The MCO Foundation, established in 1985, is as a
non-stock, non-profit cultural organization dedicated to the promotion of
classical and cultural arts. One of MCOF’s programs supports the young artists
through its "Young Artists Development Program" which provides our
young artists the experience through performance opportunities, endorsement,
and exposure to a wider public. Oftentimes, the recitals of young artists under
our aegis have become the artists’ official debut as an artist. The MCOF has
featured numerous young talents who are doing well now in their respective
careers.
The program has been offering Masterclasses,
free of charge to teachers and students with hopes that it provides learning
opportunities, wisdom, and pointers from master artists and to enable our young
artists to hone their craft; and for our music lovers to have a better
understanding on music. We have shared with the community world renowned
cellist Li Qin Wei (considered to be the next YoYo Ma) and pianist Carmencita
Sipin Aspiras. This annual program is made possible with the support of our
partners Filipinas Heritage Library, Lyric Piano and BusinessWorld.
Every year, the MCOF chooses some of the most
outstanding and promising young artists, and invite them to perform in a
recital series. The invitation is based on the artists’ talent, seriousness in
honing his talent, attitude, and willingness to work and learn to hone his
artistry. We conduct interviews with teachers, friends, colleagues and the
artists’ themselves. With the Young Artists Development Program, the MCOF wishes
to develop Filipino artists that will inspire them to represent the Philippines
in the field of international classical music arena and help uplift the music
standards in the country.
The Young Artists' Series 2012 roster of artists
with the theme- “Three prodigies now, tomorrow’s music Masters”:
• Violinist Christian Tan on July 12, 2012 at
the Filipinas Heritage Library. He is a consistent NAMCYA winner, youngest
musician to be invited to participate in the Asian youth Orchestra's 17 cities
Asian tour and was single-handedly awarded with the Artistic Director
Achievement Award by the founder and the music director of the orchestra - Mr.
Richard Pontzious. He is currently under the tutelage of violinist Gina Medina
and a member of Manila Symphony Orchestra.
• Soprano Elainne Vibal on July 19, 2012 at the
Filipinas Heritage Library. She is a prize winner in the 2009 Jovita Fuentes
Vocal Competition, and a student of soprano Camille Lopez Molina. She had just
recently finished a series of performances as Maria Clara in the highly
acclaimed 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 on July 26, 2012
at the Filipinas Heritage Library. He is another consistent NAMCYA winner, and
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.
Apart from our young talents in concert, we will
have special performances. To kick off our program for the young, we will have:
• “Hommages “: A Tribute to violinist Donnie
Fernandez on July 5, 2012 at the University of Makati. Donnie is an MCO friend,
featured once as soloist with the Manila Chamber Orchestra; and a revered
violinist whose demise at a young age is greatly missed by friends and
colleagues. With an exceptional talent, Donnie entered the prestigious Julliard
School of Music at the age of 9, 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.
To give our audience a taste of the best of
Chamber music, we will present some of the mentors of our young artists in:
• “Trio” (The Best of Chamber Music) which will
be held on July 20, 2011 at the Filipinas Heritage Library will feature three
of the country's finest artists today headed by pianist Mary Anne Espina (2008
Alilw Awardee), violinist Gina Medina (Concert Master of Manila Symphony
Orchestra) and cellist Wilfredo Pasamba (considered one the finest Filipino
cellists).
"Hommages" will be opened to the
public for free. Tickets to the performances of Christian Tan, Elainne Vibal,
and John Raymond Serreal are at P 500.00; and "Trio" tickets at Php
800.00 with discounts offered to students, faculty and senior citizens.
For inquiries, please call the MCOF Secretariat
at 750-0768, 0920-954-0053, Filipinas Heritage Library at 892-1801 or visit
Ticketworld at 891-9999. This series is made possible through 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.
