Church choir has been a vital part in the celebration of Holy Eucharist as it represents the choir of angels in heaven, and it leads the people in singing praises in the Holy Banquet of the Lord. It is for this reason that the San Sebastian Basilica Chorus came into existence and continues top exist up to this day.

Looking back into the past, it is really a wonder how this group came into being. While things were looking brilliant during the preparations for the celebration of the centennial anniversary of the blessing and inauguration of the San Sebastian Steel Basilica, the Rev. Fr. Hermenegildo Ceniza, OAR noticed how incomplete the celebration would be if no official choir would sing during the festivity.

It was in this idea, and in the spirit of unity and solidarity that members from different choirs such as Charismatic Choir, Parish Youth Choir, Magnificat Chorale, Legion of Voices, Music Cynosure, and Avancena Choir grouped together to meet the needs that time.

September 27, 1990 was the date the new group adopted the name “BASILICA CHORUS”, patterned after that of the Manila Cathedral’s Choir. Eventually, this aggregation of choirs gained for the Parish distinction as it triumphed in different Choral competition such as Villa Cantata in Casa Manila at Intramuros, Choral Singing Competition in Sto. Nino Parish Church at Tondo, Manila and Singing Competition in Adamson University.

In 1995, the very first attempt of the group to launch a musical concert in the Parish. With the efforts of our musical director, then, Mr. Andy Abiquibil, our choreographer, Mr. Emil San Pascual, our adviser, Mr. Joel Valeras and with the cooperation of all the officers and members, we were be able to stage our first Christmas Cantata entitled “Everlasting Light”. It was also participated by the, PYC and with the support of the PPC officers and parish priest, then, Rev. Fr. Sam Silloriquez, OAR. Since then, we were able to stage another 2 concerts namely “Halina Emmanuel” in 1997 and “Maligayang Pasko” in 1999.
The highlight event of our group happened last January 20, 1997, when bagged the Grand Champion in the 5th National Eucharistic Congress Choral Competition, where in most of the members of the “Holy Queen Chorale” are from the group. After that momentous event, the group received lots of singing engagements such as the opening of the Eucharistic Congress at the PICC on the same year, at ABS-CBN Sunday mass in TV and in the opening ceremony of NCAA at Araneta Coliseum. In 1998, we also competed at Manila District Choral Competition.

The group also had the chance to be part of the play entitled “The Secret Life of Sister Rose (The Talangpaz Sister Story)” in 1999. Where we sung all the songs used during the play and had a chance to act as the Friends of Sister Dionisia & Sister Rosa.

Since then, the Basilica Chorus has been active in different spiritual and social endeavors. Aside from its regular 6:00 evening mass ever Sunday at its home parish, it takes pride in participating in the San Sebastian Grand Choir that assists at Solemn High Masses during Solemnities and on certain feast. We held our weekly practices every Saturday at 7pm and on Sunday after the 6pm mass. It is also conducting outreach programs like visiting street children and aged people. It has gone to different provinces like Marinduque, Bataan and Bulacan to do individual performances.

Currently, it has 25 active members under the tutelage of Mr. Joven Valeras, the musical director and Arlene Caldo, the assistant musical director. The group’s fruitful beginnings have inspired its members to go on touching the hearts of people through music.