Manila Symphony Orchestra celebrates 80 years of the Philippine Republic with ‘Liberation’ concert

Also featured was Lucio San Pedro’s Violin Concerto in D minor Op. 51 (1948). This masterful piece traces its roots to the very same 1946 composition contest, where San Pedro’s submission, Hope and Ambition, won a special prize that enabled his advanced studies at The Juilliard School in New York. Recently, San Pedro’s concerto received a prestigious grant from the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) for professional encoding and recording. Following the intermission, the programme shifted to American masterpieces, showcasing Artie Shaw’s Concerto for Clarinet and George Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess: A Symphonic Picture (arranged by Robert Russell Bennett), highlighting the cultural exchanges that have enriched Philippine musical heritage over the decades.

The evening’s soloists delivered outstanding performances. Acclaimed violinist Jeanne Marquez is a recent Bachelor of Music graduate from The Juilliard School, a former scholar of the Colburn Music Academy, an MSJO-Standard Insurance International Scholar, and an Ani ng Dangal awardee whose growth has been long nurtured by the MSO Foundation.

Jason Marquez, an alumnus of Andrews University in Michigan, performs extensively as a principal clarinettist in the United States and is highly regarded for bridging classical discipline with complex jazz idioms.

They were guided by Jose Reyna, Jr, a distinguished United States-based Filipino conductor and educator who collaborates closely with the orchestra to promote the continued development of Philippine classical music.

The centennial event featured a commemorative message from Maan Hontiveros, president of the Manila Symphony Orchestra Foundation. She noted that the performance reflected the orchestra’s “ensuring mission to champion artistic excellence, nurture Filipino Talent and connect generations through music.”

The celebration was elevated by the dynamic support of corporate partners. The event was presented by the Manila Symphony Orchestra Foundation and Standard Insurance, co-presented by EastWest Bank and PAGCOR, and sponsored by Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation. It was organised in partnership with Bagong Pilipinas, the NCCA, and The Metropolitan Theater. EastWest Bank delighted the audience with a special iPhone giveaway, whilst Panasonic Philippines used their technological support to illuminate the grand 100-year history of the MSO.

The gala was attended by an array of distinguished cultural and diplomatic figures, including Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) president Kaye Tinga and MSO Foundation trustees, Atty Jose Feria, Atty Katrina Legarda and Corazon Alvina. Heirs of National Artists for Music Buenaventura and San Pedro were also present to witness the revival of these historic pieces.

Significant diplomatic representation included Austrian Ambassador His Excellency Johann Brieger and Madame Roswitha Brieger; Kevin Punzalan from the Australian Embassy in the Philippines; Olivier Dintinger on behalf of Alliance Française de Manille; and May Codia-Bayta representing the Philippine Council for NGO Certification, Inc.

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