the koro ng divinong himig, a group formed in 1999 by fusion of dedicated members from various local church choirs has since been one of the resident choirs of the immaculate conception parish in balibago, angeles city. eric robert santos, who for a year, trained with the world-renowed philippine madrigal singers, has been the choirmaster of the koro since its inception nearly five years ago. although the choir is a church-based group, it has performed in functions other than those of the church's on several occasions. one of which is the group performance with the divine mercy parish's san jose choir, a concert for a cause staged at st. augustine's academy in floridablanca in 2002. the koro has also been invited to grace audiences in mabalacat, apalit and guagua.in the group's aim to widen its musical horizons and in response to calls for higher choral standards and performances in social and cultural gatherings, the koro metamorposed to what it is now known as the coro angeleño.
eric robert m. santos was born in mabalacat, pampanga, started his career as a boy soprano at the age of six. a former conductor and co-founder of the known divine majesty male chorale based in holy rosary parish, angeles city. he is also currently the music head of the pfcc el shaddai gospel choir. his love for choral music made him decide to pursue choral conducting at the university of the philippines conservatory of music. he is a sophomore at the university, he was privileged to have prof. eudenice palaruan as his mentor. as a baritone, he has trained under the expertise of prof. kitchie molina of the college of music. he became a member of the world-renowed philippine madrigal singers for a year. at present, he is a member as baritone of the san miguel master choral under the baton of prof. eudenice palaruan. with his great enthusiam, he is able to mold the coro angeleño of angeles city, pampanga into a "high caliber matching two other choirs of manila."
some choral pieces of coro angeleño in their repertoire:
MUSICA SACRA
*jubilate deo --- orlando di lasso
*ave maria --- alfred roa/ruben fererizon
*prayer for peace --- benjamin harlan
*hear my prayer --- moses hogan
(negro spiritual)
MADRIGALS
*el grillo (the cricket) --- josquin desprez
*fire, fire my heart --- thomas morley/noble cain
FOLK SONGS
*minoi, minoi (samoan) --- christopher marshall
*iddem-dem mallida --- elmo makil
(tribal itneg chant)
FILIPINO COMPOSITIONS
*ang paglalaba --- jose estrella/chris borela
*ay! ay! ay! ang pag-ibig --- santiago suarez/ m. de leon
POPULAR SONGS
*ang gaan-gaan ng feeling --- g. paso/ chris borela
*bituin walang ningning --- willy cruz/r. delgado
*anak --- freddie aguilar/r. delgado
*from a distance --- jude gold/eudenice palarian
*the prayer --- david foster/carol bayer/ r. delgado
