Saunder Choi, composer

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Biography

Biography
- Saunder Choi (b. 1988) is an emerging young Filipino composer and is one of the more accomplished choral composers in the Philippines. He has written several commissioned works and arrangements for choirs from the Philippines, Finland, Argentina, US, etc. His works and arrangements have been performed and premiered in different national and international goodwill tours and concerts, including the Philippine Madrigal Singers’ UNESCO Artists for Peace 2009 awarding ceremony, the 2010 Guido d’Arezzo Polifonico Choral Competition in Italy, the 2011 9th World Choral Symposium in Argentina, and more recently, the 2012 World Choir Games in Ohio. In 2007, his arrangement was chosen as one of the 15 winning, published entries in Awiting Bayan para sa Korong Pilipino, a national Philippine folksong choral arranging competition sponsored by the National Commission for Culture and Arts in the Philippines. He was a 2012 ASCAP Morton Gould Young Composer Award finalist.
  
  From 2008-2011, he sang tenor and arranged music for the world-renowned Philippine Madrigal Singers, joining them in several national and international goodwill tours, festival participations, etc. He also directed the Philippine Cultural College Annex Campus Youth Choir from 2006-2011, leading them to participate in local festivals and competitions. He served as the assistant conductor of The Covenant Singers, with Dr. Beverly Shangkuan-Cheng as conductor, from 2008-2009. He is currently the music director of the Tenuto Chamber Singers, a Berklee student-run chamber choir that focuses on premiering new music written by Berklee student composers. He also currently sings with the First Church in Boston Choir and the Boston Choral Ensemble.
  
  Born in Manila, Philippines, he holds a Bachelor of Arts major in Communication Arts degree from the De La Salle University-Manila, honorable mention, class of 2010. He is currently taking up studies in music composition and film scoring at the Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA.
Compositions

Compositions
- Interested in a copy of a particular score? Click the Contact button in the menu bar!
  
  CHORAL: MIXED VOICES   CHORAL: TREBLE VOICES
  VOCAL SCORES/SONGS   ORCHESTRAL CHAMBER/SMALL FORMS
  
  **IN PROGRESS
  Sayaw ng mga Bulol (Dance of the Rice God)
  for String Orchestra (4-4-4-3-1)
  
  Flight
  for Wind ensemble
  
  ***NEW
  Delusions of Reconciliation
  for violin, flute and piano
  
  Ang Tawag ng Ibong Adarna (Call of the Adarna Bird)
  for flute, English horn and cello
  
  Nuit de Neige (Night of Snow)
  for solo cello
  
  Maguindanao Mornings
  for marimba and flute (or 2 kulintangs and bamboo flute)
  
  Fenetre Etrange (Strange Window)
  text by Rainier Maria Rilke
  for solo voice and piano
  
  CHORAL: MIXED VOICES
  Hymn of Creation---(SATB div. a cappella)
  Text: Rig Veda; trans. Ralph Griffith
  
  Inspired by Holst's Rig Veda Hymns, this piece lifts a series of texts from the different hymns of creation in the Hindu sacred book, the Rig Veda, and transforms it to a musical expression of praise. The piece is compositionally built on the use of modal and synthetic scale structures.
  
  Perfect Metals, Earthly Riches---(SATB div. a cappella with triangle)
  Text: Trad. Latin; J.R.R. Tolkien
  
  This piece puts together two sets of opposing texts. The Latin text says "Gold and Silver are the perfect metals," while the English poem by Tolkien plays on a old verse by Shakespeare saying that "Not all that glitters is gold..." The piece attempts to show the battle between earthly riches and heavenly riches. The piece starts of aleatoricms where singers imitate different "metallic" sounds.
  
  Appa Nga Palavvun (Four Ibanag Riddles)
  Voicing/Style: SATB choral a cappella
  Text: Folk Ibanag
  About: Written for Tenuto and producer/engineer Joanne Jett Galindo, Appa Nga Palavvun is a setting of four riddles or palavvun from the Ibanag/Cordillera region in the Northern part of the Philippines. The 4 titles in this short choral cycle feature four everyday things in Ibanag lifestyle: Poso (Well) for getting water, Bavi (Pig) to be hunted and roasted, Kandela (Candle) for the electricity-less Cordillera mountain regions, and Illuk (Egg) an everyday essential.
  
  A Fantasy
  Voicing/Style: SATB choral a cappella
  
  Text: Sarah Teasdale
  
  About: This ethereal, mystical setting was premiered by the two-time European Grand Prix for Choral Singing laureate, the Philippine Madrigal Singers, in the 9th World Choral Symposium, Puerto Madryn, Argentina 2011; Mark Anthony Carpio, conductor.
  Approx. 5’48”
  View Sample PDF
  
  Dormi, Jesu
  
  Voicing/Style: SATB choral a cappella
  
  Text: Latin, Christmas
  
  About: This simple and sweet setting of a traditional Latin Christmas lullaby was written for the Philippine Madrigal Singers’ 2011 Christmas concert.
  Approx. 6’12”
  
  View Sample PDF
  
  In Articulo Mortis-Lux Aeterna
  Voicing/Style: SATB choral a cappella with cello
  Text: Trad./Sacred Latin
  About: Two sets of traditional Latin texts were put together in this piece. “In articulo mortis, caelitus mihi vires…” (At the point of death, my strength is from heaven…) and the traditional Requiem mass text of Lux Aeterna (Let eternal light shine upon them). This piece was written for 2009 European Grand Prix for Choral Singing winner Coro Universitario de Mendoza, Silvana Vallesi, conductor.
  Approx. 5’54”
  View Sample PDF
  
  Praise Be To God
  
  Voicing/Style: SATB choral with solo soprano and piano
  
  Text: Saunder Choi/Psalm 89
  
  About: This piece was inspired by Psalm 89 and was composed for The Covenant Singers, Beverly Shangkuan, conductor. It was also published in Songs of the Faith, a booklet of contemporary hymn arrangements and church anthems.
  Approx. 5’11”
  View Sample PDF
  
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  CHORAL: TREBLE VOICES
  
  Star-crossed
  
  Voicing: SSAA div. with piano
  
  Text: Ronald Baytan
  
  About: This piece is a setting of a poem by De La Salle University-Manila literature professor Ronald Baytan. The literary gem is part of his published collection of LGBT poetry called The Queen Sings the Blues.
  Approx. 5’23”
  
  View Sample PDF
  
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  CHORAL: MEN'S VOICES
  Itanong Mo Sa Bituin (Ask the Stars)----(TTBB a cappella)
  
  Text: Jose Corazon de Jesus
  
  Itanong Mo sa Bituin is a poignant poem that talks about one man's lost love for a girl that he likens to the star on the sky, except the girl would be the star here on earth. This piece was premiered by Vox Viri (Jonathan Velasco, conductor) at the 2012 World Choir Games in Ohio.
  
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  VOCAL SCORES/SONGS
  Blue Skies of Yesterday
  Music and Lyrics by: Saunder Choi
  
  Midnight Raven Dreams
  Music and Lyrics by Saunder Choi
  
  From This Day On
  
  Voicing/Style: Solo voice, piano, strings, flute; contemporary pop
  
  Lyrics: Liaa Ambrosio-Patag
  
  About: This piece was originally written as a musical setting of lyricist’s wedding vows, sung at the altar on her wedding day some years ago.
  Approx. 2’56”
  
  Black Willow
  
  Voicing/Style: Voice, lead sheet (piano)
  
  Lyrics: Saunder Choi
  
  About: This song was written for the composer’s late great grandmother, who passed away at the ripe age of 100 last 2011. Incidently, the unfortunate event occurred a few weeks before the composer’s auditions at the Berklee College of Music. This piece was performed during the composer’s audition.
  Approx. 4’20”
  View PDF
  
  There’ll Always Be That Someone Else
  
  Voicing/Style: Voice, piano; contemporary musical
  
  Lyrics: Saunder Choi
  
  About: This song is a pop ballad written in the musical theater idiom for solo classical crossover soprano.
  Approx. 4’23”
  View Sample PDF
  
  Home Again
  
  Voicing/Style: Voice, lead sheet (piano)
  
  Lyrics: Angelee Tiutong; Jeremiah 29:10-14
  
  Benediction
  
  Voicing/Style: Voice, lead sheet; Gospel
  
  Lyrics: 2 Corinthians 13:14
  
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  CHAMBER/SMALL FORMS
  
  Agua Sacra
  for oboe and basson duet
  *this is a midi realization
  
  Nacht Walzer
  for solo piano
  
  ORCHESTRAL
  
  Rush Hour
  for chamber orchestra
  About: This is an homage to a film-scoring style called Mickey-mousing, where the score imitates the action in the screen. Employed with a lot of word painting, the composer imagined a typical rush hour scene in his hometown, Manila, where everyone’s rushing, irritated, stuck in Manila’s horrible traffic, etc.
  Approx. 2’38”
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  Interested in a copy of a particular score? Click the Contact button in the menu bar!

Interested in a copy of a particular score? Click the Contact button in the menu bar!

CHORAL: MIXED VOICES: SACRED CHORAL: MIXED VOICES: SECULAR/FOLK

CHORAL: MIXED VOICES: POP/JAZZ CHORAL: MIXED VOICES: CHRISTMAS

CHORAL: TREBLE VOICES: SACRED CHORAL: TREBLE VOICES: SECULAR/FOLK

CHORAL: TREBLE VOICES: POP/JAZZ CHORAL: TREBLE VOICES: CHRISTMAS

VOCAL SCORES BAND ARRANGEMENTS

**new Leron Leron Sinta (Leron, My Dear)
for SATB a cappella choir
text/music: trad. Filipino folk

Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious---(vocal quartet, piano, electric bass, guitar and drums)

Music and Lyrics: Richard and Robert Sherman
An onda nueva (mix of Venezuelan Joropo and Brazillian bossa nova) arrangement of this popular tune from Disney's Mary Poppins!

I Enjoy Being a Girl----(SSA accompanied)

From "The Flower Drum Song"
Commissioned by Voces Aurorae; Mark Anthony Carpio, conductor

I See The Light----(SATB with piano, optional a cappella)

Lyrics: Glen Slater
Music: Alan Menken
From the Disney animated film, "Tangled"
Commissioned by the Salt Lake Vocal Artists, Brady Allred, conductor.

CHORAL: MIXED VOICES: SACRED

You Lift Me Up----(SATB a cappella)

Commissioned by the Ateneo Chamber Singers; Jonathan Velasco, conductor

Bread of Heaven on Thee I Feed ----(SATB a cappella)
Text: Josiah Conder Music: Trad. French/Welsh
Published in Songs of the Faith

Heart of Worship ----(SATB a cappella)
Music and Lyrics: Matt Redman
Written for The Covenant Singers, Beverly Shangkuan, conductor

Here I Am, Lord ----(SATB a cappella)
Text: Isaiah 6:8 Music: Dan Schutte
Commissioned by the Our Lady of Pillar Cathedral Choir, Oscar Pantaleon, conductor

It is Well With My Soul ----(SATB a cappella)
Text: Horatio Spafford (d.1888) Music: Philip Bliss (d.1876)
Commissioned by the Our Lady of Pillar Cathedral Choir, Oscar Pantaleon, conductor

View Sample PDF

Rock of Ages/He Hideth My Soul ----(SATB a cappella)
Text and Music: William Kirkpatrick and Fanny Crosby (respectively)

This is the Day ----(SATB a cappella)
Music and Lyrics: Scott Wesley Brown

You are Holy (Prince of Peace) ----(SATB a cappella)
Music and Lyrics: Marc Imboden and Tammi Rhoton

CHORAL: MIXED VOICES: SECULAR/FOLK

Angry Birds Theme Song ----(SATB a cappella)
Music: Ari Pulkkinen
Commissioned by Grex Musicus, Marjukka Riihimäki, conductor

View Sample PDF

Auld Lang Syne ----(SATB with guitar)
Text: Trad. Scottish Music: Mairi Campbell and Dave Francis
Featured in Hark!, The Philippine Madrigal Singers’ 2011 Christmas Album, Mark Anthony Carpio, choirmaster

Dahil Sa’yo Bossa Nova ----(SATB a cappella)
Music and Lyrics: Mike Velarde
Commissioned by Coro de San Sebastian, Marivic Llamas, conductor

View Sample PDF

Malinak Lay Labi (Calm is the Night) ----(SATB a cappella)
Text and Music: Trad. Filipino (Pangasinense) Folk
One of the 15 winning arrangements in the 2007 National Folksong Choral Arranging Competition by the National Commission of Culture and Arts and the NAMCYA. Published in Mga Awiting Bayan Para Sa Korong Pilipio (Folksongs for Philippine Choirs)

See and hear the University of the East Chorale perform Malinak Lay Labi here, Anna Abeleda-Piquero, conductor.

View Sample PDF

Oblivion ----(SATB a cappella)
Music: Astor Piazzolla
Written for the Philippine Madrigal Singers’ 2011 South American Tour, Mark Anthony Carpio, choirmaster

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月亮代表我的心 (The Moon Represents My Heart) ----(SATB a cappella)
Text: Sun Yi Music: Wen Qing Qi

龙的传人 (Descendants of the Dragon) ----(SATB a cappella)

Text and Music: Hou De Jian

View Sample PDF

CHORAL: MIXED VOICES: POP/JAZZ

Baby Medley ----(SATB with piano)
Text and Music: Various composers
A novelty medley, featuring choral puns on pop songs with the word “baby.” Commissioned by the Manila Chamber Singers, William Cordero, conductor

Beyond the Sea ----(SATB a cappella)
Text: Jack Lawrence Music: Leo Chauliac

Contigo En La Distancia ----(SATB a cappella)
Music and Lyrics: Cesar Portillo de la Luz
Written for the Philippine Madrigal Singers’ 2011 South American Tour, Mark Anthony Carpio, choirmaster

View Sample PDF

Forevermore ----(SATB a cappella)
Music and Lyrics: Joey Benin

Kahit Maputi Na ang Buhok Ko (‘Till My Hair Turns Gray) ----(SATB a cappella)
Music and Lyrics: Rey Valera
Written for the Philippine Madrigal Singers, Mark Anthony Carpio, choirmaster

La Mer ----(SATB a cappella)
Text: Charles Trenét Music: Leo Chauliac

Love Never Fails ----(SATB a cappella)
Music and Lyrics: Brandon Heath
Commissioned by the Manila Chamber Singers, William Cordero, conductor

She ----(SATB a cappella)
Music and Lyrics: Herbert Kretzmer and Charles Aznavour

View Sample PDF

Shine ----(SATB a cappella)

Music and Lyrics: Trina Belamide

Thankful ----(SATB a cappella)
Music and Lyrics: David Foster, Carole Bayer Sager, Richard Page

月亮代表我的心 (The Moon Represents My Heart) ----(SATB a cappella)
Text: Sun Yi Music: Wen Qing Qi

CHORAL: MIXED VOICES: CHRISTMAS

God Rest Ye Merry Gents ----(SATB a cappella)
Text and Music: Trad. Christmas
This arrangement starts off as a fugue then eventually breaks out into a light jazz swing, thus the “Gents” in the titled. Featured in Hark!, The Philippine Madrigal Singers’ 2011 Christmas Album, Mark Anthony Carpio, choirmaster

View Sample PDF

Pasko Na, Sinta Ko (It’s Christmas, My Love) ----(SATB a cappella)
Text and Music: Aurelio Estranislao and Francis Dandan
Commissioned by Coro Animo, Liaa Ambrosio-Patag, conductor

Shine, Light of Christmas ----(SATB with piano)
Text and Music: Mark Cabaniss
Commissioned by the UECP Junior Choir, Gideon Bendicion, conductor

CHORAL: TREBLE VOICES: SACRED

May Bukas Pa (There is Still A Tomorrow) ----(SSA, lead sheet)
Music and Lyrics: Charo Unite
Commissioned by the Kilyawan Boys Choir, Mark Anthony Caprio, conductor

You Raise Me Up ----(SSA, lead sheet)
Music and Lyrics: Rolf Lovland and Brendan Graham

CHORAL: TREBLE VOICES: SECULAR/FOLK

半个月亮爬上来 (Half Moon Rising) ----(SSA a cappella)
Text and Music: Trad. Chinese Folk

康定情歌 (Kang Ding Love Song) ----(SSA with piano)
Text and Music: Trad. Chinese Folk

View Sample PDF

CHORAL: TREBLE VOICES: POP/JAZZ

Posible (Possible) ----(SSA, lead sheet)
Music and Lyrics: Rico Blanco and Russel Molina

Shine ----(SSA, lead sheet)
Music and Lyrics: Trina Belamide

CHORAL: TREBLE VOICES: CHRISTMAS

Mga Himig Pasko (Hymns of Christmas) ----(SSA, lead sheet)
Text and Music: Trad. Filipino Christmas

VOCAL SCORES

Defying Gravity/Go the Distance Mash-up ----(2 female, 1 male vocalist, lead sheet)
Music and Lyrics: Stephen Schwartz and Alan Menken

Somewhere Over the Rainbow ----(soprano, guitar and flute)
Music and Lyrics: Harold Arlen and Edgar Harburg

Spirit Wings ----(voice and piano)
Music and Lyrics: Claire Coninger and Michael Foster

View PDF

BAND ARRANGEMENTS

Firework ----(vocals, piano, upright bass, drums)
Music and Lyrics: Katy Perry, Mikkel Eriksen, Ester Dean, et al
A swing arrangement for a small jazz ensemble.

Interested in a copy of a particular score? Click the Contact button in the menu bar!

Music Videos

Music Videos
- Dormi, Jesu
  work for SATB a cappella choir
  trad. Latin text
  performed by the Philippine Madrigal Singers
  
  Contigo En La Distancia
  arrangement for SATB a cappella with Solo Tenor
  written by Cesar Portillo de la Luz
  arranged by Saunder Choi
  performed live by the Philippine Madrigal Singer
  Ervin Lumuauag, Tenor
  
  Black Willow
  recorded by Nicolas Dorian (Vocal Coach for The Voice-Belgium)
  video by Francois Delnooz
  written by Saunder Choi
  
  Appa Nga Palavuun (Four Ibanag Riddles)
  SATB a cappella
  composed by Saunder Choi
  recorded by the Tenuto Chamber Singers
  recorded, mixed and mastered by Joanne Jett Galindo
  
  Forevermore
  arrangement for SATB a cappella
  written by Joey Benin
  arranged by Saunder Choi
  performed live by the Philippine Madrigal Singers
Tracks

Tracks

Sets

Favorites

Groups

Profile
- Leron, Leron Sinta (arr. S. Choi)- Philippine Madrigal Singers
  
  by Musicmanchoi
Photos

Photos
Social Media

Social Media
Scholarship Renewal Materials

Scholarship Renewal Materials
- Download professional resumé here
  
  Download supplemental materials here

CHORAL: MIXED VOICES: SACRED	CHORAL: MIXED VOICES: SECULAR/FOLK
CHORAL: MIXED VOICES: POP/JAZZ	CHORAL: MIXED VOICES: CHRISTMAS
CHORAL: TREBLE VOICES: SACRED	CHORAL: TREBLE VOICES: SECULAR/FOLK
CHORAL: TREBLE VOICES: POP/JAZZ	CHORAL: TREBLE VOICES: CHRISTMAS
VOCAL SCORES	BAND ARRANGEMENTS