Young Pinoy trumpet talent performs with Imperial Brass

Filipino kids who have ambitions of becoming a serious musician often look to the piano or the guitar as their first instrument of choice. Young Alaric Saludo’s affinity for the trumpet was not usual for a boy but even at a young age, there was nothing ordinary about him.

"Early on, we already saw he had a gift," says proud grandmother Noemi Saludo, which she notes is not surprising, Alaric is the great grandson of National Artist for Music Lucrecia "King" Kasilag.

At 11, Alaric won a scholarship to Wells Cathedral School, one of England’s state-funded schools for gifted young musicians, where he studied under renowned trumpeters John Wallace, Robert Farley, John Miller, Michael Laird and Crispin Steele-Perkins. Upon finishing at Wells, Saludo won the school’s Nathan Hewitt Trumpet award. He has since played in prestigious concerts around the world, including a performance for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

Alaric Saludo will perform in Manila with the Imperial Brass, a London-based brass ensemble where he is also founding member.

The ensemble is made up of performers from Imperial College London and the Royal College of Music. The line up consists of four trumpets, French horn, four trombones and tuba. Imperial Brass plays a wide range of musical genres including big band, brass band, orchestral, solo and early music as well as the chamber ensemble.

Individual members have performed with the Royal College of Music Symphony Orchestra and other RCM ensembles, the National Youth Brass Band, National Youth Jazz Orchestra and National Youth Orchestra.

The gala performance is set tomorrow at the Isla Ballroom of EDSA Shangri-La Manila with a special performance on July 2 at Philam Life Auditorium.

Repertoire includes classical pieces and contemporary numbers. Proceeds of the performances will help fund the completion of the St. Bartholomew Church in Pangasinan.

Just Brass is presented by Aurelio Periquet Jr., Foundation, Imperial College London and the British Embassy Manila and sponsored in part by Splash Foundation, MC Home Depot, Astoria Plaza, Philam Life, Filos, Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, International Container Terminal services Inc., Asian Terminals Inc., Port Users Confederation Inc., SGS Gulf Limited, 2171 Floral Creations, Forsc Ink, Digna Rosales Enterprises, Anna Marie Home and Penshoppe, together with media partners Manila Bulletin, BusinessWorld, 98.7 DZFE and 101.5 Crossover. For details, call 535-5428 or 533-9338.