The Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP), in collaboration with the Philippine Madrigal Singers, has announced the distinguished panel of jurors for the Andrea O. Veneracion International Choral Festival (AOVICF) 2025, comprising prominent figures in the choral community from both the Philippines and abroad.
The AOVICF, a biennial event, serves as a global meeting ground for choral excellence, celebrating cultural diversity through musical expression. The jury for the 2025 edition reflects this international spirit, with members representing a wide geographical and artistic range: Maria Theresa Vizconde-Roldan and Mark Anthony Carpio (Philippines), Elise Bradley (New Zealand), Andrea Angelini (Italy), Gene Peterson (United States), Ana Maria Raga (Venezuela), and Roni Sugiarto (Indonesia).
Maria Theresa Vizconde-Roldan (Philippines)
Dr. Maria Theresa Vizconde-Roldan, who co-founded the Treble Choir Association of the Philippines with her husband, is noted for her work in youth music education and advocacy for Philippine choral repertoire. Together, they have arranged traditional Filipino folk music and contributed to the International Federation for Choral Music’s Choral Magazine. She is also credited with pioneering the GESTAPHOR method, which “promotes the use of gesture, words and metaphors in explaining abstract concepts.”
As founder and conductor of the Young Voices of the Philippines, Dr. Vizconde-Roldan led the choir to sweep all categories at the 2023 Golden Gate International Choral Festival in San Francisco. Under her direction, the ensemble has performed at major venues including Carnegie Hall and the Dekelboum Concert Hall in the United States, and sang for Pope Francis during World Children’s Day in Rome. The choir has received multiple honors, including the Ani ng Dangal Award from the National Commission for Culture and the Arts and an AWIT Award from the Philippine Association of the Record Industry.
Mark Anthony Carpio (Philippines)
Appointed by National Artist for Music Andrea Veneracion as her successor in 2001, Prof. Mark Anthony Carpio has led the Philippine Madrigal Singers to accolades in top-tier choral competitions, including the Habaneras y Polifonia in Torrevieja, Spain (2004), and the Concorso Polifonico Guido d’Arezzo in Italy (2016).
Carpio is also recognized for his work as an educator and juror in music festivals and institutions across Asia, North America, and Europe. In the Philippines, he has collaborated with institutions such as the CCP, the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, and the Philippine Choral Directors Association. He also directs the community-based Pansol Choir at Sta. Maria Della Strada Parish.
Elise Bradley (New Zealand)
Elise Bradley, an accomplished conductor and music educator, has led school and community choirs in both New Zealand and Canada. She was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM) by Queen Elizabeth II for her contributions to music.
Bradley has been invited to speak and adjudicate internationally, including at the 11th World Symposium on Choral Music in Spain and the 2023 World Choral Symposium in Turkey. She co-founded Choral DirectioNZ and the New Zealand Children’s Choral Academy, and currently teaches primary school music as part of the Ministry of Education’s Creatives in Schools initiative.
Andrea Angelini (Italy)
Andrea Angelini, an internationally recognized conductor and educator, has made substantial contributions to the global choral scene. With formal training in piano, organ, composition, and conducting, Angelini’s artistic reach extends across Europe and beyond.
He is the founder and artistic director of the Associazione Musicale Musica Ficta and the Vocal Ensemble Musicaficta. He previously served as Editor-in-Chief of the International Choral Bulletin and currently presides over the Associazione Emiliano-Romagnola Cori, an organization supporting Italy’s choral development.
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Gene Peterson (United States)
Dr. Gene Peterson has held academic appointments in choral and vocal studies at institutions in California, Minnesota, and Tennessee. His conducting experience spans school, church, and community ensembles, with notable performances at the Vatican’s Sistine Chapel and New York’s Carnegie Hall.
He is the Artistic Director of Perform International/Perform America, which supports music ensembles in touring and performance logistics. He also serves on several boards and committees dedicated to advancing choral and general music education in the United States.
Ana Maria Raga (Venezuela)
Ana Maria Raga is the founder and president of the Aequalis Foundation, which is committed to “music for human development.” Her work emphasizes the multifaceted role of the conductor as interpreter, teacher, and architect of the choral instrument.
In addition to leading choirs such as the Aequalis Aurea and serving with the World Youth Choir in 2009, Raga adjudicates international competitions including ICCC Marktoberdorf and the China International Choral Competition. Her teaching and conducting engagements span the Americas, Europe, and Asia.
Roni Sugiarto (Indonesia)
Roni Sugiarto’s musical formation was shaped by mentors Joseph Kristanto and Avip Priatna, and further refined through masterclasses with figures such as Mark Anthony Carpio and Jonathan Velasco (Philippines), Julie Spittill (Australia), and André de Quadros (USA).
Sugiarto leads award-winning youth ensembles, including the Saint Angela Choir, which has achieved top honors at international events such as the Tolosa Choral Contest, Tokyo International Choir Competition, and the 2024 World Choral Championship. He currently serves as Music Director of the Saint Angela Choir and the ITB Student Choir, as well as Artistic Director for both the Saint Angela International Choir Festival and the Satya Dharma Gita International Choir Festival.
About the Festival
The Andrea O. Veneracion International Choral Festival, named in honor of the founder of the Philippine Madrigal Singers and National Artist for Music, is open to choirs from around the world. It seeks to highlight diverse musical traditions and foster global community through the choral arts.
Further information is available at www.aovchoralfestph.com and on the Andrea O. Veneracion International Choral Festival Facebook page. Updates may also be found through the official CCP accounts on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.
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