20/08/2026
It is a privilege to continue the mission started by Prof. Andrea O. Veneracion, now brought into fruition by Prof. Mark Anthony Carpio and the generations of the Philippine Madrigal Singers who paid it forward. We are eternally grateful to be part of the Madz's legacy, and to continue to learn from the footsteps of those who paved the way for us. Most of all, we are thankful for Sir Mark, for opening our young scholars to various opportunities, for giving them the chance to grow, and for his unending and unwavering support.
Happy 25th Anniversary, Sir Mark! 🧡🎶✨
| ON THE BIRTH OF MADZ SCHOLA CANTORUM
Through the Madz Schola Cantorum, Madz Alumnus Alfred John De Veyra witnesses how Sir Mark’s disciplined hard work and ability to inspire others continue to nurture the next generation of singers.
“Mark’s parallel role as Director of the Madz Schola Cantorum (MSC) requires him to be ‘padre de familia’ of a team who keeps the whole MSC machinery running smoothly. He leads the never-ending efforts to solicit financial and material support of our Madz alumni who sustain this project. He has to onboard, guide and then trust the Madz teachers enough to deliver the classes and lessons while also himself coaching and directing the scholars in rehearsals and performances. He is the public face for engaging, involving and collaborating with parents, institutional partners and other key stakeholders.
All of these – through 5 batches of high school music scholars (and counting) – add to his already full plate of directing the Madz, teaching at UP, training other choirs, doing workshops, delivering lectures and adjudicating competitions all over the world. His plate is piled high, yet it is richly stocked – because he does all of these with such excellence, joy and impact.
As a long-time collaborator and supporter, and from when we first sang together in the semi-circle when he joined in the early 1990s (I pre-date Mark in the semicircle by a decade), up to today where I am honored to share the table as a Board member -- I have keenly observed his DNA: what makes him tick, what makes him as effective as he is, and more.
Much has been written, said, and praised about his humility, his excellence, his profound musicality, and his pure heart. I would add two more traits that robustly add to what makes Mark the leader, artist, mentor and human being we admire and respect:
First, he is the very role model of DISCIPLINED HARD WORK. Put simply, Mark works hard. Very hard. Whether he is teaching, training, coaching, rehearsing or performing – he is diligent, extremely focused, and untiringly patient. He is firm and demanding yet compassionate as he works with his singers or students to get towards breaking through a difficult passage, a challenging skill, or an impossible task – while still keeping a positive and nurturing spirit. I have seen Mark do his homework. He comes prepared to teach and guide, yet he also comes prepared to listen and to keep an open mind.
Super matiyaga siya – on himself, and towards others. Wala siyang pagod. No grandstanding, no pretentions, and no ‘better-than-thou’ airs. Just plain masipag. Disciplined. Just do it – and do it well.
Mark has the innate ability to INSPIRE SELF-OWNERSHIP (i.e. inspiring a spirit of volunteering). There are many tasks to be done, many initiatives to implement, many (or, too many) songs to learn, multitude projects, and for the Madz Schola Cantorum, many lessons to master. Yet he has the ability to say yes, to sign up for assignments, to take on more, and to do what you are not sure you can even do.
On the night he was appointed the new Madz choirmaster, after the installation concert – I recall telling him plainly yet very significantly: I will serve you, and help you, and support you – with the same dedication, loyalty and effort as I did your predecessor. I do not know what came over me to make that declaration because there was no trigger nor was there any evidence yet that it was a good idea. Yet, there, I said it and promised it. And 25 years after, I can see that not just in the Madz performing semicircle, but even with the Madz Schola Cantorum, Mark inspires that spirit of giving, of becoming, of volunteering, of rising up to be more.
Just like his predecessor, he has the unique gift of inspiring confidence even when you don’t believe in yourself yet. He can trust you way before you even can trust yourself, so much that you are inspired to rise to the occasion.
The Madz Schola Cantorum is at the very least a way for the Madz to pay it forward to the next generation by nurturing the next generation of musically educated and trained young adults. But more than this, there is a fervent hope that through MSC, the Madz can grow its own pool of future singers. The MSC is Mark’s response to his predecessor’s challenge: start them young. He takes this one step further – starting the training of future (possible) Madz members long before they even realize they have what it takes to become part of the Madz.
And he does this very simply: through disciplined hard work and inspired self-ownership.
Mark has given us beautiful music these past 25 years. We look forward to learning and embodying his very attributes that have inspired the Madz since the beginning – to make our world a much better place and be instruments of peace.”
Celebrate this incredible milestone with us this August! ✨
August 22, 2026 | 8:00 PM
August 23, 2026 | 5:00 PM
Newport Performing Arts Theater, Newport Resorts World
🎟️ Get your tickets at:
https://www.ticketmelon.com/philmadz/reMARKable_main
