MCO Foundation re-launches Young Artists Development Program

The MCO Foundation, established in 1985 to promote classical and cultural arts, relaunches the Young Artists Development Program to provide young artists the experience through performance opportunities, endorsement, and exposure to a wider public.

The program has been offering master classes, free of charge to teachers and students with hopes that it provides learning opportunities, wisdom, and pointers from master artists and to enable young artists to hone their craft; and for music lovers to have a better understanding on music.

World renowned cellist Li Qin Wei (considered to be the next YoYo Ma) and pianist Carmencita Sipin Aspiras have, likewise, shared their knowledge and talents.

With theme “Three prodigies now, tomorrow’s music Masters”, this year’s Young Artists’ Series 2012 roster includes:

• Violinist Christian Tan, to perform on July 12, at the Filipinas Heritage Library. Tan is a consistent NAMCYA winner, the youngest musician to be invited to participate in the Asian Youth Orchestra’s 17-city Asian tour and was single-handedly awarded with the Artistic Director Achievement Award by the founder and the music director of the orchestra Richard Pontzious. He is currently under the tutelage of violinist Gina Medina and a member of Manila Symphony Orchestra.

• Soprano Elainne Vibal, to perform on July 19, is a prize winner in the 2009 Jovita Fuentes Vocal Competition, and a student of soprano Camille Lopez Molina. She had just finished a series of performances as Maria Clara in the Dulaang UP Production of De Leon’s “Noli Me Tangere” and as chorus member in MusicArtes’ production of Puccini’s “Madama Butterfly”.

• Flutist John Raymond Sarreal, to perform on July 26, recently received his Bachelor of Music at the University of the Philippine under the tutelage of Prof. Enrique Barcelo; and as well as under Antonio Maigue, Thomas Perrzoli, Bernard Goldberg and Hiroshi Matsushima. He also passed the Rome Music Festival Auditions to be part of the Rome Music Festival Orchestra.

Other special performances include: “Hommages: A Tribute to violinist Donnie Fernandez” on July 5, at the University of Makati, which will be opened to the public for free. With an exceptional talent, Donnie entered the prestigious Julliard School of Music at the age of nine, had an active performance career; and was the concert master of the US Army Orchestra at the time of her passing last year. This tribute will feature the children of Donnie Fernandez who are keeping their mother’s memory alive through music – Catherine F. Belleza, violinist; Isabel F. Belleza, flutist/pianist; Therese F. Bonoan, cellist; with collaborating artists Robert P. Alcala, pianist; Mo. Ruggiero Barbieri, conductor; and the Makati String Ensemble.

“Trio” (The Best of Chamber Music) will be held on July 20 at the Filipinas Heritage Library will feature three of the country’s finest artists today headed by pianist Mary Anne Espina (2008 Aliw Awardee), violinist Gina Medina (Concert Master of Manila Symphony Orchestra) and cellist Wilfredo Pasamba (considered one the finest Filipino cellists).

Tickets to the performances of Christian Tan, Elainne Vibal, and John Raymond Sarreal are at R500; and “Trio” tickets at R800 with discounts offered to students, faculty and senior citizens. For inquiries, call the MCOF Secretariat at 750-0768, 0920-9540053, Filipinas Heritage Library at 892-1801 or visit Ticketworld at 891-9999. This series is made possible through the additional support from National Commission for the Culture and the Arts, Alveo Land, City of Makati and the Friends of the Cultural Concerns of the Philippines.

Original source here