SEOUL, 15 March 2026 – The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) Chorale brought pride and honor to the Philippines after being named Grand Prix Champion at the 2026 Korea International Choir Competition (KICC), held from 26 February to 2 March 2026 in Songdo, Incheon, Republic of Korea.

Competing against 48 chorales from around the world, the PCSO Chorale delivered outstanding performances that impressed the international panel of judges, ultimately securing the competition’s highest distinction. The PCSO ensemble was led by choir conductor Robert Delgado and choir master Tristan Ignacio. 

The final rounds and awarding ceremonies were held at the Incheon National University and the Arts Center Incheon.

Other Philippine ensembles also performed strongly in the competition. The Central Bicol State University of Agriculture (CBSUA) Chorale led by choir conductor Cris Caryl and choir master Baesa Yu, received the Gold Award in the Pop and Jazz Category, a Silver Award in the Mixed Choir Category and Top 8 place in the Grand Prix, the Davao-City based Coro Amoris conducted by Richard G. Salas, was awarded the Gold Medal in the Sacred Category and a Silver Medal in the Mixed Choir Category, while the RTU Himig Rizalia, the official University Choir of Rizal Technology University led by choir conductor Renier Aguilar also gave an excellent performance, further demonstrating the strong presence of Filipino choral groups in the international competition.

By winning the Grand Prix, the PCSO Chorale earned the opportunity to represent the Philippines in the prestigious 7thAsia Choral Grand Prix (ACGP) in Manila in August 2027, where champions of major choral competitions in Asia compete for the region’s highest choral honor.

Other notable awardees at the competition included the Best Conductor Award presented to Eunmi Yu of the Gyeyang District Boys and Girls Choir (Korea), while the Best Choreography Award went to the Children's Choir of the Ekaterinburg State Opera and Ballet Theater (Russia). 

The Korea International Choir Competition (KICC) is a premier international choral event that debuted in Songdo, South Korea. The 2026 KICC was held in collaboration with the Incheon Metropolitan City Government, Incheon Tourism Organization, and esteemed music associations of Korea. 

The Philippine Embassy in Seoul congratulates the PCSO Chorale and all participating Filipino choirs for their remarkable achievements, which highlight the Philippines’ strong choral tradition and further strengthen cultural ties between the Philippines and the Republic of Korea. END