Makati City, Philippines — This coming February 18, 2023, internationally acclaimed and Grammy-nominated conductor Darrell Ang will perform at the Ayala Museum presented by Henrietta Sydeco Tayengco-Limjoco Foundation for Piano. The Singapore-born orchestra conductor will lead the prestigious Manila Symphony Junior Orchestra in a stirring performance.
The concert, which also features Filipino artists Carmencita Sipin Aspiras on the piano and Andrew Costantino on the clarinet, is entitled “Keep the Music Playing: Three Generations of Filipino Artists” and will begin at 7:00 PM. The program, which would benefit HSTL Foundation for Filipino Pianists and Childhope Philippines, would comprise of compositions by classical composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. These are Symphony No. 40 in G minor, K. 550; Clarinet Concerto in A major, K622; and Piano Concerto No. 20 in D minor, KV.466.
On Darrell Ang
Darrell Ang has garnered international acclaim, not only as the artistic director and chief conductor of the Sichuan Orchestra of China, one of the top orchestras in China; he also lends his musical genius as guest conductor for other top orchestras in Asia. Throughout his career, Ang has received praise for his distinctive creativity, intelligence, and unequaled brilliance on the international stage and in the music industry. To cite a few examples, he made his San Francisco Opera debut during Bright Sheng’s Dream of the Red Chamber’s seven performances in August. He was also hired to direct the Lunar New Year celebrations of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, as well as the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra.
In addition to serving as the Sichuan Symphony Orchestra’s artistic director and chief conductor, Ang also enjoys guest conducting the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra, NHK Symphony Orchestra, National Symphony Orchestra of Taiwan, Copenhagen Philharmonic, London Philharmonic, Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin, St. Petersburg, and Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra, to name a few.
Additionally, the renowned conductor has won several awards and honors; which include but are not limited to winning the esteemed 50th Besancon International Conducting Competition, Arturo Toscanini International Conducting Competition, and Antonio Pedrotti International Competition. In 2015, he received the French distinction of Chevalier dans l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres, and his recording of a Chinese composer for Naxos garnered a nomination for the Grammy Awards, the top accolade in the music business.
On the Three Generations of Filipino Musicians
The legendary pianist Carmencita Sipin Aspiras has a deep affection for chamber music. She was selected as the soloist to play the Mozart Piano Concerto No. 20 in D Minor K. 466 at the UP Christmas Concert at just 11 years old. Aspiras and pianist Mitsuko Uchida were given the opportunity to perform on the instruments of Beethoven, Brahms, Haydn, Mozart, and Schumann, at the Hofburg Museum of Musical Instruments in Vienna one day through a friend.
Andrew Constantino, on the other hand, began his musical journey when he was seven years old and was taught how to play the clarinet by his father. He started performing as a soloist at local performances at the age of nine. At the University of Sto. Tomas (UST) Music of Conservatory, he received a Bachelor of Music degree in Clarinet Performance. He graduated with honors (cum laude) and received the Benavides Award for Outstanding Achievement.
Last but not the least, the Manila Symphony Junior Orchestra is the internationally awarded youth orchestra program of the Manila Symphony Orchestra Foundation, Inc. Under the direction of Professor Jeffrey Solares, it is comprised of the most talented MSO Music Academy students as well as additional qualified students between the ages of 9 and 18. The ensemble includes a number of students from the Philippine High School for the Arts (PHSA).
On “Keep the Music Playing: Three Generations of Filipino Artists” Performance
Carmencita Sipin Aspiras, Andrew Constantino, and the Manila Symphony Junior Orchestra, as well as Ang, will perform together on a special night for a benefit concert for the HSTL Foundation for Filipino Pianists and Childhope Philippines Foundation Inc. This concert has been made possible thanks to the generosity of the HSTL Foundation, Holiday Inn & Suite Makati (the official host hotel), and other sponsors.
For tickets, please call HSTLF at 0920-954-0053, 0918-347-3027 or email us at Josephuy2004@yahoo.com. You can also contact Childhope Philippines at 0917-100-5303.