The Elizabeth Susan Vista-Suarez [ESVS] International Choral Festival — or The ESVS, for short — was founded in 2022, with the dynamic goal to become an important hub for choral music in Asia and the world. It is named after the internationally renowned conductor, choral scholar, and performer, Dr. Elizabeth Susan Vista-Suarez, whose specific philosophy in creating choral music — “timpla” — has in
fluenced countless choral groups in the Philippines through the years. Cognizant of the divided world we live in, the primary vision of The ESVS is to provide a worthwhile avenue where singing together in harmony becomes an instrument in fostering unity and peace for the world. Its mission is to recognize international excellence in choral music performance, and thus seeks to inspire appreciation of choral music, to harness individual and group capacities through wholesome practice and performance, to realize critical potentials of individuals as key participants in choral music rendition, to discover unique talents and foster participation in world-class choral performances, and to open up a forum for individual and collective music fulfillment within the context of an international festival. The first edition of the festival is set to debut on 30 July 2023 in Dumaguete City, Philippines, with seven days filled with workshops and performances geared towards the appreciation of this genre of music. We welcome choirs from all over the world for a program of gala concerts, outreach concerts, and workshops with world-class choral masters as hundreds of participants bring beauty and light to Dumaguete City in a celebration of choral music.
