The Universitas Diponegoro Student Choir (Paduan Suara Mahasiswa Universitas Diponegoro – PSM Undip), internationally known as the Diponegoro University Choir (DUC), has etched its name on the global stage by securing the highest honor, the Grand Prix Champion title, at the prestigious 8th Cantata Macau International Choir Festival and Competition 2025. Held at the historic St. Augustine Church & Escola Sao Paulo in Macau from November 28 to 30, 2025, the event bore witness to the Indonesian contingent’s excellence as they triumphed over renowned choirs from various countries.

This victory represents not merely a single achievement but a comprehensive display of dominance. PSM Undip conquered three distinct categories—Sacred, Open, and Folklore—demonstrating their remarkable versatility and mastery across different choral styles.

The championship was built upon meticulously curated repertoire choices that highlighted their technical prowess and artistic depth. In the culminating Grand Prix round, the choir captivated the jury with their performances of “Deliver Me, O Lord” by Tine Bec and “In Ecclesiis” by Budi Susanto Yohanes.

Their path to the championship was paved by stellar performances in the category rounds. They secured the title of Winner of the Sacred Category with pieces including “Dixit Maria” (Hans Leo Hassler) and “Deliver Me, O Lord” (Tine Bec). They topped the Open Category with the complex harmonies of “Cumulonimbus” (Vatara Artanta Silalahi) and “Os Justi” (Anton Bruckner). Furthermore, they enchanted audiences to become the Winner of the Folklore Category, showcasing spirited Indonesian folk songs like “Sangmaneku to Manglaa” (Budi Susanto Yohanes) and the poignant Karo melody “Piso Surit” (Amillio Fahlevi).

Behind these mesmerizing performances was the exceptional leadership of conductor Jefry Franklin Bode, whose direction earned him the additional accolade of Most Outstanding Conductor.

This international triumph is the pinnacle of an intensive and strategic preparatory process. The journey to Macau involved rigorous training focused on vocal technique and harmonic development, culminating in a pre-competition concert titled “SING FOREVER 2025”. Held on November 23, 2025, at the Liem Liang Peng Theater in Semarang, this concert served as a crucial simulation to test the choir’s mental readiness and performance consistency before a live audience. This systematic approach allowed PSM Undip to refine their interpretations across the three musical genres, ensuring they arrived in Macau in peak form.

The Macau victory serves as the crowning achievement in a year filled with competitive success for PSM Undip. Throughout 2025, the choir has demonstrated an impressive competitive streak. Prior to Macau, they shone at The 10th Satya Dharma Gita International Choir Festival (September 10-13, 2025), where they became Grand Prix Finalists and emerged as Champions in the Equal Voices category (Score: 85.45), alongside Gold Medals in the Sacred and Mixed categories. Subsequently, at The 7th Karangturi International Choir Competition (November 12-15, 2025), they achieved 2nd Place in Musica Sacra (Gold, 84.45) and were again named Grand Prix Finalists. This consecutive series of successes confirms that the Macau victory is the result of sustained discipline and the rich legacy of a student activity unit founded in 1972.

Looking ahead, this achievement further solidifies PSM Undip’s role as a cultural ambassador for Indonesia. By consistently excelling in regional, national, and international arenas, the choir fulfills its mission to develop student character through artistic competency. With steadfast support from Diponegoro University, alumni, and sponsors, PSM Undip remains committed to expanding its global footprint, proving that a student-led organization is capable of producing world-class artistic contributions.