After a Decade, The Vienna Boys Choir Returns to Manila for a Special Concert

The Vienna Boys Choir will stage a special concert on April 26 and 27 at the Newport Performing Arts Theater, ahead of the 80th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Austria and the Philippines.

Wearing their trademark sailor uniform, the Vienna Boys Choir returns to the Philippines after a decade for a special concert that celebrates the cultural ties between Austria and the Philippines.

Recognized as one of the most popular choirs in the world, the Vienna Boys Choir was founded in 1498 in Vienna, Austria by Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian I. Today, it is made up of around 100 choristers aged 9 to 14, divided into touring groups that regularly perform in leading concert halls and festivals worldwide. The group has performed for royalty and dignitaries, as well as at church services, private concerts, and state occasions.

For its 2026 return, the special concert will take place on April 27 and 28 at 9 P.M. at the Newport Performing Arts Theater.

“The Vienna Boys Choir is one of Austria’s most treasured cultural ambassadors,” said H.E. Johann Brieger, Austrian Ambassador, in a statement. “Their return to Manila after ten years is a wonderful opportunity to share Austria’s rich musical heritage with Filipino audiences and to celebrate the longstanding friendship between our two countries, especially as we look ahead to the 80th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Austria and the Philippines in 2026.”

The choir’s history spans more than five centuries. In the 1800s, a young Franz Schubert spent several years as a choirboy, while Anton Bruckner also worked closely with the group in his role as an organist at the Court Chapel. Its repertoire ranges from classical masterpieces and sacred music to traditional Austrian works and international pieces. Alumni include figures such as Joseph Haydn, Franz Schubert, and Michael Haydn.

Members of the Vienna Boys Choir continue to serve as cultural ambassadors for Vienna, performing on tour and appearing in film and television. In 2017, UNESCO recognized the group as part of Austria’s Intangible Cultural Heritage, cementing its place in the country’s cultural legacy.