CCP’s Kanto Kultura launches, opens online music competition

The Cultural Center of the Philippine recently launched Kanto Kultura, a new series highlighting Philippine culture and the arts, as well as the Filipino artists who create such works.

Ushering the launch of this endeavor, the music video of Bangon! by the band BRWN, in collaboration with the CCP and the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra will be released on February 23, 2021. The track is described as a battle cry, a call for every Filipino to rise up to the challenges of this year. Arranged by guitarist Migs Raneses, Bangon! features Philippine ethnic instruments and Cordillera chants.

Apart from the music video release, Kanto Kultura also launched Kanto Canta, an online band/music competition that aims to discover new talents and also original works of music that incorporate traditional/indigenous musical instruments.

The competition is open to bands with members who natural-born Filipinos, 18 years old and above, and either residing in the Philippines or not. Bands entering should have no existing professional and commercial entertainment contracts. Top 15 finalists get to win prizes worth P150,000.

Submissions for the first quarter of Kanto Canta opened on February 20, 2021 and will end on March 20, 2021. Detailed rules of the competition can be found at the CCP Website and also at Kanto Kultura’s Facebook page.

Kanto Kultura is spearheaded by CCP Board of Trustees’ Nikki Junia, Stanley Seludo, and Dr. Jaime Laya with the support of CCP President Arsenio J. Lizaso.

PPO, singer/songwriter Toto Sorioso collaborate in latest PPO Spotlight performance

The Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra presents the second installment of the PPO Spotlight: Virtual Pocket Performances streaming online starting on February 19, 2021, 8:00 PM at the various social media pages/channels of the Cultural Center of the Philippines and of the PPO.

The upcoming episode will feature an appearance by singer/songwriter Toto Sorioso playing the guitar with violinist Jose Carlo Tuazon in a performance of the Cyndi Lauper classic True Colors composed by Billy Steinberg.

Also included in the program are Stevie Wonder’s Lately to be played by trumpet player Melvin Miranda. Alan Menken’s Part of Your World from the Little Mermaid to be performed by violinist Ayesa Cruz and harpist Jane Banta.

The episode wraps up with Jose Mari Chan’s Hahanapin Ko interpreted by a string quartet composed of violinists Christian Tan and Ma. Angelica Uson, violist Ferdinand Dumlao, and cellist Herrick Ortiz.

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.

Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra launches PPO Spotlight online pocket concert series

The Cultural Center of the Philippines launches the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra’s The PPO Spotlight: Virtual Pocket Performances, a series of online performances by members of the orchestra, premiering on February 12, 2021, 8:00 PM at the Facebook pages of the CCP and the PPO and also at the YouTube channel of the CCP.

The inaugural pocket concert will feature the PPO Cello Section performing Georg Goltermann’s Romance, Op. 119 No. 1. Flautist Gary Silangcruz of Ikaw at Ako will play by Moira dela Torre and Jason Marvin while horn player Ernani Pascual will perform Go the Distance from Hercules by Alan Menken. Violist Rey Casey Concepcion caps the inaugural online series with Nakikinig ka ba sa Akin by the band Ben & Ben.

The first performance of the series will be available for viewing for one week, February 12-19, 2021.

The PPO Spotlight is the latest series of online performances by PPO members following the Music for Healing: PPO Quarantine Pocket Concert Series and PPO Chamber Music Concert Series.