New age meets classical & pop

MANILA, Philippines - New age meets classical and pop music as three of the most exciting young performers make a stop at The Podium on Feb. 25, 5 p.m. American pianist Jon Schmidt, cellist Steven Sharp Nelson, and child prodigy Julia Abueva will meet and greet fans and treat them to a rare opportunity to listen to their music at the mall’s atrium.

Jon’s music — a hybrid that is equal parts classical, contemporary, and rock ‘n roll — redefines the new age genre. With over three million downloaded songs, eight popular albums, seven volumes of original piano scores that fly off the shelves, and a highly rated special, Jon’s music is a certified hit.

Playing out to sold-out audiences throughout the US and the rest of the world, Jon’s performances showcase his unique talents and lead his audience on a roller-coaster ride of emotions as he shifts from dramatic and reflective into his show-stopping, pyrotechnic-laced back flip.

Jon’s latest album features the hit song Love Story Meets Love Story, his version of Taylor Swift’s record breaking hit. Love Story, which holds the record as the most downloaded song in country music history, was inspired by Jon’s record breaking YouTube performance of Love Story Meets Viva la Vida, which has had more than 2,400,000 hits.

Steven has recorded over 100 albums, and was nominated as the Best Instrumental Musician of the Year by the FCMA. His first solo album, Sacred Cello (2006) was among Billboard’s Top 20 classical recordings in the world, and received a Pearl Award for Best Instrumental Classical Album. Steven has recorded with many professional performing ensembles, including a 2009 project with the China Philharmonic Orchestra titled American Journey.

Julia has performed in concerts and musicals in Singapore and the Philippines since she was five, sharing the stage with Lea Salonga, Monique Wilson, and Deborah Gibson. Recently handpicked by Oprah Winfrey as one of World’s Most Talented Kids, Julia manages to juggle schoolwork with performing commitments. This includes her performance at the 2009 APEC Conference, where she sang for US President Barack Obama and other world leaders.