World Pavarotti trophy winner Filipino choir will perform local benefit concert

Friday, Jul. 04, 2014

SALT LAKE CITY — The University of Santo Tomas Singers, two-time winners of the World Pavarotti Trophy, will perform a benefit concert for Saint Therese of the Child Jesus Catholic Church at Judge Memorial Catholic High School July 13. 

The concert is sponsored by St. Therese of the Child Jesus Parish, together with Misang Bayan, the Filipino community and Roa Music Studio, with support from Judge Memorial Catholic High School. 

“This concert is very close to my heart because I graduated from the University of Santo Tomas in 1989,” said Father Joseph Frez, St. Therese of the Child Jesus pastor. “It is the first pontifical university in the Philippines and it is older than Harvard University.”

Proceeds from the concert will go toward the building fund to help pay off the debt of the church that was rebuilt and dedicated in 2009, following a fire which consumed the interior of the church the previous year. 

The Santo Tomas Singers are currently on a tour of the United States. 

“This choir is very famous all over the world,” said Roa. “They are the only choir to win the Luciano Pavarotti trophy twice; in 1995 and 2010. Following their first trophy, which they won in London, they performed with Luciano Pavarotti in Madison Square Garden.”

Since 1993, the group has earned more than 65 top prizes while representing the Philippines in 21 international contests in Gorizia and Arezzo, Italy. The choir has toured Europe and also given concerts in California. 

This will be the Filipino choir’s second visit to Salt Lake City; in 2005 they performed a concert at the Cathedral of the Madeleine and Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, where Misang Bayan meet on a monthly basis for Mass. The Santo Tomas Singers also will perform with the Salt Lake Choral Artists on July 12 at the First Baptist Church in Salt Lake City.