A choir from the Philippines' Adventist community has achieved international acclaim. The Sola Gratia was hailed as the Grand Prix Champion of the 8th Singapore International Choral Festival 2024 and qualified for the 4th Asia Choral Grand Prix 2025 at the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music Esplanade Concert Hall on July 31, 2024.
The choir also secured several category awards across various repertoires. They earned gold recognition in the Folklore Open with a performance average of 86.87. Additionally, they were crowned category champions in the Music Sacra Open with an impressive 89.67 performance average and in the Mixed Voices for 25 Years and Below category with a remarkable 92.20 performance average.
Days before the performance, Sola Gratia Chorale’s conductor, Cyril Punay, took to social media to express his gratitude and excitement for the group’s international debut. "Today, we embark on a journey—a very special one, Sola G’s first international choral festival. I am one lucky conductor to have such talented and dedicated members; I could not ask for more. I thank God for opportunities like this where the competition event (July 28–31) does not fall on a Saturday. I’ve been wanting to do this years back but God opened this door to me in His perfect timing," Punay shared. He also requested prayers for good health, a good performance, and that the group may represent God and the country well in this event.
Little did the group know, this would result in an exceptional outcome, as their name was announced as the champions.
The Singapore International Choral Festival (SICF) is an annual event that brings together choirs from around the world to celebrate and compete in the art of choral music. Since its inception in 2014, the festival has become a significant event in the local and regional choral calendar.
The festival features various activities, including international choral competitions, individual choral workshops, outreach performances, and friendship concerts. These activities aim to foster cultural exchange and musical excellence among participants.
This year, more than 70 chorale groups representing Chinese Taipei, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, Singapore, Hong Kong, and China participated in the competition. Out of the 72 choirs, seven qualified for the Grand Prix Round, where the Sola Gratia Chorale emerged as the champion.
During the final performances, Sola Gatia sang two pieces, "Petrus," composed by Z. Randall Stroope, is a choral piece that explores the life and character of Peter, one of Jesus' apostles. The composition reflects Peter's internal struggles, his human flaws, and his ultimate role as a foundational figure in Christianity, culminating in a powerful "Alleluia" to symbolize his unwavering faith and leadership. The second piece, "Pamugun," is a choral composition by Francisco Feliciano that draws inspiration from a traditional Filipino song. The term "pamugun" translates to "sparrow" in English. The piece narrates a playful and symbolic chase between a hunter and a bird, with the bird taunting the hunter. This narrative serves as an allegory for the challenges and resilience in life. The composition is known for its complex rhythmic structure and requires a high level of vocal precision, making it a showcase piece for advanced choirs.
Other choirs that joined the final seven are Eunoia Junior College Choir (Singapore), One Voice Spensabaya (Indonesia), Padjadjaran University Choir (Indonesia), Shanghai Little Star Choir (China), Sonatas Caeli Youth Choir (Indonesia), and Petra Christian University Choir (Indonesia).
The Sola Gratia Chorale, established in 2019 by founder and conductor Cyril Punay, consists of senior high school students, college students, and young professionals from the small town of Silang, Cavite, Philippines. The group's name, which translates to “Grace Alone,” embodies their core mission and belief that their achievements are due to God’s amazing grace. Their mission is to spread the message of God’s grace through music, both in the Philippines and internationally, including Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, and the United States. Comprising 40 passionate members, the Sola Gratia Chorale shares the grace and love of Jesus through hymns and music.
In another social media post, Punay reminisced about the early days of organizing the group. "Five years ago, I founded a group and named it Sola Gratia. The name means so much to me, reflecting on where I was at that time. I knew God’s grace had sustained me and allowed me to be where He wanted me to be. Even now, there are and will always be many hurdles in life, but my experience with Sola will always be a testimony to share with all of you," he said.
"I think God did everything perfectly so that we could all realize that nothing is impossible with Him. Even up to our last send-off concert, I knew we had big work to do; all we had were our 5 loaves and 2 fish, and I knew He would do the miracle. Yes, indeed, God did perform a miracle, and He used so many people to make it work for Him," Punay shared.
The presence of Adventist choirs on the international stage has opened doors for the public to learn more about the message of hope through music. These opportunities pave the way for collaboration and relationship-building, allowing the community to experience the Adventist lifestyle and character firsthand.
Edward Rodriguez, SSD Communication Department