Pianist Raul Sunico plays for Ayala Westgrove

Renowned pianist Dr. Raul Sunico performs on February 24 at 8 p.m. at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) in an event sponsored by Ayala Westgrove Heights. Wielding the baton is Metro Manila Community Orchestra (MMCO) conductor Josefino "Chino" Toledo. Dr. Sunico’s concert is part of the MMCO Concert Series, which seeks to expand the range of available entertainment beyond the mall and pop culture to the realm of audience appreciation and artists’ development beyond the doors of the conservatory and the academe.

Concert 3 of the sixth concert season of the MMCO features Dr. Sunico and the world premiere of a new work for piano and orchestra by Chino Toledo, EKONTRA:KONGRUO: IUNKTUM. At the same concert, the world premiere of original works for symphony and song by new and emerging Filipino art music composers entitled Bagong Kundiman will also be held.

Music aficionados cite Dr. Sunico’s gifts of lyricism and poetry in his playing as his outstanding qualities as a concert pianist and orchestral soloist of Philippine music. A multi-awarded performer, the dean of University of Santo Tomas’ Conservatory of Music has given solo recitals in 17 countries spanning the continents of North America, Europe, Middle East and Asia. He was a Young Artists’ Foundation of the Philippines scholar at the Juilliard School in New York, where he earned his Master of Music Degree.

Like Dr. Sunico, conductor Toledo is the recipient of a TOYM (The Outstanding Young Men of the Philippines) award. Toledo’s conducting is described as "clear and expressive" and "like weaving musical magic." Philippine art critic and National Artist Leonor Goquingco identified Toledo "as one of the Philippines’ finest and best conductor ever."

For further information about Ayala Westgrove Heights, call 728-7000, or log on to www.ayalalandpremier.com, or email [email protected].