APCG: Grand Prix of Nations - Youth Choir

Choirs from Asia took to the Lionel Wendt stage today (October 24), to compete against each other in the youth category of the Grand Prix of Nations Competition. The Competition is part of the week long Asia Pacific Choir Games festival that is currently talking place in Colombo from October 21 to 28.The two choirs to qualify and compete
in this category were Indonesian choir ‘Paduan Suara Mahasiswa Unversitas Atma Jaya Yogyakarta’ and from Sri Lankan the ‘Methodist College Choir’.

Starting off the competition was the Indonesian choir, which performed five pieces, including Z. Randall Stroope’s Conversion of Saul, a traditional Indonesian song with fans and drumming, and a rendition of ‘ Lady Marmelade’ from the musical Moulin Rouge. The mixed ensemble delivered a visually stimulating performance whilst simultaneously showcasing their strong harmonization and mature voices. 

At times the choir didn’t seem to enunciate as much, but that may be due to differences in accents. Following them up was the Methodist College Choir, conducted by Sanjeev Jayaratnam.Consisting of a very large ensemble of students, the choir performed ‘the spiritual song ‘ Music Down in My Soul’, Lerner and Loewe’s ‘If ever I would leave you’, Billy Joel’s Lullaby , Clarence Wijewardena’s ‘Rahasai Sonduru Jeewe’ and Jim Papoulis’ ‘Sililiza’. Relying mainly on their Sopranos, the choir performed delicate renditions of Joel’s and Wijewardena’s song with an air of innocence which contrasted greatly from the more mature vocals of the Indonesian Choir.

(Shakya Wickramanayake)