Los Cantantes de Manila (LCDM) is a community choir based in Manila, Philippines. The choir is composed of students, young professionals, and musicians. Their repertoire includes classical composers such as Bruckner and Monteverdi, as well as contemporary artists like Beyoncé and John Lennon.
Founded in February 2014 and directed by Darwin Vargas, LCDM has performed in various countries including Hungary, Italy, Russia, Spain, the Netherlands, South Korea, Singapore, Germany, and the Philippines.
The choir has received recognition for its performances, including two Ani ng Dangal awards from the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) in 2016. and in 2019
Awards International competitions Year Location Competition Awards 2024 Moscow, Russia 2024 Moscow A Cappella Festival 1st Prize – Large Vocal Group Category 2024 Arezzo, Italy 72nd Citta Di Arezzo Grand Prize Right to represent and compete at the 2025 European Grand Prix for Choral Singing in Tolosa, Spain 1st Prize – Compulsory Programme 1st Prize – Sacred Music Programme 1st Prize – Secular Music Programme 2024 Debrecen, Hungary 29th Béla Bartók International Choir Competition Grand Prix Finalist 1st Prize – Free Category 1st Prize – Sacred Category Special Prize of Editio Musica Budapest for the Best Interpretation of the Compulsory Piece (Cantate Domino) 2024 Torrevieja, Spain 70th Certamen Coral Internacional de Habaneras y Polifonia 4th Prize – Polyphony Category 2023 Manila, Philippines 5th Andrea O. Veneracion International Choral Festival 1st Prize – Folk Song Category 2023 Marktoberdorf, Germany 18th International Chamber Choir Competition Marktoberdorf 1st Prize – Mixed Choirs Category Achievement Level I – Excellent Performance at an International Level Noël Minet Prize for the Best Interpretation of a Romantic Choral Work (Christus Factus Est) Walter & Charlotte Hamel Foundation Special Prize for a Particularly Ourstanding Characteristic Vocal Presentation (Day Baling Mingawa) Marktoberdorf Public Award 2019 Marktoberdorf, Germany 16th International Chamber Choir Competition Marktoberdorf 4th Place – Mixed Choirs Category Achievement Level I – Excellent Performance at an International Level 2019 Kerkrade, Netherlands 5th CantaRode International Choir Competition 2019 3rd Prize Audience Prize 2019 Varna, Bulgaria 2019 International May Choir Competition “Prof. Georgi Dimitrov” Participant (Unable to compete) 2018 Singapore, Singapore 5th Singapore International Choral Festival Gold Prize – Mixed Voices Open Category Gold Prize – Sacred Category 2017 Marktoberdorf, Germany 15th International Chamber Choir Competition Marktoberdorf 1st Prize – Popular Choir Music Category Achievement Level I – Excellent Performance at an International Level Special Prize for a Particularly Outstanding Characteristic Vocal Presentation (If I Had My Way) Marktoberdorf Public Award 2015 Busan, South Korea 11th Busan International Choir Festival and Competition Grand Prix Winner Gold Prize – Classical Mixed Category Silver Prize – Pop/A Capella Category
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