Haraya Choir

Haraya Choir www.harayachoir.com Award winning Haraya Choir was officially formed in 2017 and debuted in a sold out concert at St. Peter's Church in Notting Hill.

Haraya means "imagination" or "vision" in Tagalog. Haraya won 1st prizes at the North Wales Choir Festival (Pop and Mixed Choir categories) in 2022 and the grand prize at the Manchester Amateur Choir Competition in 2020.

Having different professions and backgrounds with singers mostly nurses and staff from the NHS/healthcare sector, the members are unified through their shared passion for singi

ng and musical excellence.

The Haraya repertoire includes a wide range of styles, genres and idioms which include sacred, classical, pop, opera, folk and contemporary. Haraya also strives to promote both Filipino and British music in their concerts and performances. Karlene Moreno-Hayworth is their founder, artistic director and conductor.

Member spotlight on Jesnel Suarez - celebrating his 7 years with us which have, in his own words, "been a roller coaster...
18/08/2026

Member spotlight on Jesnel Suarez - celebrating his 7 years with us which have, in his own words, "been a roller coaster of passionate singing, chorister real-time drama, choral adrenaline, and self-discovery."

Jes is a long-term member of Haraya and is also a Nurse Specialist based in London. His path to music wasn’t traditional: growing up in Cebu, he never fully immersed himself in music, but the spark was always there. From singing in the shower, to picking up the guitar from his sister, to performing at weddings, his connection to music began to flourish. It wasn’t until 2019 that he took the leap in joining Haraya, his first choir, and began to realize his potential.

Since then, Jes has evolved from a dedicated Tenor to a reliable Baritone, earning a reputation as a key member of the group. His leadership role expanded as he took on dual responsibilities as Assistant Manager and Bass Section Leader. In these roles, Jes is driven by a passion to support and inspire his fellow choristers, ensuring that every Haraya event runs smoothly while preserving the camaraderie that has always been at the heart of the group.

He is also the only member of Haraya that has attended every single competition we have ever participated in - if you needed any proof of his reliability and quality!

Jes’s commitment to music and community also goes beyond Haraya. He’s also a valued member of the St. Dominic’s Filipino Choir, where he extends his musical talents to church communities, care homes, and hospitals. Whether as a cantor for special occasions or lending his voice in service, Jes continues to use music as a means of connection and care.

Through every note, performance, and interaction, Jes’s journey reminds us that music has the power to transcend boundaries and bring people together - no matter where life takes you. And we're glad it brought you to us, Jes 😊

We’re delighted to invite you to something a little different from Haraya…HARAYA SINGERS GALA A celebration of the voice...
13/08/2026

We’re delighted to invite you to something a little different from Haraya…

HARAYA SINGERS GALA
A celebration of the voices behind the choir

This is not your usual Haraya concert, and that is exactly what makes this evening so special! ❤️

For one night, we’re stepping away from our traditional full-choir concert format and giving you the chance to meet the individual artists behind the Haraya sound.

Think recital meets gala: solos, duets and small ensembles, from intimate a ca****la moments to performances accompanied by instruments, spanning different styles, moods and musical colours. And yes, you’ll still hear that unmistakable Haraya sound when the full choir comes together for a couple of special numbers!

As part of our 10th Anniversary Season, this feels like the perfect moment to celebrate not only what Haraya has become collectively, but the wonderful singers and musicians who make it what it is. This time, they step forward and take centre stage.

🎶 HARAYA SINGERS GALA
📅 Saturday, 3 October 2026
📍 St Cuthbert’s, London SW5

🎟️ TICKETS ARE NOW AVAILABLE TO PURCHASE!

👉 Book your tickets here:
https://ticketlab.app/series/2845 #/
📱 Or simply scan the QR code on the poster, which will take you directly to the ticket page.

Come and meet the voices behind Haraya and join us for a wonderfully intimate evening of music, friendship and Filipino talent.

We would absolutely love to see you there! ❤️🇵🇭🇬🇧✨

Member spotlight on 9 years with our soprano Odette Preshaw!Odette is a qualified librarian who resides in London and al...
07/08/2026

Member spotlight on 9 years with our soprano Odette Preshaw!

Odette is a qualified librarian who resides in London and also sings in a church choir. Apart from singing, Odette enjoys cooking, and spending time at home with a book and a cuppa.

She joined Haraya back in February 2017, and in her own words “I enjoyed it then, and I am enjoying it even more now!”

Odette serves as a wonderful example of how one can still perform as a self-proclaimed 'shy person', and even become a soloist at high level performances and competitions. Now if we can only convince Odette to play the guitar at an upcoming performance - perhaps the first song she ever learned, Barbara Streisand’s ‘The Way We Were’.

As we approach our 10 year anniversary, we are glad to have our long-standing and new members with us, and as Odette says, we are “looking forward to growing and learning together; to more opportunities lined up for us and meeting talented people along the way.”

04/08/2026

Our Lakambini Ladies having fun in the studio = watch until the end for a …surprise?

You can’t say we aren’t versatile 💃🕺

👋 A big Haraya welcome to trainee Mark Kong, known as 'Xian'. Xian is a London‑based professional working in fund accoun...
02/08/2026

👋 A big Haraya welcome to trainee Mark Kong, known as 'Xian'.

Xian is a London‑based professional working in fund accounting in the Alternative Investments space, having moved to the UK as part of his career journey. Outside of work, music plays a central role in his life, particularly singing, which has been "a constant source of joy, confidence and self‑expression".

He discovered his love for singing in high school. This passion led him to attend music school in Ozamiz City at Juliet Reyes‑Rubin Music Studio (JRRMS). His first formal choral experience began during his university years as a tenor with the MU Chorale.

After starting his professional career in Makati City, Philippines, Xian joined SGV & Co. as an Auditor and continued to pursue singing by becoming part of the SGV Chorale, conducted by Prof. Ed Manguiat. This opened doors to performing at various corporate events and major engagements.

🏸 Outside of singing, Xian enjoys playing badminton and keeping active, as well as indulging his love for West End musicals. He also enjoys solo singing, particularly ballads and OPM (Original Pilipino Music), which allow him to connect deeply with music on a personal level.

Glad to have you join us, Xian! ❤

31/07/2026

Revealed! ❗💁🏻‍♀️

Our Guess The Singer challenge - ladies edition = answer revealed here! Hundreds of you voted, most of you guessed our Britney Spears impersonator to be '5 - Missy' with the 2nd amount of votes going to '2 - Iana'. and a handful for the others, mostly 6 and 7.

Was Giem's eye-close a singer's instinct, or Iana's performing a natural trick?

Let's see if you were right! Watch until the end..

This week’s spotlight on our very own choir manager and soprano extraordinaire Iana Baleros ✨Surrounded by music from an...
20/07/2026

This week’s spotlight on our very own choir manager and soprano extraordinaire Iana Baleros ✨

Surrounded by music from an early age, Iana’s love for it felt almost inevitable. Growing up in a musically inclined family, she quickly discovered her own voice and passion - something her parents lovingly nurtured by enrolling her at the Center for Pop Music Philippines and also having a choral background back in university. Before moving to the UK, she further honed her craft by completing the Full Mentorship Program for Voice at Kidz Symphony under Teacher Vell.

Since 2018, Iana has been a devoted soprano with the Haraya Choir, where she continues to flourish as both a performer and a leader. Known for her dedication and initiative, she has gone above and beyond in her role as Choir Manager since 2021, supporting and uplifting those around her. Her commitment to excellence is reflected in her ABRSM achievements, earning Distinction in both Voice and Piano. Driven by a desire to keep growing, she has pursued private voice training with Ms. Karlene Moreno-Hayworth, focusing on opera, and is now also part of Opera Integra - embracing new challenges and deepening her artistry.

Beyond music, Iana leads a purposeful and demanding professional life as a Senior Theatre Nurse at University College London Hospital – Westmoreland Street, specialising in Urology and Andrology. Whether she’s in the operating theatre or on stage, she brings the same sense of care, precision and quiet passion to everything she does.

In her quieter moments, Iana enjoys the simple things - getting lost in a good book, watching her favourite series and spending meaningful time with her loved ones. These moments keep her grounded, balanced and continually inspired.

Thanks for keeping us inspired for all these years, Iana! 💃❤️

🚨 BIG NEWS!! HARAYA CHOIR INVITED to PERFORM on the CelebrASIA 2026 MAIN STAGE! ⭐We're beyond excited to announce that H...
19/07/2026

🚨 BIG NEWS!! HARAYA CHOIR INVITED to PERFORM on the CelebrASIA 2026 MAIN STAGE! ⭐

We're beyond excited to announce that Haraya Choir has been invited to perform on the Main Stage at CelebrASIA 2026 at the iconic Battersea Power Station!

Even more special, this invitation comes as we celebrate our 10th Anniversary Season. We couldn't be more delighted to be part of one of the UK's biggest celebrations of South East Asian culture during such a landmark year for Haraya.

Catch us this September as we bring an electrifying all Filipino programme to one of the country's most exciting cultural festivals.

If you don't already know about CelebrASIA, this is London's largest South East Asian festival, and last year's event attracted a record-breaking 176,000 visitors over the weekend! This year promises to be even bigger and better. From 11 to 13 September, Battersea Power Station will come alive with an exciting celebration of South East Asian culture, featuring live music, dance, DJ sets and comedy on the outdoor stage, alongside immersive craft workshops, more than 50 artisan market stalls, and some of the finest South East Asian street food traders from across London and beyond.

To be invited to perform on the MAIN STAGE at an event of this scale is an incredible honour. We are immensely proud to represent the Philippines and to showcase the beauty, colour and richness of Filipino choral music to thousands upon thousands of festival-goers.

Get ready for soaring harmonies, infectious rhythms, beloved Filipino favourites, and plenty of Pinoy pride! 🇵🇭❤️

Mark your calendars, bring your family and friends, and come cheer us on as Haraya takes the Main Stage during our 10th Anniversary Season!

📍 CelebrASIA 2026
📅 Sunday 13 September
📍 Battersea Power Station
🎤 Main Stage
🇵🇭 Haraya Choir presents an all Filipino programme

We can't wait to sing for you. Kita-kits sa celebrASIA! 💙❤️💛

17/07/2026

Guess The Singer - Girls Edition! 💁🏻‍♀️

The gents video was so popular, we had to do a version with the ladies - we think this one's harder! Can you guess which of our lakambini ladies is channeling her inner popstar princess with the Britney Spears' song Sometimes?

Answers in the comments 👇👀

Spotlight on one of our long-established singers, Jay R Plogio.Jay R is a London-based nurse working in diabetes technol...
13/07/2026

Spotlight on one of our long-established singers, Jay R Plogio.

Jay R is a London-based nurse working in diabetes technology, supporting the use of insulin pump therapy across the NHS. He recently completed his MSc in Diabetes with distinction from King’s College London. He started singing in a church choir in the Philippines before moving to the UK in 2017. Now in his 9th year with Haraya Choir as a Bass 2, Jay has performed in award-winning competitions and concerts across the UK. 🏆

Outside of music, he enjoys travelling, discovering new coffee spots (he survives most days on coffee just like most adults), exploring different cultures, trying different cuisines, and watching choir competitions with the intensity of a sports fan analysing a championship final.

He values Haraya "not only for its musical excellence, but also for the unique opportunities it provides to perform in prestigious venues and celebrate Filipino artistry on a global stage".

We value Jay R not only for his beautiful voice, but his energy, spirit and dedication ✨

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