Saguday Chorale Wins Big at World Choir Games 2023

Saguday Chorale, our official student choir here at Northwestern University (in Laoag City, Philippines), won two major awards at the 12th World Choir Games 2023 in Gangneung-si, South Korea.

The choir was awarded the Category Winner and Golden Diploma Level I in the Musica Sacra category, and the Golden Diploma Level IV in the Folklore A Capella category.

The World Choir Games is the largest choral competition in the world, and Saguday Chorale, composed of 28 singers who represented the group, was among over 25,000 singers, from 308 participating groups, from 70 countries who competed.

The choir’s conductor, Sherberk Cabrales, said that he was “humbled and honored” by the wins. “We were all amazed at your brilliance,” said Northwestern University President Atty. Ferdinand Nicolas. “We knew you were already good and the world knows it, too.”

The choir’s wins were announced on July 6, 2023, at the end of the first part of the World Choir Games. The second part of the competition was held from July 10-14, 2023.

Another Ilocos Norte-based choir, Samiweng Singers of the Ilocos Norte National High School, also won two awards at the World Choir Games. The choir won the Gold V in Musica Contemporanea for the mixed choir’s category and the Gold IV for Youth Choir of Mixed Voices category. They are also Category Winners in both categories.

The conductors of Samiweng Singers and Saguday Chorale are twins—Sherberk and Sherween Cabrales.

The wins by Saguday Chorale and Samiweng Singers are a testament to the talent and dedication of Filipino singers. They have brought honor to their country and made the Philippines proud.