UPR Aguadilla Choir to Sing at the Sagrada Familia Crypt Ahead of the Sing for Gold Competition in Barcelona

A 32-student university choir from Aguadilla is preparing to represent Puerto Rico at one of Europe's most prestigious choral competitions, and before it competes, the group will have the honor of singing inside the crypt of the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona. The Humanities Department Choir of the University of Puerto Rico at Aguadilla, directed by Dr. Javier Flores Irizarry, was selected among 36 international ensembles to perform on Saturday, October 23, 2026, inside that iconic basilica designed by Antoni Gaudi ¹³.

The performance is part of Sing for Gold, the World Choral Cup organized by INTERKULTUR, which will run from October 22 to 26, 2026 in the cities of Calella and Barcelona, Spain ¹³. It is the second edition of the event since its 2022 debut, bringing together choirs from various countries competing for medals across several categories. The Aguadilla choir will compete in the sacred music and folkloric music categories, carrying Puerto Rican repertoire onto the international stage ¹.

The ensemble traces its roots back to April 1987, when it first performed at an event called Noche de Logros (Night of Achievements), premiering the anthem of what was then the Aguadilla University College, composed by Pablo Fernandez Badillo ⁴. Since then it has had four directors, and since January 2023 it has been led by Flores Irizarry, who now heads the 32-student delegation traveling to Spain ⁴¹.

To cover travel costs, uniforms, and other student needs, the University of Puerto Rico provided a 2,000-dollar donation through the UPR Foundation, according to Foundation secretary Margarita Mendez ². UPR president Dr. Zayira Jordan Conde highlighted the achievement in a written statement: "Carrying our institution's name to an international stage like this one is a source of pride and, at the same time, a great responsibility" ². The interim rector of the Aguadilla campus, architect Wilma L. Santiago Gabrielini, also took part in the institutional announcement ².

As part of the fundraising effort, the choir is holding two public concerts titled "Una Voz, Un Destino" (One Voice, One Destiny), scheduled for September 24 and 26, 2026 at the Carlos Ruiz Martinez Amphitheater (room A-100) on the Aguadilla campus ¹². Those who cannot attend can also contribute via ATH Movil made out to UPR Foundation Inc., the university said ².

What This Means for You

If you love choral music, or simply want to support Puerto Rican talent with international reach, this is a concrete way to do it before the group flies to Spain. Your contribution, however small, translates directly into airfare, uniforms, and lodging costs for 32 young people who will carry Puerto Rico's name onto a stage where 36 choirs from different countries are competing ¹. If you live in the west of the island, this week's concerts are free to the public and a chance to hear live the repertoire the choir will perform in Calella and Barcelona.

For the Aguadilla university community, this achievement is also a sign that the arts programs at UPR's regional campuses keep producing results with international reach, a relevant point at a time when public university funding remains a constant subject of debate.

How to Help / Checklist

1. Mark your calendar for the "Una Voz, Un Destino" concerts: Thursday, September 24, and Saturday, September 26, 2026, at the Carlos Ruiz Martinez Amphitheater (room A-100) on the UPR Aguadilla campus ¹².
2. If you cannot attend, send a donation via ATH Movil made out to UPR Foundation Inc., specifying it is for the Aguadilla Humanities Choir ².
3. Follow the official UPR and UPR Aguadilla pages for updates on the trip and possible livestreams or videos of the October 23 Sagrada Familia performance ¹³.
4. If you are a student or a relative of a student interested in the choir, contact the Humanities Department at the Aguadilla campus to learn how to join future auditions ⁴.
5. Share the news on social media: visibility helps more local businesses and donors join the fundraising goal before the October trip ².

What's Next

The calendar is already set: the choir will travel to Spain for the Sing for Gold competition between October 22 and 26, 2026, with the special performance in the Sagrada Familia crypt on October 23, followed by formal competition rounds in the sacred and folkloric music categories against 36 international ensembles ¹³. UPR and the Aguadilla campus are expected to share coverage of the trip and competition results in the following weeks, and it would not be a surprise if, following the pattern of other Puerto Rican university choirs that have competed in Europe in recent years, the group returns with awards that would further strengthen the artistic profile of Humanities programs at UPR's regional campuses.

Sources

1. University of Puerto Rico, "Coro de la UPR de Aguadilla representara a Puerto Rico en prestigiosa competencia coral en Barcelona" — https://www.upr.edu/coro-de-la-upr-de-aguadilla-representara-a-puerto-rico-en-prestigiosa-competencia-coral-en-barcelona/
2. University of Puerto Rico, "Presidenta de la UPR destaca talento del Coro del recinto de Aguadilla rumbo a competencia internacional" — https://www.upr.edu/presidenta-de-la-upr-destaca-talento-del-coro-del-recinto-de-aguadilla-rumbo-a-competencia-internacional/
3. INTERKULTUR, "Sing for Gold 2026 — The World Choral Cup" — https://www.interkultur.com/events/2026/calella
4. University of Puerto Rico at Aguadilla, "Coro UPRAg" — https://www.uprag.edu/coro-uprag/