A Call to Mission — May Our Voices and the Message of Our Songs Resonate Throughout the World

Dr. Maria Theresa Vizconde-Roldan, conductor, Philippines

In this time of recovery and rebuilding on account of the pandemic, may our voices and the message of our songs resonate throughout the world.

Last year, through the efforts and initiative of the Young Voices of the Philippines, one of the scholar choirs of the Treble Choir Association of the Philippines, the Young Voices of the World gathered again to perform together for the Sing as One Festival. This event featured over 300 treble voices from over 22 countries singing Lumen Fidei by accomplished composer Jude B. Roldan with lyrics by Marian Abio. Lumen Fidei (which translates to Light of Faith) instills in us God’s loving light and inspiration. Every time we sing, we share with others this light that has been bestowed upon us. We are called to unite everyone in music, in hope, and in love. It is our deepest wish to be able to reach and inspire more people through the message of our festival piece, Light of Faith.

Here is the video performance by the Young Voices of the World

My sincerest gratitude to all the participating choirs and their choral directors:

Hamilton Children’s Choir (Canada) Zimfira Poloz
ISA Choir Academy (China) Victoria Vakulishyna
Ulmer SpatzenChor (Germany) Hans de Gilde
Kodály Conservatory Children’s Choir (Greece) Michalis Patseas
Diocesan Girls’ Junior School Choir (Hong Kong) Kelvin Lau
Saint Angela Choir (Indonesia) Roni Sugiarto
Le Allegre (Italy) Fabio Pecci
Ikeda Junior Choir (Japan) Kayoko Shibuya
Kuala Lumpur Children’s Choir (Malaysia) Darrel Chan
Qatar Youth and Junior Choir (Qatar) Alena Pyne
Melodia (Russia) Evgenia Kudrichevskaya
Bedok South Secondary School Choir (Singapore) Marcus Lee
Voices of Singapore Children’s Choir (Singapore) Darius Lim
Tygerberg Children’s Choir (South Africa) Karina Erasmus
Chunsong Children’s Choir (South Korea) Heechurl Kim
Soul Sounds Academy (Sri Lanka) Soundarie David Rodrigo
Taipei Philharmonic Youth and Children’s Choir (Taiwan) Sandy Fu
Wattana Girls Chorus (Thailand) Sathit Sukchongchaipruk
Immaculate Heart of Mary Children’s Choir (USA) Cristopher Avendano
Shenandoah Valley Children’s Choir (USA) Janet Hostetter
Vinschool One Choir (Vietnam) TôNgọc Tú
Kantabella (Philippines) Jude B. Roldan and Maria Theresa Vizconde-Roldan
Young Voices of the Philippines Jude B. Roldan and Maria Theresa Vizconde-Roldan

In our second year of Lux Spei: The Light of Hope, an international Treble Voices Christmas Festival, the Young Voices of the World sang the well-loved Christmas carol, Silent Night, which features music by Franz Gruber, words by Joseph Mohr arranged for treble voices by Jude B. Roldan in different languages.

Here is the video performance by the Young Voices of the World:

My sincerest gratitude to all the participating choirs and their choral directors:

Voices of Birralee (Australia) Paul Holley
Hamilton Children’s Choir (Canada) ZimfiraPoloz
Ulmer Spatzen Chor (Germany) Hans de Gilde
Cantemus Children’s Choir (Hungary) Denes Szabo
Diocesan Girls’ Junior School Choir (Hong Kong) Kelvin Lau
Saint Angela Choir (Indonesia) Roni Sugiarto
Ikeda Junior Choir (Japan) Kayoko Shibuya
Okinawa Nago Junior Choir (Japan) Motoko Nohara
Kuala Lumpur Children’s Choir (Malaysia) Darrel Chan
Coro Juvenil do Instituto Gregoriano de Lisboa (Portugal) Filipa Palhares
Ponomaryov Vesna Children’s Choir (Russia) Nadezhda Avelina
Punggol Secondary School Choir (Singapore) Marcus Lee
Tygerberg Children’s Choir (South Africa) Karina Erasmus
Chunsong Children’s Choir (South Korea) Heechurl Kim
Soul Sounds Academy (Sri Lanka) Soundarie David Rodrigo
Wattana Girls Chorus (Thailand) Sathit Sukchongchaipruk
Children’s Chorus of Washington (USA) Margaret Clark
Shenandoah Valley Children’s Choir (USA) Janet Hostetter
Kantabella (Philippines) Jude B. Roldan and Maria Theresa Vizconde-Roldan
Young Voices of the Philippines Jude B. Roldan and Maria Theresa Vizconde-Roldan

Aside from the Young Voices of the World, we also gathered children’s choirs from all over the Philippines to form the Young Voices of the Philippines Festival Choir. Together, they performed one of Fr. Manoling Francisco, S.J.’s most beloved hymns, Paglamig ng Hangin, arranged for treble voices by our resident composer and arranger Jude B. Roldan.

Here is the video performance by the Young Voices of the Philippines Festival Choir:

My sincerest gratitude to all the participating choirs and their choral directors:

Calasiao Children’s Chorus – Gilbert Dispo
Caleruega Children’s Choir – Fr. Allen De Guzman
Coro de San Pedro Jr – Edgardo Legasto Jr
Dagupan City Children’s Choir – Virginia Llamas-Mendoza
The Davao Girls Choir – Maria Elena Barradas Gementiza
De La Salle Santiago Zobel Chorale -Vanie Comandante
Jesus Good Shepherd School Children’s Choir – Rick Frias
Laoag City Children’s Choir – Sherween Frez Cabrales
Loboc Children’s Choir – Lea Cal Ganibe
PHSA MusikaIbarang – ArjayViray
Quezon City Performing Arts Development Foundation, Inc. – Nick Infante
Resound Philippines – Irma Tan-Su
Sanctae Ceciliae Children’s Choir – Edward Romero
Savio Singers – Frinz Casas
Saint John the Baptist Children’s Choir- Bryan Lejano
UP Cherubim & Seraphim – Liya Dioquino
Voices of the South Children’s Choir – Peter Buaya
Kantabella – Jude B. Roldan and Maria Theresa Vizconde Roldan
Young Voices of Holy Spirit School
Young Voices of the Philippines

Forged by our common love for music, these festivals are marked as celebrations, as a continued tradition of past years to fulfill our role of inspiring faith. With Lux Spei, we celebrated the birth of the Son of God, from whom we received our talents and fortitude.

We sincerely hope that these video performances can be shared far and wide, not only to bring talent into the spotlight, but to serve as a testament to how music can unite humanity through meaningful, genuine connection and how differences in language and culture can be transcended to find a true sense of solace and strength in the harmonies we sing. Ultimately, the goal is for our voices to allow the message of our songs to resonate throughout the world.

The success of the festival was indeed the result of the utmost support that fellow conductors offered for our mission—to harmonize in the name of hope and solidarity amidst adversity.

Now that we are journeying through another year of struggle and recovery, our voices will continue to inspire hope and encourage the dream of a future with no divide. We share a united joy and love for music. May it be a symbol of our unwavering hope.

I believe that we are called to accomplish a mission. Though I have never met some of the festival’s conductors in person, I feel that we share this mission. Music unites us all. I hope and pray that one day, we may all be able to perform live together in a beautiful concert hall. Gathering these young choristers together is truly a blessing; furthermore, it is a calling. Performing as one to imbue the world with hope and love is a call to mission.

Young Voices of the Philippines singing Silent Night

Dr. Maria Theresa Vizconde-Roldan finished her Doctor of Musical Arts in Music Education from Saint Paul University Manila, summa cum laude. She has also obtained a bachelor’s degree in music education, cum laude and a master’s degree in choral conducting from the University of Santo Tomas. Together with her husband Jude, they founded the Treble Choir Association of the Philippines in order to invigorate the children’s choral movement in the Philippines. She conducts the association’s scholar choirs Kantabella and the Young Voices of the Philippines. She also serves as co-artistic director of the Young Voices of the World, Young Voices of Asia, and the Young Voices of the Philippines Festival Choir. In line with the association’s advocacy, Theresa arranges Filipino folksongs for treble choirs and has written books for children’s choral pedagogy. Her works are published by Hal Leonard and Pavane Music. She has also been invited as guest conductor, clinician, and adjudicator in competitions and festivals around the globe. At present, Theresa is the Vice President for Projects of the Philippine Choral Directors Association. She teaches conducting, large ensemble, and music education at the University of Santo Tomas and Centro Escolar University Graduate School. Email: mtvizconderoldan@yahoo.com

Edited by Patricia Abbott, Canada