Billy Crawford, James Reid and Sam Concepcion team up for ‘The CR3W’ concert

James Reid, Sam Concepcion and Billy Crawford, three of the country’s most talented singers, actors, and all-around media personalities, have banded together to become The CR3W and are now all set for the coolest, sonic mood-filled Big Dome concert ever.

Presented by Scratch It and produced by Viva Live, Inc., the show is titled “The CR3W” and stars three of the hottest and talented male stars in the biz today. This will be held on Friday, April 5, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

James is the star of the big screen. He has hit movies to his name like “Diary ng Panget,” “This Time,” “Never Not Love You” and hit TV shows like “On The Wings of Love” and “Till I Met You.” He is also known for big selling soundtrack music like “No Erase,” “Bahala Na,” “On The Wings of Love” and “Hanap-Hanap.” He also took on the role.

He is a singer and co-writer of the new single, “Filipina Girl,” a collaboration between Billy Crawford and Marcus Davis, Jr., that is part of Billy’s upcoming album.

They will be singing their own songs, as well as collaborate on different numbers. They will surely rock the Big Dome with their trendy sounds.

Tickets are available at TicketNet 911-5555. Ticket prices are: VVIP with Meet & Greet – P10,000;  VIP Seated – P5000; Patron – P4000; Lower Box – P2500; Upper Box –P1500; and General Admission – P500.

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Gerard Salonga will now have to shuttle between Kuala Lumpur and Manila for the whole of 2019, as he takes on a new job as resident conductor of the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra (MPO).

After working as assistant conductor of the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra in 2016 and still currently for the ABS-CBN Philharmonic Orchestra, Gerard now wields the baton for the MPO.

He learned about his new job in May 2018 while he was in Kuala Lumpur to conduct one of the concerts of the MPO.

“At that time, the general manager sat down with me and let me know of their intention to invite me to be their next resident conductor,” Gerard shares. “Naturally, I felt great about it. I’ve known about that orchestra since they were founded in 2008.”

The MPO is a music group that Gerard has always respected and admired.

“Their sound is so beautiful,” he remarks. “The predominantly European string section really brings with them a tradition of beautiful sound and the music is loaded with emotional content when they play.”

Gerard is thankful for his stint as assistant conductor of the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra, with Maestro Jaap van Zweden as music director. It was towards the end of Gerard’s term with the Hong Kong Philharmonic when the MPO invited him to join them as resident conductor.

Upon learning about the good news, Gerard immediately shared it with his wife, DJ Francisco Salonga, a NAMCYA awardee and an equally accomplished musician on her own. She plays the violin for the ABS-CBN Philharmonic Orchestra. The couple has been married for 14 years.

The only thing Gerard had to deal with while in Kuala Lumpur was being away a lot from his two kids – Antonio, 11 and Carmen, 8. “It’s very hard, really, while I’m away from them,” he attests.

“I’m only okay while I’m working, meaning rehearsing, studying or on stage performing. Every other minute is spent missing my family, especially while I’m eating alone. It doesn’t matter how good the food is if you’re alone and without the people you love.”

Yet, he is looking forward to DJ and the kids spending the summer vacation with him in Malaysia and Hong Kong.

“For future seasons, I will need to intelligently fix my schedule between ABS-CBN, MPO and other conducting engagements,” he says.

“I’ve been invited back to the Singapore Symphony after debuting there last November and the HK Philharmonic usually calls me for several weeks in the season to conduct or assist.”

Aside from conducting the MPO this year, Gerard also has schedules to lead the Hong Kong Philharmonic this March, Kunming Nie-Er Symphony Orchestra in May, South Denmark Philharmonic Orchestra in August and Sydney Symphony Orchestra in November.

Gerard will also work with an orchestra for theater productions like “Sweeney Todd” for Atlantis Theatrical in Manila (October) and Singapore Repertory Theater (November-December).