THE HISTORY
Mgr. Albertus Soegijapranata, S.J., was a prominent figure in the Catholic Church. He was appointed as the first Vicar Apostolic of Semarang on August 1, 1940, holding the distinction of being the first indigenous bishop in Indonesia.
In recognition of his contributions to the nation and his tireless efforts in defending the independence of the Republic of Indonesia, he was declared a National Hero. He was laid to rest at the Giri Tunggal Heroes' Cemetery in Semarang. Additionally, his name was adopted as the patron of the Catholic University in Semarang founded in 1982, now known as Soegijapranata Catholic University (SCU).
The Soegijapranata International Choir Competition (SICC) is hosted by SCU, guided by the motto "Talenta pro patria et humanitate," which translates to "The best talents dedicated to the nation and humanity." Therefore, SICC embodies the spirit of Soegijapranata as the foundation for nurturing human potential, particularly in the realm of choral music.