SHANTELL VOCAL ENSEMBLE WINS GRAND PRIX IN GEORGIA, AFTER GOING VIRAL AS THE “BCA PRIORITAS CHOIR”
Shantell Vocal Ensemble won the Grand Prix at Sing & Smile 2026 in Tbilisi, Georgia. Meet the Indonesian women’s choir behind the win.
The photo looks like a family reunion. Dozens of women stand on a green lawn, arms thrown in the air, dressed in kebaya of red, yellow, orange and purple. It is actually a Grand Prix winner’s portrait.
On October 21, 2026, Shantell Vocal Ensemble took the highest award at an international choir competition in Tbilisi, Georgia. Yes, this is the same group the internet nicknamed the “BCA Prioritas Choir.”
Shantell Vocal Ensemble, an Indonesian women’s choir, won the Grand Prix at the Sing & Smile International Choir Festival & Competition 2026 in Tbilisi, Georgia, on October 21, 2026. The group also won the Female Choir and Folklore categories.
They are led by conductors David Hartono Chendra and Luciana Dharmadi Oendoen. The reports we reviewed do not mention a cash prize.
At a glance
- Date of win: October 21, 2026
- Categories won: 2 (Female Choir and Folklore)
- Top award: 1 Grand Prix
- Top award: 1 Grand Prix
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What is Shantell Vocal Ensemble?
Shantell Vocal Ensemble is an Indonesian women’s choir. Its singers perform in traditional kebaya, the fitted lace blouse many Indonesians wear for formal and cultural events.
The group is led by David Hartono Chendra and Luciana Dharmadi Oendoen. Its videos live on YouTube and Instagram under the handle @shantellvocalensemble.
What did they win at Sing & Smile 2026?
They won three things. The first was the Female Choir category. The second was the Folklore category. The third was the Grand Prix, the highest award of the event.
A Grand Prix is different from a category win. In most choir competitions, it goes to the best of all the category winners.
Oppal, the Indonesian news account, said the Folklore performance put Indonesia’s name on the international map. The win was also shared by Good News From Indonesia (GNFI), which called it a brilliant achievement.
Why did Shantell Vocal Ensemble go viral first?
Before Georgia, most people knew the group for one performance: “Ratu Sejagad.” The clip spread fast on social media and sparked heated conversation.
Viewers then gave the singers a joke nickname, the “BCA Prioritas Choir.” It stuck.
Here is the twist. A meme turned into a Grand Prix. Most viral jokes fade in a week, but this one ended with the top award at an international competition.
“BCA Prioritas Choir”
The nickname Indonesian netizens gave the group.
What does the performance look like?
In the video stills, the singers stand mid-note with their mouths open. Lace kebaya in purple, cream and magenta catch the daylight by a pool, with trees and umbrellas in the background.
It feels more like a garden party than a concert hall. That calm, relaxed look is part of the charm.
Why does this win matter?
It shows that viral fame and real skill can go together. People first noticed the group for a joke, but a jury judged them on singing.
It also matters for culture. The Folklore category rewards music rooted in a place and its traditions. Shantell Vocal Ensemble sings in kebaya, a piece of Indonesian heritage that is in plain view on stage.
If you only know the meme, watch the full performance on their YouTube channel. Then decide whether the nickname still fits.
