Adrian Ong: A young violinist's philosophical love for music

Adrian Ong

Falling in love with music wasn’t a watershed moment for 24-year-old violin prodigy Adrian Ong. His affection for the art gradually blossomed after watching a televised violin performance when he was 4 years old. Immediately enamored, Ong’s journey began simply: he requested violin lessons as a hobby.

“I tried swimming and taekwondo when we couldn’t find a teacher for me. By the time we found one through a family friend, I was already 9 years old,” Ong recalled. Thankfully, his parents, Jeanne, and Alan Ong, supported his childhood dream, despite leaning towards dentistry.

Ong’s love for the art of music grew stronger after becoming a scholar at the Philippine High School for the Arts (PHSA) in Makiling. Later, he graduated with honors from the Interlochen Arts Academy in Michigan under another scholarship. Ong also received a merit-based scholarship from the Mannes School of Music, where he graduated with honors.

Under mentors Mellissa Geronimo Esguerra, Gina Medina-Perez, Paul Sonner, Lewis Kaplan, and Yibin Li, Ong furthered his studies. He also attended masterclasses with master musicians Ilya Kaler, Almita Vamos, Charles Castleman, Philippe Quint, and Thanos Adamopoulos. Besides polishing his musical instinct over the years, Ong learned to fall in love with every piece he played: “Whatever I’m playing is my favorite. Currently, I’m practicing a waltz composed by Eugène Ysaÿe, so it’s now one of my favorites.”

The intended emotions of the composer make the melodies memorable for Ong. He added, “I take note of the emotions, even the humor or the campiness of the song.”

Because of the emotions behind the compositions, music inevitably transforms people. Ong always adored how music is an invisible art form that brings people together. “It’s based on feelings and what you can express through sound,” he lamented. Through playing the violin, he witnesses stories as told by composers.

“It’s interesting how I can peek into the composer’s life. I also imagine colors as I’m playing because of the story behind the song,” Ong shared. Partaking in every composition’s story, Ong would see colors or moods, depending on the sound he played. Music is heard by the ear, but somehow every harmony opens his eyes.

Having his orchestral debut with the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra (PPO) at the age of 17, Ong plowed through performance after performance. In May 2023, he played at Carnegie Hall in New York, achieving what seemed to be every classical musician’s dream. “I had my own show. It was very fulfilling,” he expressed. He even played alongside Filipino-American world-renowned pianist Victor Asunción, making the performance all the more meaningful.

Grateful was an understatement as to how Ong felt. He also found the experience insightful, solidifying Carnegie Hall as the highlight of his career after being declared one of the scholars of the Cultural Center of the Philippines’ International Scholarship Program. “It’s really very inspiring to play, especially with this generation as your audience,” expressed Ong.

After performing with fellow CCP scholars Aidan Baracol and Mark Rocas at the Young People’s Concert in 2023, Ong looked forward to the future of classical music in the Philippines. He found it easy to connect with the concert-goers, disproving the age-old misconception that classical music is too complex for young audiences.

Ong elaborated, “It’s easy to understand as long as you’re willing to listen. You just have to keep an open mind.”

Adrian Ong in his Carnegie Hall debut in 2023

As part of the CCP’s International Scholarship Program, which provides financial support for academic and artistic learners who have achieved excellence in their respective art forms, Ong decided to make the most out of the opportunity. He would watch concerts and attend masterclasses for other instruments.

For Ong, the scholarship opened more avenues for him to learn beyond the violin. “Each instrument requires a different view of music-making. Different instruments have different philosophies behind them,” he explained.

Slowly building a name for himself internationally, Ong wanted to prioritize his homeland first. He attended Helping Through Music: A Benefit Concert for Childhope PH and Museo Pambata in 2023, where an instrument petting zoo was held.

Ong recalled feeling indescribable joy upon seeing children express interest in the violin: “I want to share what I learned here in the Philippines, with its next generation,” he declared. Following through on this promise, he began coaching and collaborating with the Philippine Suzuki Youth Orchestra, alongside Herrick Ortiz.

But Ong never really expected to get into PHSA, where his love for music finally influenced his career path. By the time he received the news, he was already enrolled in another university. Still, he followed his heart and immediately transferred. Playing the violin may have started as a hobby for Ong, but with each performance sharpening his distinct sound, his journey as a violinist became clearer.

“I think this is what I’ll be doing for the rest of my life,” Ong said, smiling with fond certainty.

Flutist Mark Kenedy Rocas, violinist Adrian Nicolas Ong, pianist Aidan Ezra Baracol to perform at PPO's concert at Samsung Performing Arts Center

Aiming to introduce the young (and the not so young) to the wonders of the orchestra and orchestral music, the Cultural Center of the Philippines presents the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra in the PPO Young People's Concert happening on July 7, 2023, 4:00 PM at the Samsung Performing Arts Theater.

The concert will feature a trio of CCP music scholars namely flutist Mark Kenedy Rocas, violinist Adrian Nicolas Ong, and pianist Aidan Ezra Baracol performing with the PPO under the baton of Herminigildo Ranera.

The program includes Jacques Offenbach’s Orpheus in the Underworld Overture, the first two movements of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Flute Concerto No. 2 in D major, K. 314, Maurice Ravel’s Tzigane, and Sergei Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor, Op. 18.

The three featured soloists have been making their mark in the music scene in recent years with Bacarol making a splash during the PPO's 50th Anniversary Jubilee Gala last May. Ong last shared the stage with the PPO at A French-Ship Concert held on July 2022. Rocas, on the other hand, has been performing as Assistant Principal Flute with the UP Symphony Orchestra.

The PPO Young People's Concert marks the orchestra's debut at the Samsung Performing Arts Theater. Admission to the concert is for free with tickets to be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis at the Samsung Performing Arts Theater main lobby on July 7, 2023 starting at 2:30 PM.

PPO stage comeback in French-Ship concert

Adrian Nicolas Ong, Kyongmin Nam Fiel, Michaël Cousteau,
and the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra 

When the final somber measures of Tchaikovsky's 6th Symphony faded into silence at the February 2020 season concert of the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra, no one in the audience expected that this would be the last thing they would hear before everything was brought to a close by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Since then, the orchestra had to make do with online performances in their respective living spaces. When restrictions eased a bit, members were able to perform as small groups in online recitals. And of late, the entire orchestra was able to tour parts of Luzon via outreach programs wherein they played light classical fare mixed with pop pieces that appealed to the general public.

Finally after two years and almost five months, the PPO find themselves back inside the Cultural Center of the Philippines Main Theater, flexing their muscles performing an all classical program. All this thanks to A French-Ship Concert, a music event in celebration of the 75th anniversary of Philippine-French diplomatic relations.

Michaël Cousteau and the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra

Under the direction of Michaël Cousteau, no longer a stranger to the PPO owing to previous guest conducting stints in 2009, 2002, and 2019, the orchestra showed no signs of rust as they breezed through Claude Debussy's dreamy Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune/Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun. The late addition of Antonio Molina's Hatinggabi to the program featuring violinist Adrian Nicolas Ong also posed no problem for the PPO.

But the biggest drama of the night went to the performance of Camille Saint-Saëns' Cello Concerto No. 1 in A minor, Op. 33. There was a scramble to find a new cellist when Giancarlo Gonzalez, the previously announced soloist, tested positive for COVID-19. Finding a replacement for a concert happening in a matter of days was no easy feat. Some approached cellists declined but someone eventually stepped up to the plate. And that someone is Kyongmin Nam Fiel.

Hailing from South Korea, Nam-Fiel is no longer a stranger to the French Embassy's events. She has performed with her now husband Dingdong Fiel live scoring La Passion de Jeanne D’Arc/The Passion of Joan of Arc, France's entry at the 2018 International Silent Film Festival and at Après un rêve, the opening of the online edition of Les Jeudis culturels in 2020.

Nam Fiel's performance of the Saint-Saëns concerto, more reserved and less flashy, kept those who were aware of the circumstances figuratively holding their breaths and at the edge of their seats considering that this piece had no break in between movements. There was an almost palpable collective sigh of relief once she got through her final notes. Debuting with the PPO as a last minute replacement is no easy feat, but Nam Fiel rose to the occasion and has made this concert a truly memorable one for the books.

Kyongmin Nam Fiel, Michaël Cousteau, and Adrian Nicolas Ong

The final piece, Maurice Ravel's Ma mère l'Oye/Mother Goose, featured a greater variety of moods that stretched the PPO further. With a few tentative solos and some passages that could have been tighter, the orchestra showed that they have yet to return to peak form. But one has to remember that this was the PPO's first concert with a full classical program in almost two and a half years. They may have scraped of the rust, but they have yet to gain the endurance and that consistency that a full concert demands.

Overall, this was a fitting return of the PPO to the CCP Main Theater. This concert led to questions about the orchestra's 2022-2023 concert season. With the search for the new principal conductor/music director still ongoing, the upcoming season will feature a rotation of guest conductors. It will not be surprising if we see Michaël Cousteau have another return engagement with the PPO as well as Adrian Nicolas Ong and Kyongmin Nam Fiel to be featured soloists once again but under more favorable circumstances this time.

A French-Ship Concert

A French-Ship Concert in celebration of the 75th Anniversary of Philippine-French diplomatic relations was presented by the Embassy of France to the Philippines, the Cultural Center of the Philippines, and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts.

Pianist Raul Sunico, violinist Adrian Ong team up in fundraising recital

The Friends for Cultural Concerns of the Philippines (FCCP) presents pianist and Steinway artist Raul Sunico and violinist Adrian Nicolas Ong in a fundraising online recital this February 18, 2021, 2:00 PM and 7:00 PM.

A student of Mannes school of music in New York, Adrian Ong and Sunico will perform a selection of music by Fritz Kreisler, Jules Massenet, Franz Von Vecsey, Antonio Molina, Manuel Ponce, and Astor Piazzolla.

This performance, benefitting Filipino performing arts students, will also have the special participation of Martin Lopez and guitarist Lance Capitan.

A minimum donation of P1,000 will serve as a ticket to the performance. Donations can be deposited to FCCP’s Metrobank account number 2923292800453. Transaction slips must be e-mailed to fccpoffice@yahoo.com.ph. After completing the transaction, the link to the concert will be sent via e-mail.

ABS-CBN Philharmonic Orchestra puts spotlight on young artists in upcoming concert

Catch two of the country's promising young, music talents, pianist Jet Stephen Chong and violinist Adrian Nicolas Ong, perform with the ABS-CBN Philharmonic Orchestra under the baton of Gerard Salonga in The Young Soloists, a concert happening on July 20, 2019, 7:00 PM at the Hyundai Hall, Areté at the Ateneo de Manila University campus.

Pieces to be performed are Alexander Glazunov's Chopiniana, Op. 46, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No. 1 in B flat minor, Op. 23 with Jet as soloist, and Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 35, with Adrian as soloist, and Sergei Rachmaninoff's Vocalise, Op. 34 No. 14.

Adrian is headed to New York, USA to study at the Mannes School of Music (The New School) under the tutelage of Professor Aaron Rosand and Christina Kimmh Rosand. Jet, on the other hand, is Singapore bound to study at the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music under the tutelage of Professor Albert Tiu.

For tickets, contact Eric Bolante at (0998)969-7175 or Kat Berber at (0998)969-7176 or contact 415-2272 local 2411.