Croatia's Got Talent winner Chriztel Renae Aceveda headlines Echoes of Croatia concert on Oct 14

The Far Eastern University Center for the Arts and the FEU Institute of Arts and Sciences (IAS), in partnership with the soon to open Embassy of Croatia in Manila, proudly present "ECHOES OF CROATIA in the Philippines."

Set your eyes and ears on Chriztel Renae Aceveda, a 14-year-old Filipina prodigy and Croatia’s Got Talent 2023 winner, as she captivates you with her stunning voice alongside internationally acclaimed Croatian artists — Blanka Tkalčić (mezzo-soprano) and Danijel Oto (pianist, educator, and chamber musician).

Experience an afternoon filled with harmony that bridges nations on October 14, 3:00 pm at the FEU Auditorium.

Chriztel Renae Aceveda

Chriztel Renae Aceveda, a 14-year-old soprano originally from Pampanga, Philippines, has been living in Sveti Martin na Muri, Croatia since 2020. She first captured the hearts of the public with her interpretation of a traditional Međimurje folk song on Supertalent, and has continued to delight audiences across Croatia ever since. From the age of five, she showed a passion for music, singing karaoke with her mother. In Croatia, she quickly embraced the local culture, especially the region’s musical heritage and traditional attire. Chriztel is an 8th-grade student at Primary School Sveti Martin na Muri, a member of the school choir and part of the local cultural and artistic society HKUU Sveti Martin. She studies voice in the preparatory program of the Varaždin Music School under the guidance of Blanka Tkalčić. Her performances of authentic Međimurje folk songs have been compared to the legendary "Aunt Liza", and her emotional expressiveness leaves audiences breathless. She has performed at numerous traditional music events, charity concerts, and public festivals, including collaborations with Croatia's folk music icon Lidija Bajuk. She won the Supertalent show, the Prvi glas Zagorja contest, the Mali MEF Grand Prix, and first prize at the Brežice Festival in Slovenia. Through her singing, Chriztel celebrates her second homeland—Croatia—while remaining proudly connected to her Filipino roots.

Blanka Tkalčić

Blanka Tkalčić, mezzo-soprano, was born in Čakovec in 1978. She attended the Varaždin Music School and studied voice with Darija Hreljanović, later continuing at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Graz under Ulf Bästlein. She holds both a diploma and master’s degree in lied and oratorio and specialized further under renowned mentors such as Silvia Bazzoni-Bartoli and Lidija Horvat-Dunjko. Blanka has performed widely in Croatia and abroad (Austria, Germany, Slovenia, Hungary, Italy, Estonia, Czech Republic, Russia, etc.), with prestigious orchestras such as the Zagreb Philharmonic, Dubrovnik Symphony Orchestra, Wiener Johann Strauss Capelle, and Paris Chamber Orchestra. Her repertoire spans oratorios, masses, and operas—from Mozart’s Requiem to roles in operettas like The Merry Widow, Countess Maritza, and Die Fledermaus. She is also an acclaimed pedagogue, teaching voice at the Varaždin Music School and working with Opera BB under maestro Vladimir Kranjčević, with whom she has sung roles in operas by Pergolesi, Menotti, Rossini, Donizetti, and others. She is a member of the Europeisches Musik Zentrum Wien.

Danijel Oto

Danijel Oto, pianist, began his piano studies at the age of 12 and entered the Zagreb Music Academy at 18 under the tutelage of Vladimir Krpan. He graduated in 2009 with top honors and has continued his development through masterclasses with renowned pedagogues such as Franco Scala, Peter Eicher, and Konstantin Krasnitsky. He has performed in prestigious venues across Europe (Vienna, Paris, Rome, Zurich, Zagreb, Belgrade), recorded for Croatian Radio and Television, and collaborated with prominent artists. A sought-after chamber musician and official accompanist at international competitions, Danijel is regularly invited as a jury member in piano competitions across Europe. Since 2008, he has been working as an accompanist and piano teacher at the Varaždin School of Music, and he is currently also an assistant at University North (Department of Music and Media). His students have won over 200 awards at national and international competitions. He is also a regular faculty member at the Grožnjan International Summer Piano School.

Admission is FREE!

Secure your seats by registering through this link: https://forms.office.com/r/yx6wzkkxvn

Celebrating Philippine-Italian connection with chamber music concert on Oct. 16

Italian violinist Alessio Benvenuti has firmly established himself as one of the key figures in Philippine classical music scene as the concertmaster of the Manila Symphony Orchestra for the past year. His presence in the country is a testament of how music and culture has strengthened the bond between his home country Italy and his current home, the Philippines. And this bond has been championed by the the Philippine-Italian Association for more than six decades already.

In celebration of this friendship bridged by culture, the Philippine-Italian Association (PIA), in collaboration with the Manila Symphony Orchestra (MSO), and sponsored by Joel’s Place and 98.7 DZFE-FM The Master's Touch, presents the Filipino-Italian Chamber Music Concert on October 16, 2025, at the Asia Pacific College Auditorium located at 3 Humabon Place, Magallanes, Makati City.

The concert features Alessio Benvenuti to be joined on stage by violinist Alfonso Encina, violist Sara Gonzales, cellist Arnold Josue, double bassist Lawrence Palad, and pianist Mariel Ilusorio.

Now based in Makati, Benvenuti has had an extensive career performing in over 2,000 concerts in five continents since 1996. An interesting fact about him is that he has worked for the now defunct women's volleyball club in Perugia, Italy. He provided translations in line with the acquisition of foreign players for the club that included Olympic champions namely Mirka Francia who played for Cuba back then, Fofão and Walewska, both from Brazil. He is very thrilled that the Italian men's volleyball team successfully defended the World Championship trophy in Manila.

This one night only performance will feature masterpieces by various Filipino and Italian composers including Nicanor Abelardo, Antonio Molina, Antonino Buenaventura, Antonio Vivaldi, Tomaso Albinoni, and Gioachino Rossini.

Audiences can look forward to timeless works such as Rossini’s Sonata No. 1 for Strings in G Major, Tartini’s evocative Sonata in G Minor (Didone Abbandonata), and Ennio Morricone’s beloved film scores Cinema Paradiso and La Califfa.

Adding further variety are the spirited classic Funiculi Funicula and Debussy’s Piano Trio, 3rd Movement.

Complementing these European works are Filipino gems, including Constancio de Guzman’s patriotic Bayan Ko (arr. Orlando Dela Cruz), Nicanor Abelardo’s lyrical Cavatina, and Mike Velarde’s enduring Dahil Sa Iyo, as well as treasured folksongs such as Si Nanay Tatay Di Ko Babayaan (Bicolano), Ili-Ili Tulog Anay (Ilonggo), and Salidumay (Igorot).

Alessio Benvenuti and Sara Gonzales

This collaboration is made possible through the shared vision of the PIA, the MSO, Joel's Place and 98.7 DZFE-FM The Master's Touch.

Now celebrating its 63rd year, PIA continues to fulfill its mission of fostering unity between Filipino and Italian cultures through Italian language instruction, translation services, and social security and welfare assistance provided via the Patronato Acli.

Likewise, the MSO, one of the oldest orchestras in Asia and the longest surviving artistic institution in the Philippines, remains steadfast in its goal of discovering and nurturing Filipino musical talent, while making the appreciation and practice of music a vibrant part of Filipino life.

Joel’s Place, further complements this collaboration. A modern lifestyle grocerant seamlessly blends grocery, specialty, and dining concepts, offering a curated mix of local and international products. With its commitment to healthy living and distinctive shop and dine experiences, Joel’s Place brings a contemporary edge to the partnership while celebrating cultural exchange.

"The Master's Touch" on 98.7 DZFE-FM is the only classical music service in the country today and has delivered "masterworks and Master's Word" programs to its listening community since 1954. DZFE belongs to FEBC Philippines, a non-profit, non-commercial and non-denominational Evangelical media network serving Filipinos and their communities with biblical commentary and public service programs.

Tickets are priced at ₱1500 with 20% discount for Senior Citizens/PWD or 10% discount for PIA Members.

For ticket inquiries and reservations, please get in touch with Ms. Jan Dacera at 09954305118 and/or at this email address: philitalassociation@gmail.com

Through this landmark collaboration, PIA, MSO Joel's Place, and 98.7 DZFE-FM The Master's Touch reaffirm their commitment to bridging cultures and inspiring communities through the transformative power of music.

Follow the Philippine Italian Association at:

Facebook: The Philippine Italian Association

Instagram: @philitalian

Experience the Stories of Gaza Told Through Traditional Japanese Music this October

This October, The Japan Foundation, Manila (JFM) presents a unique chronicle of the conflict in Gaza as told through traditional Japanese music and storytelling.

Ikusamonogatari II - Stories of Battle in Gaza is a live narration of tales, reflecting the courage, sorrow, and struggles from the conflict-torn city of Gaza, accompanied by the timeless sounds of the Japanese Biwa and Koto instruments. Inspired by the classical style of the Heike Monogatari and its iconic recounting of the Battle of Dannoura, this performance reimagines the art of oral storytelling to reflect the modern-day struggles of the people of Gaza.

Performing the Ikusamonogatari, literally translated to “battle stories,” are two masters of traditional Japanese music, together with one of the Philippines’ foremost wordsmiths.

Hiroko Nagai

Hiroko Nagai pursued her mastery of the koto after training as a classical pianist. She is now part of the School of Social Sciences faculty at the Ateneo de Manila University, as well as an instructor at the College of Music at the University of the Philippines. Her work throughout the years has received recognition, including accolades from the Young Critics Circle and the Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences.

Keiko Yokota

Keiko Yokota is an actress and Chikuzen Biwa storyteller from Saitama, Japan. Formerly with the Black Tent Theater in Tokyo, she now works independently, performing with the traditional Japanese instrument biwa - both classical Heike pieces and original works in her distinctive style. Her music has taken her around the world, performing in France, Peru, Norway, and the Philippines.

The koto and biwa performed together is a unique occurrence, making this special performance singular and unforgettable; an opportunity to see two beautiful instruments in rare harmony.

Rody Vera

Completing the trio of performers is award winning author, playwright, theatre actor, and director Rody Vera. As a playwright, he has written at least twenty-five original plays, ten of which have won Palanca Awards. In 2015, he was awarded the Gawad Tanglaw ng Lahi by the Ateneo de Manila University, and In 2019, he received the Dangal ni Balagtas Award from the Commission on the Filipino Language in recognition of his contributions to Philippine literature.

Ikusamonogatari II - Stories of Battle in Gaza forges a connection between past and present, exploring the shared human experiences of grief, hope, and impermanence across cultures and generations. This performance is a tribute to the enduring human spirit and a reminder of the universal themes that bind us all. Because in a war, nobody truly wins—and peace is not just a dream, but our shared responsibility.

The series of performances will kick off in Manila and will continue in Davao and Cagayan de Oro during the following dates with venue partners Ateneo de Davao University and Xavier University-Ateneo de Cagayan:

20 October 2025 7:00PM Carlos P Romulo Auditorium, RCBC Plaza, Makati City

21 October 2025 4:30PM PETA Studio A&B, Quezon City

23 October 2025 10:00AM Ateneo de Davao University Finster Auditorium, Davao City

25 October 2025 10:30AM Xavier University Little Theater, Cagayan de Oro City

Admission to all performances is free. To register, visit the JFM official website at www.jfmo.org.ph.

Follow JFM’s official social media accounts for updates.