Vincenzo Singers of Kefamenanu Wins International Choir Gold Medal in Barcelona, Elevating NTT Traditional Music onto the Global Stage.  

Kupang, klikinfopol.com. 31 October 2026 – The Vincenzo Singers choir group from Kefamenanu, North Central Timor Regency, has secured an outstanding achievement at the Sing for Gold 2026: The World Choral Cup in Barcelona, Spain, taking home the gold medal in the Folklore category. Governor of East Nusa Tenggara Emanuel Melkiades Laka Lena personally recognised this milestone when the group paid a courtesy visit to the Governor’s Official Residence of NTT.

Vincenzo Singers comprises, 27 young members: 25 vocalists, one conductor and one musician. Competing against 33 teams representing 24 countries, the ensemble performed two traditional NTT folk pieces: Mana Lolo Banda from Rote and Oel Ana, composed by a creator from North Central Timor. Their final score of 23.25 earned them the gold medal alongside a Diploma III. The group received a direct invitation to the competition from the INTERKULTUR Foundation, in recognition of their consistent work developing choral art and introducing NTT’s rich culture to international audiences.

Governor Melkiades Laka Lena extended his sincere appreciation to every member of Vincenzo Singers. He emphasised that this victory proves young people from NTT possess world‑class talent and competitiveness, while affirming that the region’s artistic and cultural heritage deserves to be showcased on the global stage.

The Governor described the group’s journey as a form of service through artistic talent, and expressed hope that their achievement would inspire NTT’s younger generation to nurture their potential across all fields. “Every young person has capabilities that can be developed into achievements with hard work, discipline, teamwork and faith,” he stated. He encouraged the choir not to become complacent, and to continue practising while preserving their strong bond as a team.

Adrianus Markus Pontus, supervisor of Vincenzo Singers, shared that the journey to Barcelona was about far more than winning a competition – it was also a spiritual journey that deepened every member’s gratitude. In addition to competing in Spain, the group travelled to Fátima in Portugal to record a spiritual album and produce a music video dedicated to the Virgin Mary.

Adrianus thanked the Provincial Government of NTT, individual donors and the wider community for their prayers and financial support, raised through concerts, livestreams and crowdfunding. This collective backing was essential for the group to realise their first‑ever participation in an international‑level choir competition.

By choosing the Folklore category, Vincenzo Singers used regional folk songs as a powerful medium to share the cultural identity of NTT and Indonesia with participants from around the world. Their success confirms that regional traditional music is not merely a local cultural legacy, but also a valuable asset for promoting Indonesian culture globally.

The meeting with the Governor was also attended by Vincenzo Singers’ supervisor, their pastoral companion and the Head of the Administrative Bureau of the Regional Secretariat of NTT.(*)

Source: Administrative Bureau of the Regional Secretariat of NTT.

Writer: Alexander L. Raditia

Photographer: Beni Triyono

Editor: Hiro Lukas