08 October 2023 – Winners of the 2022 National Music Competition for Young Artists (NAMCYA) captivated a full house of Chinese audience at the historic Gulangyu Island in Xiamen, China during “A NAMCYA International Presentation: The Winners’ Concert in Xiamen”, organized by NAMCYA and the Philippine Consulate General in Xiamen.
Ms. Nerissa de Juan (soprano), Mr. Adrian Cristobal (guitar), Mr. Deiniel Sanchez (horn), Mr. Cedric Rafael Uson (violin), Mr. Theodore Julius Tan (violin), and Mr. Reynaldo Gendrano (piano) performed a repertoire of 12 Filipino and classical music masterpieces from different periods, including “Preludio from Partita 3 in Major BWV 1006”, “Cavatina Op. 7”, “Sevillana Fantasia”, “Ouvre ton coeur”, “Bel raggio lusinghier from the Opera Semiramide” and Filipino songs like “Mapagmahal na Pinoy Medley”, “Maalaala Mo Kaya”, “Bahay Kubo”, “Hating Gabi”, “Sa Kabukiran”, and “Kalesa”. Then, they surprised the audience with a heartwarming rendition of “Waves of Gulangyu” as an encore, garnering a thunderous applause from the teary-eyed audience.
The young artists were accompanied by NAMCYA President Dr. Renato Lucas and program director Dr. Ronan Ferrer. According to Dr. Lucas, the concert is NAMCYA’s special way of celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, and it is also NAMCYA’s first international concert outside of ASEAN.
In her Opening Remarks, Xiamen PCG Consul General Maria Antonina Mendoza-Oblena, who herself is a pianist, highlighted the importance of music and of musical exchanges, and reminded the audience that “where words fail, music speaks”.
The 571-seat concert hall was fully packed with guests and well-attended by VIPs, including Mr. Li Lin (Director General of the Fujian Foreign Affairs Office), Mr. Zhuang Rongliang (Vice Mayor of Xiamen Municipal People’s Government), Mr. Hong Taiwei (Vice Mayor of Zhangzhou Municipal People’s Government), Mr. Chng Tze Chia (Consul General of the Consulate General of Singapore in Xiamen), and other high-ranking Chinese officials as well as business leaders, art/music enthusiasts, students and media personalities.
DG Li Lin, who also served as Chinese Consul General in Davao, was thrilled to have the opportunity to witness a NAMCYA performance in Fujian province. “The concert is a powerful testament to the profound friendship and cultural ties between China and the Philippines,” he said.
“A NAMCYA International Presentation: The Winners’ Concert in Xiamen” was held in cooperation with the Foreign Affairs Office of the Fujian Provincial People’s Government and in partnership with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, ASEAN Culture and Economic Exchange Center, and Studio Vio. ###
