Surrey, B.C.
Himig Kabataan Cultural Society (HKCS) Choir wins historic firsts
Press Release
“Every note I play and we sing as a group is a beautiful expression of our hard work and our collective identities as Filipino-Canadians,” John Reyes, HKCS’s assistant musical director and pianist
The Himig Kabataan Cultural Society (HKCS) Choir, a Filipino-Canadian group from Surrey, British Columbia, showed the world how it’s done.
The group received the Golden Award in the College Choir Category at the recently concluded 15th World Peace Choral Festival (WPCF) in Vienna, Austria. They also received the distinction for Excellent Performance of Folk and National Music at the same event.
From July 23 to 26, the festival brought together more than 20 outstanding choirs from over 18 countries and regions, creating a vibrant international choral community in the heart of Vienna, according the festival’s site.
Over four days, participating choirs took part in a diverse programme of international performances, concerts, workshops, community outreach programmes, charity activities, a professional choral competition, and a gala concert, performing in some of Vienna’s most renowned cultural and musical venues.
From the United Nations Headquarters Vienna and Vienna City Hall to St. Peter’s Church, the House of Strauss, Sofiensäle, Schubertkirche, MuTh Concert Hall, and the Golden Hall of the Musikverein, the festival transformed Vienna into a meeting place for voices and cultures from around the world.
“HKCS mesmerized audiences, jurors, and organizers with their fresh and flawless brand of rhythmic and emotional resonance, dynamic range, and pristine intonation, producing, with unified precision, a harmony of songs created by 24 individual voices of hardworking and talented Filipino-Canadian Youths from British Columbia, Canada,” the group’s press release reads.
The choir members are Kirsten Allyson Alipio, Thea Angeles, Rane Beato, Marc Billedo, Samantha Caindec, Diego Cloma, Bea Correa, Mireia Amba Cuenca, Jodee Ganata, Chiasa Guerrero, Heather Faith Igloria, Raenard Macaspac, Alyanna Manga, Christian Joseph Manlapas, Nicolas Matig-a, Francine Nillos, Matthew Perez, Cedric Rafanan, Annika Rentasida, John Reyes, Angelo Sakai, Ian Sakai, Gabriel Salazar, and Chelsea Totanes. Their beautiful costumes made by artisans from the Philippines highlighted Filipino craftsmanship and artistry and dazzled the audiences as well.
The group lauded its conductor Matthew Perez, who was also appointed to a five-year term to the Advisory Committee of the WPCF, a position no Canadian or Filipino has ever held.
Aside from being the first Filipino-Canadian choir to participate in WPCF’s 15-year history, HKCS was also the first Filipino choir to win a Gold Award at the WPCF.
There have been a few choirs from Canada who previously participated in the festival’s cultural exchange activities but none of them joined the competition.
“Based in Surrey, BC, HKCS aims to share the beauty of Filipino music on a local, national, and global scale, while representing Canada and the Philippines,” the statement added.
They have performed Filipino songs in different dialects as well as music pieces in French, English, Spanish, and Latin. Their winning competition pieces at the WPCH were in Latin (Locus Iste), French (Il Est Bel Et Bon), and Bicolano (Saro, Duwa, Tolo).
“Every note I play and we sing as a group is a beautiful expression of our hard work and our collective identities as Filipino-Canadians,” John Reyes, HKCS’s assistant musical director and pianist, said of HKCS’s achievements.
“This is just the beginning. We are committed to preserving, celebrating, and sharing Filipino musical heritage as Canadian youths to spread peace and harmony on the global stage in line with Canada’s brand of multiculturalism,” said HKCS Executive Director and Founder Bea Correa.
The group is scheduled to perform at the Surrey Arts Centre Main Stage on September 6 at 2 p.m. for their summer concert, Himig ng Tagumpay (Melody of Victory)–a fitting performance to punctuate their successful European.
Prior to the competition, the group entertained Filipino migrant workers and Hungarian parishioners at a special Catholic Mass at the Inner-City Church of the Franciscans, organized by the Philippine Embassy in Hungary.
HKCS’s performances marked the first time Filipino songs were performed at the following events and venues: welcome ceremonies at the United Nations Headquarters; Opening Ceremony at the Vienna Rathaus (City Hall); a community performance at a Senior’s home in Vienna; Voices of Peace Concerts at the Schubertkirche and the House of Strauss; and juried competition at the MuTh.
HKCS’s European Tour concluded with a concert titled Pasalubong: Souvenirs from the Motherland at the Pfarrkirche Floridsdorf, and attended by Canada’s Ambassador to Austria, Alison Grant, and Philippine Ambassador to Austria, Luli Arroyo-Bernas.
Enjoy HKCS’s soulful and winning performances at your leisure at: https://www.youtube.com/@HimigKabataanCulturalSociety. Watch them live on Sunday, 6 September 2026, at 2 pm, at the Surrey Arts Centre Main Stage (Tickets at TICKETS.SURREY.CA) at their summer concert, Himig ng Tagumpay (Melody of Victory), a fitting performance to punctuate their successful European tour.