Caritas Choral UNCRI Wins First Place at The First UNIPA Choir Competition 2025
Report by: Milton De Holet
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Manokwari, October 31, 2025 — Caritas Choral, the pride of Universitas Caritas Indonesia (UNCRI), once again made a remarkable achievement by winning First Place (Champion) at The First UNIPA Choir Competition 2025, held on Friday night at the Main Hall of Universitas Papua (UNIPA), Manokwari.
This choir competition was part of the UNIPA 2025 Lustrum celebration, bringing together ten faculty choirs from UNIPA that had advanced through preliminary inter-faculty rounds. These ten finalists then competed in the main stage with five choirs from the open category outside UNIPA — namely Caritas Choral (UNCRI), Beatus Chorale, Jefsi Choir, Immanuel Choir, and Sion Sanggeng.
Based on the final jury results, Caritas Choral UNCRI emerged as the Champion, followed by Beatus Chorale in second place, Jefsi Choir in third place, and Immanuel Choir as the first runner-up.
In their performance, Caritas Choral captivated both the judges and the audience with two deeply expressive and technically solid renditions: the Indonesian pop song “Untuk Apa Lagi” and the Papuan folk song “Insos Yedi.” The elegant arrangements by national composers Alvin and Budi S. Yohanes showcased precise vocal harmony, refined technique, and strong emotional expression—making their performance one of the highlights of the competition.
Despite the short preparation time, Caritas Choral UNCRI had set its sights on the champion title from the start, thanks to the dedication of its coaching and music consultant team, who provided intensive training. The coaches meticulously refined vocal techniques, enhanced interpretative depth, and instilled a profound understanding of the meaning behind each piece performed.
Prof. Dr. Roberth Kurniawan Ruslak Hammar, S.H., M.Hum., M.M., CLA., Rector of University Caritas Indonesia, expressed his congratulations and appreciation for the group’s outstanding achievement.
“I extend my heartfelt congratulations and pride for Caritas Choral UNCRI, which has once again brought honor to our university. This achievement proves that passion, discipline, and strong commitment can produce extraordinary results,” he stated.
“The preparation period was indeed short, but with high spirit, teamwork, and the support of coaches and consultants, they were able to deliver their best performance. Great singers are those who not only practice diligently but also bring songs to life on stage,” he continued.
He also mentioned that next year will bring several major events, such as the National Student Choir Competition (LPSMN), the National Student Church Choir Festival (Pesparawi), and the National Student Art Week (Peksiminas).
“These are valuable opportunities to improve rankings and bring pride to both our university and our region,” he added.
This victory further cements Caritas Choral UNCRI’s position as one of the finest university choirs in Papua. Over the past three years, the ensemble has achieved several prestigious awards, including Grand Prix Winner of the Manokwari Choir Competition 2023 and Overall Champion at the Uncen Christmas Choir Competition 2024.
Additionally, Caritas Choral has actively participated in national-level competitions such as Peksiminas 2024 in Jakarta, LPSMN 2024 in Manado, North Sulawesi, and Pesparawi Mahasiswa Nasional 2024 in Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara.
With unwavering discipline, dedication, and harmony that resonate through every performance, Caritas Choral UNCRI continues to be a source of pride for Universitas Caritas Indonesia and an inspiration for young people across West Papua to create, perform, and excel in the arts and culture.
