Cebu orchestra to hold concerts for calamity victims

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu Philharmonic Orchestra (CPO) will be having concerts on December 21, 22, 27 and 28 for the benefits of victims of recent calamities such as the super typhoon Yolanda and the earthquake in Bohol.

CPO concerts on Saturday and Sunday which will start at 6:00 p.m. at the Cebu City Hall and 5:00 p.m. at SM City Cebu Northwing, respectively, will serve as a thanksgiving for the donors of earthquake victims.

On the other hand, CPO concert on Friday and Saturday next week which will start at 8:00 p.m. at the Marco Polo Hotel in Lahug, Cebu City and 5:00 p.m. at SM City Cebu Northwing, respectively, will be a fund-raising concert for the victims of the typhoon Yolanda in the northern part of Cebu Province.

These concerts are free of charge but the CPO will be accepting donations at the entrance of the venues.

On Saturday and Sunday concerts, CPO will accompany cellist, Gerry Graham Gonzales, of the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra and Kelie Ko, a baritone soloist.

While next week's concerts, CPO will accompany the world renown concert pianist, Dr. Ingrid Sala Santamaria, with guest conductor Maestro Alfredo Villanueva and with the special participation of Turning Point School of Ballet and Music.

CPO hopes to bring the Filipinos together in unity through music, and to inspire everyone to move forward with a gleam of hope that everything would turn out for the better.

This orchestra was formed last March 2011 by a group of Cebu-based classical musicians with the hope to restore the appreciation for classical music.  (FREEMAN)