The National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) launched a new music competition. It’s called “Koro: Linggo ng Musikang Pilipino Chorale Competition.” This exciting event celebrates Linggo ng Musikang Pilipino (LMP), or Filipino Music Week, in 2025. The grand finale will be held on August 2nd, 2025, at the historic Metropolitan Theater in Manila.
This competition is part of Proclamation No. 933, s. 2014. That proclamation designates the last week of July as Linggo ng Musikang Pilipino. The NCCA leads the nationwide celebration of Filipino musical heritage. Koro aims to showcase Original Pilipino Music (OPM). It highlights the beauty of Filipino choral music. It encourages participation from all ages and sectors.
The competition is divided into two categories: Children’s Choir and Adult Choir. Groups will compete from four geographic clusters: Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao, and the National Capital Region (NCR). Each group will represent the diverse musical traditions of the Philippines. They will draw from eight distinct musical cultures. These include indigenous music, Bangsamoro music, lowland Filipino music, music under colonial influence, academic/Western traditions, nationalist music, music of social transformation, and popular/global music.
To enter, groups submitted an unedited audition video. The NCCA announced the competition via its Facebook page on June 6, 2025. The deadline for adult choir submissions was June 30, 2025. The deadline for children’s choirs was July 7, 2025. A panel of judges will select two finalists per category per cluster. The NCCA will announce the finalists on July 9, 2025. These finalists will compete in the grand live performance at the Metropolitan Theater.
The competition is open only to groups and conductors without prior national or international choral competition wins. The NCCA aims to recognize and uplift new Filipino talent. Koro promises a vibrant celebration of Filipino music and choral artistry. It’s a chance to discover and celebrate the next generation of Filipino choral groups. The event will undoubtedly be a highlight of the 2025 Linggo ng Musikang Pilipino. The NCCA encourages everyone to support this important initiative. It helps preserve and promote the rich musical heritage of the Philippines. The competition fosters teamwork, harmony, and passion for Philippine music.
