The Choir
The ACS was formed by graduating members of the Ateneo College Glee Club in 2001. Since being launched in 2002, the ACS has earned national and international renown for its special commitment to stylistically informed and compelling renditions of sacred choral music. Today, ACS is composed of alumni and friends of the Ateneo de Manila University and is led by conductor Jonathan Velasco. Many of the choristers are professionals in various fields who give their time to make wonderful music with this group.
The ACS has pursued excellence in choral music and has received accolades around the world. Last October, the choir was declared Category Champion in both the Musica Sacra and Mixed Chamber Choir categories at the 7th Canta Al Mar Festival Coral Internacional in Calella, Spain. They were also the only Filipino choir invited to participate in the highly prestigious 50th anniversary celebration of the Tolosa International Choral Contest in Spain.
In July 2014, the choir emerged Champion of the Musica Sacra Acapella Category at the World Choir Games held in Riga, Latvia, besting thirty-six choirs from all over the world. In the same competition, the ACS bagged a second gold medal for the Mixed Chamber Choirs Category. In the same month, the ACS was awarded the First Prize at the Certamen Internacional de Habaneras y Polifonia in Torrevieja, Spain. Before that, the ACS also won first prize at the Tolosa International Competition in Tolosa, Spain in 2006. In Asia, the ACS is the third member of a choral triumvirate celebrated in the THREE Choral Festival. Together with SYC Ensemble Singers (Singapore), and GAIA Philharmonic Choir (Japan), the ACS has participated and hosted concerts in this biennial celebration. |
2014 was a big year for the ACS! Watch this video to see that year's highlights.
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In the Philippines, the ACS continues to sing for Filipino audiences with sacred music performances that include anniversary and Christmas concerts. The choir has also sung alongside some of the country's top orchestras, performing large classical and contemporary orchestral works. In April 2016, an 80-singer-strong ACS, together with the ABSCBN Philharmonic Orchestra, sang alongside Andrea Bocelli during the Manila leg of his Cinema World Tour at the Mall of Asia Arena. The ACS has also released several critically-acclaimed albums including four self-produced CDs as well as five albums in collaboration with the Jesuit Music Ministry.
Our Next Performances
FEBRUARY 22, 2019 - Performance with Josh Groban at MOA Arena for his Bridges tour.
Every 3rd Sunday - Alumni Mass at the Church of the Gesu - 10:30AM, Ateneo de Manila University
Every 3rd Sunday - Alumni Mass at the Church of the Gesu - 10:30AM, Ateneo de Manila University