11/07/2012 Uncategorized
UPH Choir is preparing itself to compete in International Choral Competition 2012 in Beijing, China, on this July 16 2012. This students? activity unit, which was raised by Tutu Sukendro, since its establishment, has been a ?University Choir? representing 
UPH Choir preparing for International Choral Competition
International Choral Competition 2012 is the second international competition followed by UPH Choir. Last year, UPH Choir won Silver Medalion in Bandung International Choir Competition.
To face this competition, UPH Choir has prepared themselves as well as they could in vocal and choreography. Rigorous practice, 6 times in a week from Monday to Saturday, is started from 3 p.m. until 10 or 11 p.m. ?The strategy for competition is different with the strategy for a concert. For competition, songs that we sing must have higher level of difficulty. We must be consistent to the songs we have chosen, so we must practice hardly. We keep practicing to sing in the right tone, sing with a right phrasing, and it must be legato?, Tutu Sukendro, the conductor of UPH Choir, explained.
UPH Choir will sing 1 classic and 1 folklore songs for the male choirs, 1 classic and 1 folklore songs for female choirs, and 2 classic and 1 folklore songs for mixed choirs. The 2 classic songs that will be sung mixed choirs are Le Crucifix and Double Double Toil and Trouble. ?We choose Le Crucifix because this song has a really deep meaning, it tells about the misery suffered by our God. This song is not simple due to its 8 voices. Double Double Toil and Trouble also challenges us, because this song?s rhythm is changing constantly, so this song is really hard?, Tutu Sukendro said.
Grace, the choreographer, guiding the female choirs for Jali-jali song
The dance practice is also guided seriously by a choreographer. ?For folklore songs, we practice traditional dances, such as dances from Makassar, Papua, and Betawi. Then for the classic songs, we are focusing on expression, because there is no much movement for classic songs,? said Grace, the choreographer.
In selecting the choir members, Tutu Sukendro said that there was a point that was more important than singing ability, which was commitment. ?Singing ability could be trained, but the commitment to be here comes from themselves?, he said.
The high intensity of their gathering made UPH Choir members closer one another. ?It is fun to be here with UPH Choir, although it is tiring, but I do enjoy all the process. I also feel like I have a new family here?, said Fanny Citra, an UPH Choir member. Tutu Sukendro also regarded these students as his children. ?I am here not only as their vocal trainer, but I am here also to teach them about fairness, to accept the defeat humbly, teach them to have a good attitude on the stage and outside the stage, and to explain about full and total comprehension about a song to them?, Tutu explained.
Other institutions outside UPH also supported UPH Choir to participate in this international competition, such as The Ministry of Tourism, Garuda Indonesia Airlines, PT Matahari Putra Prima, Indosat, Telkomsel, and mobile provider XL. (ft)
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