Cello prodigy Damodar Das Castillo has been making waves since he burst into the scene at age seven and has since become one of the most exciting musicians of his generation. As he soars to greater heights, Damodar performs at a send-off concert presented by the MiraNila House and Library happening on September 19, 2024, 6:00 PM at the Main Hall of the MiraNila Heritage House in Quezon City.
The concert, billed as Strings of Gold: Send-off Concert of Cellist Damodar Das Castillo, will also feature pianist Mariel Ilusorio accompanying him on MiraNila's newly restored Steinway 1904 grand piano. This grand piano, restored by Danilo Lumabi, features an unusual rococo-style feet and is considered rare in the Steinway & Sons catalog.
The duo will perform music by Johann Sebastian Bach, Frederic Chopin, Antonín Dvořák, Nicanor Abelardo, Henry Mancini, Richard Rogers, and Faye Miravite.
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| Damodar Das Castillo |
Damodar established his reputation at age seven. Guided and inspired by his cellist father, he joined the Manila Symphony Junior Orchestra as its youngest member in 2015, rising to become its most frequently featured soloist.
Among his notable performances in 2017 was one before heads of state at the ASEAN Summit and as a featured solo artist making his debut with the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra.
A two-time Ani ng Dangal Awardee in Music, Damodar went on to garner top prizes in prestigious international competitions, including The Young Musician in Tallinn, Estonia, in 2019; the International Anton Rubinstein Competition Cello Junior in Dusseldorf in March 2020; the Young Ludwig Youth Music Competition Age Group 2 in Berlin in September 2020; and the Musica Goritiensis International Music Competition Category C in Gorizia, Italy, in July 2021.
Damodar is currently enrolled in pre-college at the Mozarteum University Salzburg under Prof. Barbara Lübke-Herzl. He was recently offered a scholarship to further his studies under Prof. Valentin Radutiu at the Carl Maria von Weber College of Music in Dresden.
Beyond this prodigy’s classical studies is a teenager who dabbles in basketball, football, and table tennis. He enjoys playing death metal music on his electric cello and jamming with a jazz band. He seeks out universal truths while making his mark in classical music.
The cellist father, Alvin, said that his stewardship mainly lies in filling up competition applications and finalizing hotel bookings. "I just remind him about the competition date and I leave it to him to practice or not. I am not really that concerned if he wins or not. I am only concerned about how he will handle results of his preparations" (ABS-CBN News.)
Standard Insurance Company, under its Chairman Ernesto T. Echauz, has been Damodar’s constant supporter, gifting him with a cello handcrafted by Master Luthier George Gerl, a winner of the 2012 German Musical Instrument Prize.
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| Mariel Ilusorio |
Mariel Ilusorio is a virtuoso concert pianist and a seasoned music educator. She studied at the Juilliard School of Music in New York, the Oberlin Conservatory of Music in Ohio, and the State Academy of Music and Theater in Hannover. Top prizes came her way in piano competitions under the tutelage of Stella Brimo, followed by studies and performances in the United States, Germany, France, Switzerland, Italy, South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Indonesia. After twenty-six years, Ilusorio returned to the Philippines, tantalizing audiences with her virtuoso piano playing. She concurrently serves as an organizer of concerts and recitals and is in the faculty of the UST Conservatory of Music, St. Scholastica's College of Music, Philippine High School for the Arts, and Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Manila.
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| Steinway 1904 Grand Piano |
Only a limited number of seats, each priced at P1,500 can be availed through Robeen Manalo at 0927-2776335.
Pre-concert snacks & post-concert dinners are available at Bizu MiraNila with a 5% discount for ticket holders on the day of the concert, contact Jenn or Kim 0927-3015129 to reserve seats.
Guests are requested to kindly wear soft-soled shoes to be mindful to the heritage house's old floors.
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| MiraNila Heritage House and Library |
MiraNila Heritage House & Library is located at 26 Mariposa Street, Brgy. Bagong Lipunan, Crame, QC (find us on Facebook: MiraNila Heritage House and Library).
Strings of Gold is presented by the Benitez-Tirona MiraNila Foundation in partnership with Leon Gallery, Erehwon Center for the Arts and Gallery of The Blue Leaf with support from the Bizu Groupe.
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