BAM holds first concert

CEBU, Philippines - “We don’t do traditional recitals; we have major shows!” boasts Brown Academy of Music (BAM) on their Facebook page.

True enough, BAM’s first batch of students were treated like real music stars via a professional concert to showcase what they’ve learned from the past three months.

Dubbed “Turn Up the Music,” BAM voice mentor and co-founder Anna Fegi-Brown took to the stage of Ayala Center Cebu’s The Terraces in support of her students who sang, danced and played instruments – all to the delight and pride of the performers’ families and friends, and mall strollers who happened to pass by the musical extravaganza.

BAM opened just January of this year, so to see the fruits of their labor this early brings immense joy to Adam, Anna and all the teachers of BAM.

“It’s a learning experience and we’re very happy with the result of a lot of hard work of lot of people,” says Adam. “The students are very motivated. It doesn’t take a whole lot to teach them. They’ve put in a lot of hard work.”

Remarking on stage that she was amazed to be with all the young talented students, Anna inspired them further by sharing her beginnings as an aspiring singer during her childhood years in Lutopan, Toledo, and how, through sheer hard work, she eventually reached her dreams.

Adam points out that their school’s goal is to help their students discover their own style, and not to simply imitate or mimic established musical artists.

“We don’t try to make them the next Beyonce, the next Regine Velasquez, the next Gary V,” says Adam. “We try to help each kid find their own voice so that they can be themselves and not anyone else.”

With more than 50 summer enrollees, BAM dove right back to work after their successful concert.

“The faculty is so proud of the students and we’re just excited to see what’s coming next,” says Adam. — (FREEMAN)