It was a short and sweet five years singing and touring as an active member of the Madz, but those years were packed with memories, laughter, sharps and flats, perpetual prayers and celestial blessings. I was beyond blessed really to be part of the three batches that competed under Mark Carpio’s wings, winning all top prizes and the most coveted European Grand Prix for Choral Singing in 2007.

Those five years also taught me lots of lessons, in music and in life, all of which I carried by heart as I moved on as a Madz Alumni, as conductor of a children’s choir, as a music teacher, and as a parent. Yes, being handled and inspired by good conductors is much like being nurtured by good parents, that’s why Ma’am OA and Sir Mark continue to be my “life lights.”

Here are just ten things (I’m sure there are more) the Madz taught me:

1. Memo Number 1. I am sure every Madz know this. Memo number one simply meant common courtesy.

You will have your turn, eventually, just be patient.

2. Never forget your kadiwa. Or in short, bring your own baon. Whether the trip is short or long, sneak in snacks and instant noodles in your luggage as you will never know what food you will be served in your hotel or host family. And I am pretty sure you’d need your snacks during long plane or train rides. I’ve realized this more now that I have a daughter of my own. You’ll never know when she will cry out for food.

Bawal magutom and Madz!

3. Pack light. And I mean, really light. I have successfully done this in all the trips, and never went overweight! I pack light so I could have space for my costumes and shoes, and so I could buy new clothes (haha!) and pasalubong.

Never put liquid in your hand carry bag. Some singers forget this, so their liquid pasalubongs get confiscated in the end.

4. In line with the previous one, shop til you drop! To an extent, yes. Our founder, Ma’am OA, is well known for her love for shopping and bargain hunts, truly a world-class shopper. She told us you’ll never know when you will get back in that place, so go ahead and buy what you think you cannot find in our country.

When in Italia, always ask where the mercato is. And wear slippers or sneakers. Basta wag lang ma-shopping technique pagdating ng concert.

Now, for the more “serious” stuff:

5. Practice, practice, practice. And vocalize everyday. The Madz are known to be seated while singing, and seated beside alternating voices. So always work with your team. Have quartet rehearsals, sectionals, make sure you know your part and know the song well, too. Unless you don’t want number six to happen!

No one is indispensable, ika nga ni OA.

6. Make mistakes with conviction. As Madz trainees, we were expected to know the standard repertoire of the Madz–mass songs, concert repertoire–without the choirmaster or the members telling you. I had to learn soooo many songs in one sitting! So when you do make mistakes, don’t make it obvious.

Watermelon is the key! Just open your mouth. Or KKA–Kanya kanyang Arrangement, do your own harmony if you really can’t remember, as long as it’s in perfect harmony, that is.

7. Trust your choirmaster. They know what is best for you and the group. Sir Mark gave his complete trust to OA when he accepted the task as Madz Choirmaster in 2001. Likewise, we members gave the same trust to Mark when he assigns us a certain solo for some songs, and in my case, when he asked me to play guitar for several pieces during my first international tour, and when he assigned me a very important task in the Madz–the pitchgiver. He trusted me. I was afraid at first but he trusted me, and through his and His guidance, I was able to deliver well.

Faith, trust, and pixie dust (in our case, food and shopping!).

8. Pray. Before and after a concert or performance, especially competitions. We gather in a room for nightly prayers, worships, and rosaries before competitions. We thank the Lord after, too, and lift all up to Him.

Never underestimate the power of collective prayer.

9. Mingle. Make new friends. Meet the audience after a concert. Talk to as many new people as you can everyday. It’s one way of expanding your network, as well as building your self-confidence, conversational skills, and create friendships, which most of us had during the tour. Sometimes, love stories are made during mingling time.

Have you met anyone new today?

10. Sing from the heart. More than knowing your pieces, OA told us to sing from the heart. Simple yet true. That is a well-known Madz secret. We touch lives one song at a time. For that, we are humbled.

It’s much more meaningful if you do everything with your heart in it,

~ Touringkitty

Ashes to ashes, dust to dust. She peacefully passed on two days before her birthday. Mission accomplished, and with flying colors.

Mixed emotions during the Cremation

It was 11th of July, 2013. Could have been OA’s 85th, but she missed it by two days.

I went to her cremation, on the day of her birthday. I saw her before she was cremated. It made me sad even more. Only a few times I was able to visit her, mainly because I did not want to see OA in that condition. So I just prayed for her. Throughout those seven years she was bedridden, I prayed for her. I remembered my Lola Queta, my paternal grandmother, who was also bedridden for quite some time before she passed on.

It was also the first time for me to shed tears for someone I am not blood-related to. As we sang the opening refrain of one of OA’s favorites, L’important c’est la rose, tears well up my eyes. I recalled my 16 year old self learning that song for the first time. Yes, that, along with Love is the Answer, were the first two songs of the Madz I have learned as a church chorister. I was not even a Madz fan back then. Heck, I did not even know who the Madz were!

But wonderful was that song, I recalled all the wonderful moments I had when I was starting as a chorister. That experience with my former church choir paved the way to my decision to take up music, and eventually join the Madz. Wonderful, priceless moments, which took me to almost all corners of the world. It will not happen if not for the gift of singing. The Lord used us to be His instruments of peace, and I am so proud and humbled to have been given this gift and share it to the world for everyone to see God’s goodness.

At a certain point, laughter filled the small room of about fifty attendees–immediate family, friends, Madz present and alumni. OA’s daughters would kid us when they said that the Madz was the “first family” of Ma’am, because she would devote more time to this choral group, rehearsing, performing, touring with them. But they understand very well, which makes us soooo humbled and blessed.

OA has the most generous family–her blood family. What more can you ask for–she has a supportive husband and children who understood OA’s mission in this world. They “shared” OA to the world, especially to her musical family of about 200 children and probably close to a thousand extended children–the Madz and Madz et al.

A Necrological Rites fit for OA

14th of July, Sunday. I already was set to welcome a visiting choir in our church and my choir was also singing for the mass before I found out the schedule for the necrological services. But somehow, I knew I had to attend. It will be great to be part of sending OA off. I even brought some members of my children’s choir, who are very privileged to be part of the Madz et al Family. One of the members told me after the services, that it felt like she knew OA for a long time after watching the tribute video, hearing the eulogies, and the response from her eldest daughter. I told them that necrological services for National Artists are open to the public always for us to really recognize their contributions in uplifting their artform and to know why they deserve to be called such. I wished I could have brought all my kids but they also have service on our church that morning. By some stroke of chance, though, almost at the same time we were singing Prayer of St. Francis (arranged by Robert Delgado, Madz Alumnus) as a grand choir by the end of the rites, my choir sang another arrangement, by Ryan Cayabyab, another Madz Alumnus, during communion in the church. They joined the whole Et Al family in praying, in thanking Him for making us instruments of His peace.

About 50 Madz singers stepped on the Main Theater stage to sing the signature song of the Madz–Alleluia by Randall Thompson.

Youtube link of actual performance here.

In the tribute video, OA explains how this song was received during their first international tour in 1969 at the Lincoln Center in New York. Video here.

Then eulogies were given by former Madz members, which made us laugh, cry, reminisce, and proud of the Madz’ achievements throughout the 50 years. Sir Mark also gave his tribute to Ma’am, and indeed, OA prayed hard for her successor. Truly the Holy Spirit guided her and gave her wisdom to make that decision.

The Madz sung some songs, but most touching were the performances of OA’s grandchildren–Elle (doing a solo number), Diego, Stella, and Andie (doing a Taylor Swift song with Diego on guitar). Amazing children!

As we all sent OA off for departure honors, a shower of rose petals were given, well deserved and well executed.

Indeed, OA had her season, like a rose. We will have ours, too, in God’s perfect time. We just have to keep on trusting, keep on praying, and in OA’s words, just do it.

Thank you for inspiring us, Ma’am. Until we meet again.

Once a Madz, always a Madz.

Ma’am OA and Sir Mark have said it. And I have witnessed this through the Madz Alumni who trooped yesterday’s kick off activities for the Madz’ Golden Anniversary.

So far, so good. So far, so gold.

As what Prof. Andrea O. Veneracion, founder of the Philippine Madrigal Singers have instilled on us, we should never forget to begin everything with a prayer. Before we begin concerts or engagements, big or small, prepare for a concert tour, or sing for competitions, we pray, pray pray. Most often, we start the repertoire with musica sacra before we sing other genres.

On June 23, we kicked off the 50th anniversary activities with a musical, wonderful, meaningful celebration of the Holy Mass at the Abelardo Hall Auditorium of the UP College of Music (the auditorium is celebrating its 50th year likewise). Madz–young and old, actively singing or not, most of us bringing our own choral groups we dearly call Madz Et Al, filled up the auditorium to the brim with soaring voices, as everyone was instructed to learn the songs beforehand–and rehearse altogether a couple of hours before the Mass started.

To make the Mass even more meaningful, Fr. Arnold Zamora, an alumnus of the Madz, led the celebration, along with four more priests as concelebrants. Fr. Arnold’s music were used for most of the Mass parts. His homily made everyone listen–and laugh, especially his batchmates in attendance. Some of those stories have been told and retold a gazillion times but for the Madz, those still make us laugh many times over. But more importantly, his words made each singer and each et al member understand and know what it takes to be a Madrigal Singer–not just for fame, but moreso, the responsibility to be ambassadors of goodwill and of music in whatever capacity we can be.

Equally striking is the offering of roses to St. Therese of Lisieux and St. Teresa de Avila, led by the family of Ma’am OA’s youngest daughter. Ma’am loves roses and would offer them to church as thanksgiving whenever she is given one after concerts.

Sir Mark’s speech underscored the importance of the Madz Et Al–a 60 (or so)-choir strong network handled by Madz Alumni. This “baby” was indeed Ma’am OA’s greatest achievement. Golden harvest as Sir Mark called it. She dreamed of a Singing Philippines and it’s up to us and the future Madz along with these choral groups to continue living this dream.

Indeed I am privileged to handle a children’s choir of my own, the Shrine of Jesus Children’s Choir. For the past seven years, we have remained steadfast in our commitment to serve the Lord through singing and at the same time, maintaining a good quality of choral singing and creating new arrangements for the group. And for the kids to be given opportunities to meet fellow choristers in festivals or concerts, be invited to sing for weddings and events, even appear on TV and prestigious concert halls, those are all just icing on the cake. The cake itself–their hardwork and dedication, and a solid foundation rooted in the Divine Master–made all of these hapen.

A conductor is like a parent–one who nurtures, inspires, and truly cares for her children. Ma’am OA and Sir Mark exemplified all that and more, thus I am inspired to be a good conductor and parent to my singers, even to my family, too. That is Nurturing, the Madz Way.

~ Touringkitty

Catch the Madz on their Homecoming Concert at the UP Abelardo Hall on Thursday and Friday, June 27-28, 2013, 6:30 PM. Tickets at 929-6963. More information about the 50th Anniversary activities will be posted at their website.