Holy Angels University, Boscorale bag Musica FEUROPA 7 titles

Congratulations to the Musica FEUROPA 7 Winners!

High School Category

1^st Place Boscorale

2^nd Place UP Rural High School Chorale

3^rd Place St. Scholastica's Academy Marikina High School Glee Club

Open Category

1^st Place Holy Angels University Chorale

2^nd Place UPLB Choral Ensemble

3^rd Place UST Accountancy Chamber Singers

1st Place Open Category Holy Angels University

With the smallest of margins, the Holy Angel University Chorale finally emerged as the Open Category champion of Musica FEUROPA 7, edging out by just six tenths of a point (0.6) the defending champion UPLB Choral Ensemble. Newcomers to the competition, UST Accountancy Chamber Singers placed third, coincidentally also just six tenths of a point behind the second placer.

At the High School Category, Boscorale asserted its dominance by winning their fourth title in five years. This latest victory adds to their wins from 2011, 2012 and 2014. Placing second in this category is UP Rural High School Chorale while St. Scholastica’s Academy, Marikina High School Glee Club got third place.

The competition was indeed very close and after all the Open Category choirs performed, it was difficult to pick out the winner. Honestly, it was far easier for me to pick the choirs whom I think would not place at the top three rather than the other way around. This year, the Open Category became truly open, allowing members of all ages to participate. This resulted in the inclusion of the Quezon City Performing Arts Children's Choir composed of members who are too young to join the High School Category but still competed with the big guns at the Open Category. And they managed to go the distance, not only qualifying for the finals but eventually landing in fourth position, just barely out of the podium.

1st Place High School Category Boscorale

The competition, held over two days at the FEU Auditorium at the Far Eastern University, saw 14 (Second Chronicle Singers, The Templar Singing Ambassadors, ICP Charismatic Chorale, University of Asia and the Pacific Chorale, Philippine Camerata Singers, UST Accountancy Chamber Singers, SJB Chorale, Adamson University Chorale, De La Salle University, The Magnificat Singers, TIP Choral Society, Our Lady of the Pentecost Singers, Quezon City Performing Arts Children's Choir, University of Makati Chorale) entries from the Open Category battle it out for the semis to be among the 8 to join seeded choirs UPLB Choral Ensemble and Holy Angels University at the finals.

The High School Category had 7 (Himig Roseña, UP Rural High School Chorale, Imus Institute Pitch Choir, Benigno Ninoy Aquino High School Chorale, St. Scholastica's Academy Marikina High School Glee Club, Ramon Magsaysay High School Chorale, Boscorale) entries competing for the title.

Musica FEUROPA 7, the only choral competition in the country supported by the European Union, was presented by the Far Eastern University’s President’s Committee on Culture and the Delegation of the European Union to the Philippines, and is part of the Viva Europa cultural calendar.

Darren Espanto, on course to be youngest concert headliner in MoA Arena

May 29, 2015, 8:00 PM

Mall of Asia Arena

SM Mall of Asia Complex

Pasay City

Darren Espanto, The Voice Kids runner up and the hottest young recording artist in the country today, continues the grand celebration of his 14th birthday with a concert entitled Darren Espanto D Birthday Concert on May 29, 2015, 8:00 PM at the Mall of Asia Arena. With this show, Darren becomes the youngest act to headline a concert at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Darren Espanto

Joining Darren in his concert are The Voice of the Philippines Season 1 winner Mitoy Yonting, Season 2’s winner Jasoy Dy and runner-up Alisah Bonaobra, TV host Robi Domingo, dance group G-Force and the recently crowned winner of Asia’s Got Talent, El Gamma Penumbra. Soc Molina serves as the concert’s music director.

At a recent press conference held at C3 Events place, members of the press tried to squeeze out from Darren the songs he has prepared for the concert. But he kept mum about his set list, not spilling out whatever surprises he has in store on that night. He hinted though that he’ll have dance productions, mash ups and medleys in tribute to some songwriters, and that he will do on stage something that he has never done before. One thing that he willingly spilled was that the audience members in this concert will be the first to view the music video of Stuck which is a track included in his debut album Darren that was recently certified as a gold record. Upon the prodding of the press, Darren gave everyone a preview of the concert by performing Stuck.

Darren Espanto D Birthday Concert is presented by Talk N’ Text, Spinnr and MCA Music in cooperation with Brood Shoes distributed by Sports House. Special thanks to MUM Make-up Madness, Bangs Prime Salon by Tony and Jackey, Aficionado German Perfumes, C3 Events Place, Cravings, Clarence, Erase Certified Beauty, Eton International School and Placenta. With media partners: ABS-CBN, MYX, MOR 101.9, 106.7 Energy FM and Mellow 94.7.

Ticket prices:

P4500 VVIP

P4000 VIP

P3500 Patron

P2500 Lower Box

P1200 Upper Box

P400 General Admission

+applicable service charges

For VVIP tickets:

Ms. Liza Ong (0998) 974-1153, liza.ong@umusic.com

For inquiries:

SM Tickets 470-2222

Pianist Lorenzo Medel takes on adventurous program in recital

May 23, 2015, 7:30 PM

Brother Rafael Donato Center for the Performing Arts

La Salle Greenhills

Featuring:

Lorenzo Medel, piano

Jeline Oliva, violin

Programme:

Domenico Scarlatti

     Sonata in E, K.380, L.23 Cortège

Ludwig van Beethoven

     Piano Sonata No. 14 in C sharp minor, Op. 27 No. 2 Moonlight

Frédéric Chopin

     Étude in C minor, Op. 10 No. 12 Revolutionary

     Étude in G flat major, Op. 10 No. 5 Black Keys

     Étude in A minor, Op. 25 No. 11 Winter Wind

Claude Debussy

     Préludes Book 2 No. 12 Feux d'artifice (Fireworks), L 123

Nikolai Myaskovsky

     Piano Sonata in F sharp minor, Op. 13 No. 2

Tomaso Vitali

     Chaconne in G minor

Antonio Vivaldi

     Allegro non molto from Concerto No. 2 in G minor, Op. 8, RV 315, L’estate (Summer)

     Allegro non molto from Concerto No. 4 in F minor, Op. 8, RV 297, L’inverno (Winter)

Jules Massenet

     Meditation from Thaïs

Manuel de Falla arr. by Fritz Kreisler

     Danse espagnole

After finishing his sophomore year at the Eastman School of Music in New York, pianist Lorenzo Medel returns to the country for a one night recital billed as billed as A Classical Piano Adventure with Lorenzo Medel happening on May 23, 2015, 7:30 PM at the Brother Rafael Donato Center for the Performing Arts in La Salle Greenhills.

For this evening, Lorenzo’s pieces include the Piano Sonata No. 14 in C sharp minor, Op. 27 No. 2 more popularly known as the Moonlight Sonata by Ludwig van Beethoven, a trio of Études (Étude in C minor, Op. 10 No. 12 Revolutionary, Étude in G flat major, Op. 10 No. 5 Black Keys, and Étude in A minor, Op. 25 No. 11 Winter Wind) by Frédéric Chopin, Préludes Book 2 No. 12 Feux d'artifice (Fireworks), L 123 by Claude Debussy and the rarely performed Piano Sonata in F sharp minor, Op. 13 No. 2 by Nikolai Myaskovsky.

The concert will also include the special participation of young violinist Jeline Oliva who will join Enzo in performing Tomaso Vitali’s Chaconne in G minor, a couple of movements (the Allegro non molto from No. 2 in G minor, Op. 8, RV 315, L’estate/Summer and Concerto No. 4 in F minor, Op. 8, RV 297, L’inverno/Winter) from Antonio Vivaldi’s Le Quattro Stagioni/The Four Seasons, Jules Massenet’s Meditation from Thaïs, and Manuel de Falla’s Danse espagnole as arranged by Fritz Kreisler.

Lorenzo was born in Manila in 1995 and began his piano studies in 2006 at age 10 under Prof. Mauricia Borromeo of the University of the Philippines, College of Music. He is currently into his Bachelor of Music, Major in Piano Performance at the Eastman School of Music where he will be an incoming junior this September 2015.

In the seven years Lorenzo was with Prof. Borromeo (2006-2013), he had clearly established his piano skills nationally, winning the top prizes of our country’s more prestigious piano competitions, like the NAMCYA (National Music Competitions for Young Artists), PTGP (Piano Teacher’s Guild of the Philippines), UP College of Music and the National Steinway Piano Competition. He had twelve public solo recitals by age sixteen, three of which were full concertos with assistance from the Manila Symphony Orchestra. The recitals received excellent reviews both from Manila’s press and local piano aficionados.

For tickets and inquiries:

(0917) 891-7979, 716-1854, enzopiano@yahoo.com