Manila's best guitarists in Himig ng Cuerdas 3 concert at the Ayala Museum

The Guitar Friends and the Ayala Museum present Manila's best guitarists in GuitarNights: Himig ng Cuerdas 3 on April 4, 2019, 6:30 PM at the Ayala Museum.

Performing music from various genres this evening are the Cuerdas Quartet, Aaron and Iqui Guitar Duo, Ivar Fojas, and special guest, jazz guitarist Noli Aurillo.

Virtuoso youths on fire at NAMCYA's winners concert

Whoever said that classical music is now only for the old and that young people are no longer interested in it should’ve watched Konsyerto: Unang Hakbang. at the Cultural Center of the Philippines. He or she would’ve seen five promising young musicians who performed alongside the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra, were met by a very enthusiastic audience and therefore would’ve dispelled the notion that classical music doesn’t connect with today’s youth.

The five young musicians featured in this concert, namely Andrew Constantino, Aaron Rafael Aguila III, banduria player Nikki Zen, Mishael Romano, and Gabriel Paguirigan were top prize winners at the annual National Music Competitions for Young Artists (NAMCYA). 

The PPO, led by Herminigildo Ranera, set the tone with Carl Maria von Weber’s Overture from Der Freischütz, Op. 77, J. 277 and Gioacchino Rossini’s Overture from L'Italiana in Algeri to start each half of the concert.

Clarinetist Andrew performed the Allegro from Carl Maria von Weber’s Clarinet Concerto No. 2 in E flat major, Op. 74, J.118. He had a presence on stage as he stood tall and was in great command as he went through the fast and difficult passages in this movement. I am more relaxed and not nervous at all whenever he had solos at the UST Symphony Orchestra. And seeing him as a soloist performing a concerto, I was very much at ease that he would nail everything. After his performance, I felt bad and disappointed with myself for abandoning learning how to play the clarinet.

Guitarist Aaron slowed and quieted things down with the very nostalgic Adagio from Joaquín Rodrigo’s Concierto de Aranjuez. This movement may not be the flashiest but sometimes, the quiet moments are the most emotionally affecting. In fact, I heard some audience members getting stirred as the popular theme reached its dramatic crescendo. I for once, wished that Aaron was able to play the entire concerto so that not only he would be able to showcase a wider range of technique and emotions but would also satisfy my craving for a live performance of the complete piece.

My unfamiliarity wih Nikki and the rare sight of the banduria playing alongside the orchestra made her performance of Niccolo Paganini’s Moto Perpetuo, Op. 11 one of my most awaited moments of the concert. It was the shortest piece of the night among the featured soloists but the constant flurry of notes with almost no chance for her to rest throughout the entire time. All these factors resulted with the audience bursting into applause and cheers once she was done.

Violinist Misha may be tiny but he was quite the showman as he performed the Allegro molto appassionato from Felix Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto in E minor, Op. 64. Looking very confident and playing without any inhibitions, he, at times, even played to the audience. I’ve told myself prior to the concert that I am still not yet ready for another dose of this piece after hearing around five violinists play this during a NAMCYA competition some years back. It was the only thing that held me back from truly enjoying Misha’s performance but it also made me await which piece he would perform with an orchestra next. That’s how confident I am with his chances of doing a concerto again.

While Misha’s music has been overplayed Gabby’s Piano Concerto No. 3 in E major, Sz. 119, BB 127 by Béla Bartók is definitely not. In fact, it was my first time to see this piano concerto performed live. And as expected, Bartók is not everyone’s cup of tea: a Philippine High School for the Arts told me after the concert that he liked it while an elderly concert organizer said that she doesn’t like Bartók. As for me, this piece may not excite me that much but I’m always up for piano concertos beyond the Rach, Tchaik, Schumann, Chopin, and the rest of the usual repertoire. I also wished that Gabby, performing like the veteran that he is despite his young age, played the entire piece instead of just the two movements of what I think is the most digestible among Bartók’s three piano concertos.

All five young musicians performed in a manner that was beyond their years. But the awkwardness that exhibited while entering and exiting the stage, shaking the hands of the conductor and concertmaster and taking their bows, reminded me that they’re all still young and had very little concert experience. But all is forgiven as this concert is just their starting steps towards becoming the future of classical music in here.

More NAMCYA excitement is on the way as the National Final Competitions happen this November 21-26, 2017 at various CCP venues.

NAMCYA winners concert, stepping stone for young virtuosos

Not every young musician can have the opportunity of being accompanied by the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra at the Cultural Center of the Philippines. But that’s one (and probably the coolest) perks in winning the top prize at the National Music Competitions for Young Artists (NAMCYA) and five winners from the past two editions get to do just, as they take to the stage with the PPO conducted by Herminigildo Ranera in Konsyerto: Unang Hakbang this September 24, 2017, 5:00 PM at the Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo (CCP Main Theater), no less.

Founded in 1973, the NAMCYA has produced many artists who have become the pillars of the Philippine classical music scene throughout the decades. In recent years, the annual competition has become for me a good way to scout new and exciting talent and it's a thrill to be there somehow accompanying them every step of the way as they grow and mature as artists. And this upcoming concert is another opportunity as the featured soloists are a nice mix of new and familiar faces.

Guitarist Aaron Rafael Aguila III

Crazy as it seems, this upcoming concert will be my first time to see guitarist Aaron Rafael Aguila III, 1^st Prize winner 2016 Guitar Senior Category, perform on stage despite knowing him for quite some time now. In fact, it was only during the lunch with NAMCYA Secretary General Renato Lucas that I got to see him perform before my very eyes. I’ve first met Aaron not as a performing musician but as one of the organizers from Independent Philippine Art Ventures putting up the concert of Tomonori Arai and Duo Trussardi over at the College of Music in UP Diliman where he hails from. The very popular Adagio from Joaquín Rodrigo’s Concierto de Aranjuez will be Aaron’s piece for the concert.

Andrew Constantino, (1^st Prize winner 2015 Woodwind Clarinet Category C) first came to my attention back in 2013 when he took a masterclass under Marcel Luxen and earning praises from the visiting Belgian clarinetist. A year later, he was featured soloist with the PPO at the Sunsets at Makiling concert and had his first professional debut in MCO Foundation’s Young Artist Series at the Ayala Museum. Just recently, he had massive exposure on television as a finalist at Eat Bulaga’s Music Hero segment. In Unang Hakbang, Andrew will be back to his classical music roots with the Allegro from Carl Maria von Weber’s Clarinet Concerto No. 2 in E flat major, Op. 74, J.118.

A new face for me, Nikki Zen Obmasca, the 1^st Prize winner Solo Rondalla from 2012 and 2016, will be playing a transcription for the banduria of Niccolo Paganini’s Moto Perpetuo, Op. 11. Rondalla and solo banduria are not often featured outside the NAMCYA and occasional rondalla festivals, so this is a great chance for me to expand my music horizons beyond the usual western orchestral instruments. The rondalla tradition is very strong outside of Metro Manila, especially in the Quezon Province where Nikki comes from, and competitions for this category has seen busloads from the provinces make the trek to the CCP to lend support and cheer for their respective ensembles.

I can still recall the first time I saw Gabriel Allan Paguirigan back in 2010 at the Piano Teachers Guild of the Philippines’ Beethoven Concerto Competition Winners’ Concert wherein he placed 3rd. Since then, I haven’t heard him place aside from 1^st at any of the solo piano competitions that he has entered. His impressive winning streak, including 1^st Prize wins at 2011 Category B and 2015 Senior Category at NAMCYA, has resulted in a handful of performances with both the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra and Manila Symphony Orchestra. As the most veteran among the soloists, Gabby will be playing two movements, Adagio religioso and Allegro vivace, from the rarely heard Piano Concerto No. 3 in E major, Sz. 119, BB 127 by Béla Bartók.

During last year’s competition, Gerard Salonga gave me the heads up about Mishael Romano who has been having violin lessons with his US based teacher via Skype. There was much buzz around him, being virtually unknown here in Metro Manila. But his 1^st Prize winning performance at the 2016 Junior Strings category proved that the hype is real. And his upcoming rendition of Allegro molto appassionato from Felix Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto in E minor, Op. 64 will be one of the most awaited portions of the concert.

“All I can say is that I'm really excited. And since it's my first time being accompanied by an orchestra, I don't know what to expect. But, for sure, I'll enjoy it”, says Mishael when I asked him what his thoughts are about making his debut with an orchestra.

Just like the title of the upcoming concert suggests, this is just the early steps for these musicians. This also marks as a teaser and a prelude to the upcoming NAMCYA National Final Competitions happening on November 21-26, 2017 at various CCP venues. And then the countdown begins as NAMCYA celebrates 45 years in 2018.