The Philippine Meistersingers – Cavite Province, The Philippines
After more than six decades The Philippine Meistersingers (formerly the AUP Ambassadors), is one of the most active and respected choirs in the world. They won the coveted title, “Choir of the World 2011” in the 2011 Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod, receiving the Luciano Pavarotti Trophy. With this award, in 2012 they received a Philippine Congressional Proclamation recognizing their contribution to Philippine music and culture. They are also one of the national recipients of the 2012 Ani ng Dangal Awards for Music. The chorale was twice a prizewinner of the National Music Competition for Young Artists (NAMCYA). In 1999, they were granted the US Congressional Merit for Excellence in the state of California. Also during the extensive concert tour, a proclamation in the city of Fresno, California was made in their honor, declaring April 10 to be AUP Ambassadors Day. In 2006 at the World Choir Games they won the Champion title for the Gospel and Spiritual category. The choral has released a number of CDs and has performed throughout Singapore, China, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Thailand, United Kingdom, the U.S. and Canada.
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Ramon Molina Lijauco, Jr. has been directing The Philippine Meistersingers since 1998 He finished his Master of Music in Choral Conducting, (with the honor of Summa Cum Laude), at St. Paul University Manila where is currently finishing his Doctor of Musical Arts degree. He studied composition with the Philippine’s distinguished artist Lucio D. San Pedro. His choral and chamber pieces have been performed in the Philippines and abroad. As a choirmaster, Ramon has worked with the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra in various national and international projects. His leadership brought the Philippine Meistersingers to international acclaim with notable awards. In 2010, he was chosen to speak at the internationally acclaimed TEDx Conference held in Thailand. He is based both in the Philippines and Thailand, directing the internationally awarded Suanplu Chorus of Thailand and the PAGCOR Voice Symphony. He is the co-founder of the Thailand Society for Choral Excellence and the Thailand Youth Choral Competition. He is an adjudicator of the National Music Competition for Young Artist (NAMCYA) and is a member of the Philippine Choral Directors Association (PCDA). As conductor, choral adjudicator and clinician, he has travelled extensively around Asia, Canada, US, UAE, United Kingdom and Europe.