THE MUSIC composition of a fresh graduate of the University of the Philippines Diliman bagged the top prize in the inaugural Composition Competition at the 2021 Busan Choral Festival & Competition.

Ryle Nicole Custodio’s “Tagu-Taguan” for the Sopra-Alto-Tenor-Bass a capella bested the composition submitted by 54 other participants.

“The Busan Choral Composition Competition seeks to engage with aspiring young composers and to encourage the creation and performance of new works written for the choral music genre. The 1st winning work will be premiered at the 2021 Busan Choral Festival & Competition during the week of Oct. 21-23, 2021,” the BCFC said.

Custodio’s composition will be recorded, sent to BCFC, and have it premiered on BCFC’s YouTube channel on October 23.

“The recording of this piece is already in the works, with the world-renowned UP Madrigal Singers and its director, Prof. Mark Anthony Carpio, set to sing my piece,” Custodio said.

Custodio earned a degree in Bachelor of Music major in composition, minor in viola and kulintang performance.

He was also the first Filipino young composer to win the first prize of the Asian Composers League Young Composers Competition in 2018.

Organized by the Korea Choral Institute, BCFC has fostered cultural exchange and promoted high quality choral music since its first edition in November 2005.