By Eunhice Corpuz  

The voices of each member match the rendition of each note, which are tuned in with inspiration and harmony. The hall of the Main Auditorium was filled with a passion-driven performance of the Far Eastern University (FEU) Chorale as it celebrates ‘Dalawang Dekada: 20 Years in Harmony,’ and the debut of its newest artistic director, Roijin Suarez, last November 9. 

Melody of a new era

Looking back on the FEU Chorale’s history, FEU Chair Dr. Lourdes R. Montinola rekindled the group in 2004, with Emerson Hernandez as the artistic director and conductor. In 2017, Karl Angelo Tangco took over, and Suarez now occupies the position.  

In an interview with FEU Advocate, Roijin Suarez shared that he graduated from an Engineering program and started conducting in music as his work in 2017. Now, he is a graduating choral-conducting student at the University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman. 

“I started noong (in) 2017 sa choir namin sa UP Los Baños, ‘yung UPLB Choral Ensemble pero (but) I have been teaching choirs since I was 15 years old,” he stated.

On accepting this position, Suarez remarked that it was the community who picked him as the conductor. 

“Actually it’s more of, for me, ha, kasi marami naman kaming underwent ng selection process; it’s like the FEU community ang pumili sa akin. [So,] it’s the other way around,” he said.

The conductor also highlighted that he gladly accepted the job amid the responsibility that comes with it as he saw how dedicated the members were in learning and improving their singing skills.  

“Malaki ‘yong responsibility, pero I’m very much happy na sa akin siya [the position] naibigay. Kasi kita ko ‘yung dedication talaga ng mga bata at ‘yung kagustuhan nilang matuto tsaka gumaling sa pagkanta (It is a big responsibility but I’m very much happy that it was given to me. Because I saw the dedication of the members and their will to learn as well as to improve in singing),” he added. 

Completing the missing piece

The group prepared for at least three months to showcase a full-blown concert. Suarez revealed that it was challenging because of the difference in preparation with the trainees. 

“Halos one month lang ‘yung na-prepare namin with the new trainees. So, parang, coming in, medyo malaki ‘yung [gap so] siyempre marami silang kailangan matutunan na vocal techniques. Challenging siya [since] most of them [ay] hindi naman talaga nanggaling sa choir (We only prepared for about one month with the new trainees. So, it looks like, coming in, there’s a big gap so, of course, they need to learn a lot of vocal techniques. It's challenging since most of them don't come from the choir),” the artistic director explained. 

He also emphasized that the long preparation was necessary to learn the pieces since they vary in levels of difficulty, especially the first half of songs they sang at the event, making him reflect on these challenges as a continuous process.

“Andu’n ‘yung may mga bagay na kailangan talaga [ng] consistent ka and at the same time, open ka rin for other changes na puwedeng mangyari just in case hindi ganu’n ‘yung nangyari, or biglang nag-change ‘yung direction ng music. So, ganu’n lang it’s a continuous process,” Suarez asserted. 

One of the 14 pieces they played was ‘Kaisa-isa Niyan’ by Nilo Alcala; it was one of the hardest pieces the group delivered. The conductor revealed that they only had three weeks to practice the song since it was supposed to be performed at their Tarlac competition.

The artistic director described the piece as different from the other songs since the interlocking of the instruments and vocals is dissonant. He explained that Kaisa-isa Niyan is a children's song from Southern Mindanao, making it more instrumental than vocal. 

The Vocals of Morayta

In light of the celebration, the president and bass section head of FEU Chorale, Abraham Jacob Diolanda, highlighted the pressure he had on leading the group. 

“Ako, I need to stand up and lead the people I’m with. Sobrang laking pressure niya sa akin kasi ang laki nu’ng standard [na iniwan sa amin] (It’s a heavy pressure on my end since we have to live up to the standards left to us), especially the alumni, ‘yung soundwise and discipline. I really need to step up sa leadership and to lead people na sana matapatan namin ‘yung discipline [nila] and ‘yung love for music (we hope we can be as disciplined as them and their love for music),” the president explained. 

Diolanda described the event as “transformative” and “revolutionary” because it showed an image of sacrifices from the members, alumni, and all of the people behind the marvelous concert.

One of the members and the Assistant Section Head of bass and baritone, John Christian Haresco, deemed that the repertoire produces a purpose in its own way.

“‘Yung pieces na pinipili namin, there must always be a message or something that will leave a mark on our audience. For example, ‘I Believe,’ which is regarding war and hoping for peace. So parang ‘yon ‘yung advocacy namin as a group, ‘yung mga pieces namin dapat nagre-reflect sa advocacy namin,” Haresco said. 

Aside from Haresco, Alto I and fourth-year Nursing student Abegail Claire Jauculan sang her praises to senior members and their conductor for being patient and teaching her to grow as a choralist. 

“Si Sir Roijin and ‘yung senior members, napaka-patient nila sa amin kasi I don’t really know kung paano magbasa ng (how to read a) [music] sheet so ang alam ko lang [ay] makinig (what I know is to listen). And they are very patient when it comes to that at nagpapasalamat ako [kasi] siyempre nag-grow ako as a singer and as a person,” she stated. 

FEU Chorale conquered countless preparations, anticipations, and practices to deliver this most-awaited concert. With the guidance of its new artistic director, the organization believes that its advocacy to inspire will continuously be ignited and received by its audience through their musical shows. 

So, if you wish to show support for the Vocals of Morayta, wish them good luck in the Light of the North Choral Festival and Competition this coming November 30.

As a new era begins for the FEU Chorale, the concert serves as a turning point for them to continue inspiring and advocating through their voices. With the help of their meticulously arranged pieces, their passion will reach greater notes, leading to success. And that is what makes them one of a kind because they will continue to inspire and show an impeccable performance to everyone.

(Photo by James Neil Tamayo/FEU Advocate)