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.
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| Guitarist Aaron Rafael Aguila III |
Crazy as it seems, this upcoming concert
will be my first time to see guitarist Aaron Rafael Aguila III, 1st
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, (1st
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 1st 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 1st at any of the solo piano competitions
that he has entered. His impressive winning streak, including 1st
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 1st 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.
