On 20 April 2024, the 28-member Baao Children and Youth Choir from Camarines Sur bested all other shortlisted participants at the 29th International Habaneras Junior Choral Contest of Torrevieja, Spain, for which they won 3,000 euros and a trophy. The group, led by its choir director Mr. Emmanuel Ramos II, won the hearts of the jury for their extraordinary rendition of the obligatory song “Habanera de Sal by Belén Puente and Antoni Más and in the free song choice category.
Torrevieja welcomed a total of 260 choir members for this year´s edition of this side competition to the Certamen Internacional, which began in 1995. The other choirs who also performed really well were Escolania del Conservatorio “Hermanos Berzosa” from Cáceres, Extremadura, the Coro Entreolivos of Dos Hermanas, Sevilla, the Cantoria Solfa from Cuba and the Coro Las Veredas in Madrid. The Torrevieja Habaneras competition is a good avenue for singers and choir groups to meet their contemporaries and has been declared the oldest and most prestigious where choirs from all over the world compete.
It is noted that our Philippine choirs have been consistently shining in the yearly contest and the Baao Children and Youth Choir just recently made its most successful comeback since becoming the Grand Prize winner in the 18th edition in 2012.
