Andrew Fernando topbills Samar Int'l music fest & UPLB concert

MANILA, Philippines - Baritone Andrew Fernando, first Filipino first prize winner of Loren L. Zachary National Vocal Competition in the US, is the next attraction of the first Samar International Music Festival on Dec. 5 at the Café Elsa of the Ciriaco Hotel in Calbayog City, Western Samar.

The Samar International Music Festival — sponsored by Calbayog City Mayor Ronald Aquino, Rep. Mel Senen Sarmiento and Ciriaco Hotel and Resort — opened last Oct. 29 with a standing ovation for violinist Gina Medina and pianist Mary Anne Espina.

Fernando’s Samar program includes Donizetti’s  Bella siccome un angelo from Don Pasquale, Bellini’s Ah per sempre from I Puritani, Some Enchanted Evening, So In Love and selected favorite Filipino selections.

Flutist Oracion will open the program with Monti’s Czardas, Bizet’s Carmen Fantasy and Verdi’s Traviata Concertwaltzer, among others.

On Dec. 10, UP Los Baños  Sigma Delta Phi  will present Fernando and Oracion along with  soprano Camille Lopez Molina, tenor Lemuel de la Cruz and pianist Espina in a special Christmas concert titled The Best of Chamber Music: Yule Carols at the Umali Hall of UP Los Baños in Laguna.

Sigma Delta Phi, established in 1933, is known as the Society for Dramatics and Fine Arts and has worked towards furthering the artistic talents of its members. It has produced pioneers, alumnae and members who have excelled in the sciences and other fields, bringing honor to  UPLB  and to the country.

According to Sigma Delta Phi Grand Archon Althea Rivera Torralba, the purpose of the sorority is to form a strong bond among the women interested in speech and allied arts and to promote social and intellectual intercourse among its members.

Guided by its first adviser, Prof. Dolores Barile (dean of Women of UPLB at the time) and later Justina Mabesa, the sorority became true to its objective of promoting social and intellectual intercourse through  the arts.  

For tickets to the music festival and UPLB concerts, call 748-4152 or 0906-5104270.