MCO Foundation Re-launches its Young Artists Development Program 2012

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.