneth Gudes (Bohol), alto Dave Lacquio (Zamboanga del Norte), soprano Chin Aficionado Salmon (Iloilo), and soprano Kristine Intong (Kidapawan).
Since it was launched in 2014, the AOV SPYC has mentored 248 singers from 78 local communities nationwide, in five batches.
In 2022, the SPYC tour group, led by Prof. Carpio, competed and won second prize and a Gold Diploma for the Classical Mixed and Equal Category and a Gold Diploma in the Ethnic Category in the Busan International Choral Festival and Competition.
In 2024, they placed fourth among the 16 countries that competed in the Tolosa Choral Competition in Spain. They also performed for the Filipino overseas workers, migrants, and foreign nationals around Spain and Portugal.
In 2025 to 2026, the SPYC pursued its mission to share music with the local communities and conducted workshops and concerts in Tagum City, General Santos City, Iloilo City, Bacolod City, Marikina City, and Hagonoy in Bulacan.
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