Calgary, 17 April 2023 – The Philippine Consulate General (PCG) in Calgary is pleased to announce that Pro Coro Canada will feature Philippine National Artist for Music Ryan Cayabyab and Filipino Maestro Jonathan Velasco in _Missae IX _Concert to be held on 6 May 2023, 7:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m., at All Saints’ Anglican Cathedral (10035 103 Street Northwest Edmonton, AB, T5J 0X5).

Founded in 1981, Pro Coro Canada, one of Canada’s top professional choirs, has performed in various international choir festivals.

In Missae IX, a multi-year series with musical settings of the Latin Mass text, Pro Coro Canada will perform MISA (Mass) by Mr. Cayabyab under the direction of Maestro Velasco.

As stated in Pro Coro Canada’s website, Maestro Velasco is a much sought-after choral conductor, clinician, and adjudicator in the world today.

Maestro Velasco and his choirs have won first prizes in major choral competitions in Europe. He currently conducts the Ateneo Chamber Singers. He regularly judges international choral competitions in Europe and Asia.

He was a member and assistant conductor of the World Youth Choir, becoming the first Asian conductor in 1996. He has since conducted this prestigious choir two more times, in the 2001 winter session and the 2018 summer session.

Maestro Velasco is a regular guest conductor of various orchestras in the Philippines and abroad. He has conducted the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra, San Miguel Philharmonic Orchestra, the Manila Symphony Orchestra, the Manila Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Taiwan Youth Orchestra.

Maestro Velasco is the Philippine representative to the Interkultur World Choir Council. He was also elected as the first President of the Philippine Choral Directors Association in 2008.

“I encourage our fellow Filipinos and Canadian friends to watch this rare performance of Edmonton-based Pro Coro Canada that will showcase the brilliance of two noted Filipino artists - Mr. Ryan Cayabyab and Maestro Jonathan Velasco,” said Philippine Consul General Zaldy Patron.

Maestro Velasco will also direct the second piece of Pro Coro Canada’s performance, the Missa Brevis in E-Flat by Filipino Canadian Oliver Munar.

In-person tickets to Missae IX may be purchased through this link: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/procorocanada/812534.

Livestream tickets, on the other hand, are available through this link: https://tv.procoro.ca/en/c/missae-ix.542.

For further details, the public can visit Pro Coro Canada’s official website at https://www.procoro.ca/performances/missaeix.