Singing as an avocation/NAMCYA contest now open

The Monday Music Club, whose members are in various disciplines outside music, gave its tenth anniversary concert at the GSIS Museum where guests had the pleasure of admiring the widely ranging paintings on display.

The song program follows: Rodrigo’s En Aranuez con tu Amor, Dennis Ting, tenor; Puccini aria O Mio Babbino Caro, Agnes Liao soprano; Saint-Saens aria “My Heart at Thy Sweet Voice”, Mimi Sison, soprano; Morriconne’s Nella Fantasia, Revs Chan, soprano; Puccini aria Un Bel Di, Ivi Avellana-Cosio; Brodzsky's “Summertime in Heidelberg,” Larry Uy; Verdi aria Un Di Felice, Alice Cua, soprano, and Rogelio Peñaverde, tenor, guest artist; Leigh’s “The Impossible Dream”, Julius Magno; Umali's Saan Ka Man Naroroon, Lucing Uy, soprano; Suarez’s Tag-Araw, Nellie Chua, soprano; Ocampo’s Kahit Isang Saglit, Rita Brawner, soprano, and Ikaw, Rita Brawner and Felix Brawner; Unknown, Pag-ibig na Walang Kapantay, Manolo Lozada, tenor; Abelardo’s Ultimo Adios, Allan Cosio, tenor.

The singers conveyed varying degrees of competence and expressiveness. Those who rose a few notches above the rest were Rita Brawner and Nellie Chua. Each had a solid, firm voice that could reach and sustain high notes with ease. Each was poised and showed emotive talent.

Also deserving special mention was sweet-voiced Ivi Avellana-Cosio. Although her volume was rather small, she sang with moving expression and eloquent emoting, being a brilliant actress as well as a richly talented visual artist. With further training, she will hurdle the top notes with less effort.

I shall exempt from comment tenor Rogelio Peñaverde Jr., a professional opera singer. But I shall single out tenor Allan Cosio for his robust, powerful delivery. Had Allan gone into vocal training early enough, he would have become a formidable opera singer rather than the eminent painter he is. As his technique goes into further refinement, he might abandon the visual arts altogether!

Tony Pastor enlivened the songs with an impressively fluent piano rendition of Chopin’s Fantasie Impromptu.

Assisting artists were the much sought-after pianists Jude Areopagita and Julie Mendoza. Bebi Lozada accompanied Manalo Lozada.

The program concluded with the Club and Pastor singing Hammerstein’s “If I Love You”.

Rita Brawner explained why the Club has lasted this long: its members encourage rather than criticize each other, bonding together sheer love of singing. They openly admit they are non-professionals whose passion for music often exceeds that for their chosen discipline! They’ll sing at the drop of a hat!

The “emcee”, noted concert pianist Jonathan Coo, has been involved with the GSIS Museum’s Thursday Concert Series whose performances are free.

The 2010 National Music Competitions for Young Artists (NAMCYA) will be held this November at the CCP under the auspices of the NCCA, with the theme “Music and the Arts: The Soul of Humanity”.

Categories are Banduria C, Choir A, Dance Senior Ballet, Marimba C, Piano C, Traditional Music Ensemble B, Voice C.

Sec. Gen. Dr. Ramon “Montet” Acoymo says: “NAMCYA continues to believe in and to forge opportunities, avenues and activities (in and by which the young execute, and all ages appreciate) which hold up excellence as the true standard. NAMCYA’s role is to see to it that our young talents are developed to their maximum potential. We want to guarantee them lifelong careers as musicians.”

Chairperson Roni Tapia-Merk, says: “NAMCYA is the only competition that taps undiscovered talent from all schools nationwide.

“This annual event is not so much a competition as a bell weather of the state of Filipino music and our musicians. Classic Filipino music is not only alive and well, but thriving.” The contest is now open to entries.