University of the Philippines

08/04/2023 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 08/03/2023 22:19

Looking for some live orchestra music? UPSO delivers

This August 18, 6 pm at the University of the Philippines (UP) Theater in Diliman, catch the UP Symphony Orchestra's latest live concert, SYMPHONIC RIDES!

The program includes Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 5, Jonathan Domingo's "Mga Musika" and "Tagpo sa Tinubuang Lupa", and works by Adams and Kraft. The concert promses to be an evening of exciting and fiery music that will sweep audiences off their feet (and seats).

The concert will feature Kevin Julius D. Castelo on timpani as a soloist. Castelo graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Music, major in Percussion at the University of the Philippines, and finished his Master of Music program in Percussion Performance at the Jacobs School of Music, Indiana University. He was also a member of the Asian Youth Orchestra from 2012-2015 and 2017. The group performed in various concert halls in Asia, the US, and Europe.

Kevin is Assistant Professor at the UP College of Music. He is also the new Artistic Director of the FEU Drum and Bugle Corps. In addition, Kevin is the Principal Percussionist of the UPS; and he has been playing with the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra and the Manila Symphony Orchestra as an extra percussionist.

A portion of the concert proceeds will be donated to the UP College of Music Alumni Association's Musikalinga scholarship program.

Established in 2018, Musikalinga assists financially underprivileged but gifted students with a living allowance as they work toward their diplomas. It also provides financial assistance during recital and the student practicum culminating program, access to the rehearsal venue, and travel subsidies. Musikalinga has supported more than 80 students to date.

Each ticket is a direct contribution toward keeping the music of our country playing not only for one night but for the next generation. Each ticket ensures the nurturing of another musician and the hope in their future contribution to nation-building through arts and culture.

Tickets are priced at Php1,000 and Php800, with a 50% discount for students, seniors, and PWDs. Children 6 years old and below can watch for free. SYMPHONIC RIDES will be at the UP Theater on August 18, Friday at 6pm. Tickets are available at http://bit.ly/upsosymphonicrides.

Established by the Board of Regents during its 1337th meeting on August 30, 2018, UPSO serves as the official system-wide orchestra of the University of the Philippines, supported by the UP System Fund and hosted by the UP College of Music. Its main functions are as a repertory orchestra for musicians, a laboratory orchestra for Filipino composers, and a training orchestra for young conductors.

Under the direction of Maestro Josefino Chino Toledo, the orchestra maintains a roster of 65 members exclusively from within the UP community, including alumni, students, faculty, and staff from all UP Campuses. They are the only orchestra in the country that regularly performs Filipino, Asian, contemporary, and new works in addition to the standard orchestra repertoire.