Thursday, October 01, 2026

MSO premieres Ryan Cayabyab opus, welcomes cellist Camille Thomas


There is so much to be thankful for as the Manila Symphony Orchestra presents the fifth concert of its Centennial Season happening on October 22, 2026, 7:30 PM at the Proscenium Theater in Rockwell, Makati.

Topping the reasons to be grateful in this concert is the World Premiere performance of Pasasalamat for choir and orchestra by National Artist for Music Ryan Cayabyab and National Artist for Literature Virgilio S. Almario.

Ryan Cayabyab

Commissioned by the MSO for its centennial, Pasasalamat reflects on the meaning of gratitude not only as a personal feeling, but as a responsibility to others and to the community. Almario’s text considers the values that shape a shared life, from compassion and respect for differences to freedom, justice, culture, knowledge, and the willingness to accept criticism and change. At its heart is the idea that being human is not simply a given, but something we become through our choices and actions.

For the MSO, the work is particularly fitting, offering an opportunity to reflect on the responsibilities that come with being the longest surviving institution that has been part of Philippine musical life and history for a century. The text will be brought to life by MSO's featured choir, the Polytechnic University of the Philippines Bagong Himig Serenata.

Camille Thomas

Another reason to be thankful is that Franco-Belgian Camille Thomas will finally grace the Philippine stage after a long five year delay. Her originally announced performance with the MSO scheduled back in January 2021 was among the numerous cancellations brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Known for her expressive performances and technical artistry, Thomas is an exclusive Deutsche Grammophon artist since 2017 who has performed with major orchestras and conductors across Europe, Asia, and the Americas. Her recording Voice of Hope, released in partnership with UNICEF, reflects her belief in music as a means of creating connection and inspiring hope.

PUP Bagong Himig Serenata

Apart from Pasasalamat, the evening's program will also include Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s Variations on a Rococo Theme, Op. 33 with Thomas as the featured soloist and Gabriel Fauré's Requiem in D minor, Op. 48. The award-wining PUP Bagong Himig Serenata joins the orchestra in the performance of the Cayabyab/Almario and Faure pieces while MSO Music Director conducts.

Marlon Chen

Cellist Camille Thomas with the MSO is presented by the Manila Symphony Orchestra Foundation, Inc. and Standard Insurance, co-presented by EastWest Bank and DENZA Alabang by ACMobility Premium Dealership Inc. and is sponsored by the Embassy of France to the Philippines, Grand Hyatt Manila, National Performing Arts Grantee, and SM Hotels and Conventions with special thanks to JTI ALL IN, The Laufey Foundation, Austrian Embassy Manila, HSTL Foundation, EON Group, 98.7 DZFE-FM | The Master's Touch, and The Manila Times.

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