by Lorie Ann A. Cascaro
Neither the applause of huge audiences in the country and in different parts of the world, nor the recognition and prizes won in international contests motivate the Loboc Children’s Choir. Rather, it is the hope they share not only with those who applaud their outstanding performances but also with the beneficiaries of their noble cause.
Currently with 19 members ranging from 11 to 16 years old, the group started in 1980 with Alma F. Taldo as the music trainer and director. Taldo, who came from a musically inclined family and also has the passion for teaching children, taught them to perform with discipline, excellence and enthusiasm.
Being part of a world renowned choir, the children gained not only the experience of traveling around the world for free, but also their development as artists while performing in front of different audiences and venues.
Taldo said that while part of their earnings goes to their beneficiaries, operations, costumes and other needs; some are allotted as honorarium and college scholarships of its members. She added that they already have three scholars: one is in the fifth year in music, major in conducting and minor in piano at the University of Sto. Tomas; two others are taking up education courses at the Holy Name University in Tagbilaran City, Bohol.
The Loboc Children’s Choir’s first batch began travelling to different cities and in the United States of America for two months in 1997. They also performed in mainland China and Hong Kong in 2000 and 10 countries in Europe, such as The Netherlands, Belgium, France, Italy, Hungary, the Czech Republic and Germany in 2003, Korea in 2004, Shanghai in 2005 and 2007, Hong Kong again in 2006, and back to the US in 2008. These were but some of the international performances of the group.
In joining competitions abroad, Taldo said they first sent a recording of their performance for screening. If their entry was approved, that’s the time they applied for participation in the competition by filling out forms mainly accessible through the internet. They were then instructed to practice obligatory pieces of specific themes, as well as their original masterpieces.
Living like normal kids while in the country, the children performed in various cities for their beneficiaries. For the benefit of Kythe Foundation and Lay Camillian Family, the Loboc Children’s Choir performed “Voices of Hope” last May 28 at the CAP Auditorium, Anda Street, Davao city.
World recognition or fame, in general, may not mean a lot to these kids for now. Their interest in music, which is mostly reflected during their performances, is definitely the first thing that brought them into the Loboc Children’s Choir. But what keeps these talented and dedicated young performers holding on to the group as long as they still qualify is the greater call to bring hope to people that need it through their magical voices.
