Marvin Ong as pop idol

His first album, also titled Marvin Ong was a success that gave him his first Gold Record Award. So what is next for the talented Marvin? A concert no less. This is Marvin Ong Beginnings, which will be held at the Music Museum on April 2, 8 p.m. Produced by Viva Concerts, the show will also feature Rachelle Ann Go and the Pop Girls.

There is no doubt that Marvin, who has been singing since he was nine, will do very well on the MM stage. Despite his boyish looks he is already an award-winning stage actor. He bagged the Gawad Buhay trophy for Best Featured Male Actor in a Musical by Philstage for his work as the orphan boy Tobias in the Repertory Philippines production of the Stephen Sondheim musical Sweeney Todd. He also starred as Juan in the PETA musical Si Juan Tamad, Ang Diablo At Ang Limang Milyong Boto, which ran for several weeks.

The concert will showcase Marvin as a pop idol and fans can expect to see him perform live most of the songs in his CD and lots of current favorites. Proceeds from Beginnings will benefit scholars of Lingkod ng Potrero Foundation, Inc. Tickets are priced at P1,000, P500 and P300.

Those curious about how Marvin sounds can preview his concert by listening to his album. Featured are Can’t Help Falling In Love by Elvis Presley; Hard To Say I’m Sorry by Chicago; Have I Told You Lately by Rod Stewart; Maybe by Burt Bacharach; I Need To Be In Love by the Carpenters; Let’s Hang On by Barry Manilow; Worst That Could Happen by the Brooklyn Bridge; If by David Gates; the first single Panaginip, originally recorded by Manila Sound pioneer Hot Dog and the current single the light OPM rocker Harana, by Parokya ni Edgar; and two new songs, It Doesn’t Get Any Easier an original by the Hong Kong-based musical director Ronnie Fortich and Marvin’s debut as a songwriter, Captivated.

Incidentally, Marvin got another feather in his cap when he was tapped to sing the classic Init Sa Magdamag with promising Viva talent Maffy Soler. The new version of the Sharon Cuneta-Nonoy Zuñiga original is the theme of the drama series Mga Nagbabagang Bulaklak, which debuted last Friday. The show airs on TV 5 on weeknights.

Richard Poon’s album tour

For more songs by Filipino talents, you might want to check out Richard Poon in his I’ll Be Seeing You album tour of Robinsons Malls. Poon will be at Robinsons Nova Market on April 9; Metro East on April 16; Robinsons Place Tacloban on April 29; Starmills Pampanga on April 30; Robinsons Place Angeles on May 8; and Robinsons Sta. Rosa Market on May 15.

I’ll Be Seeing You features Poon singing his own version of old favorites like The Way You Look Tonight, Fever, L.O.V.E. the Apo Hiking Society’s Panalangin.

More shows. The wacky trio of Boys Night Out and pop rock artist Miguel Escueta are also making the rounds of Robinsons Malls. Tonytoni, Slick Rick and Sam YG of the popular radio show Boys Night Out and Escueta will mix music and hilarious talk as they go back-to-back at Robinsons Sta. Rosa on March 27; Starmills on April 3; Robinsons Imus on May 1; and Robinsons Novaliches on May 15.

Boys Night Out

In case you haven’t heard, the boys of Boys Night Out have released their own album which includes their sexytime experiences in the cuts Confessions Sessions and Celebrity Guests.

Miguel Escueta, meanwhile, also has a new CD out. Titled Now It Starts, it includes covers of Just Like Heaven, Mr. Brightside, Blue Monday and others.

Music classes for summer

Here’s something for parents dreaming of a music career for their children or who will support what the kids desire, or who just want their kids to hold their own in karaoke sessions. School is over and it is summer, so now is the time to check out what summer courses, the Music School of Ryan Cayabyab has to offer.

 These are Musmusikahan for four to seven year olds and 14K for eight to 12 year olds. Both are music classes that include singing, instrumental ensemble, rhythm and movement with basic stage performance exercises. There is also Muziktheater for 13 to 17 year olds, which concentrates on theater activities like acting, singing and dancing. The workshops end with recitals which include the chance to perform new works by resident composers every year.

Call 0917-9096484, 637-9840 or 914-5055 for details or visit The Music School of Ryan Cayabyab at the Lower Level of Robinsons Galleria in Ortigas Center. Also offered are individual courses in voice, guitar, classical piano, violin and drums. To be introduced this year is the TMSRC piano course called Play Pop for 12 year olds and above that teaches techniques in playing pieces through audal recognition using normal chord progressions.