Young musicians, classical music enthusiasts at Opusfest in Antipolo

MANILA, Philippines - From May 19 to 27, Eugenio Lopez Center (ELC) in Antipolo hosts renowned artists and talented young classical performers from around the world as they teach, learn and breathe music in Opusfest 2013.

Violinists Micha Haran (Israel), Francisca Mendoza (Chile) and Chie Yoshinaka (Japan), bassoonist Richard McIntyre (Australia) and world-renowned concert pianists Martin Soderberg (Spain), Chong Lim Ng (Malaysia) and Jovianney Emmanuel Cruz (Philippines) will conduct the master classes.

The winds, brass and percussion faculty of Sistema for the Filipino Youth music program will also take on mentoring duties at the camp. They are Suh Jin Hee (cello), Lexter Deo Santos (drums and percussions), Arnaldo Custodio (bassoon and oboe), Beverly Shangkuan Cheng (conducting), Katherine Asis (sight-reading) and Nepthalie Villanueva (French horn).

Artists will train delegates aged nine to 19 years old in performing solo and in an ensemble or orchestra via one-on-one master classes.

Concert dates are on May 19, 24 and 25. On May 19, the Orchestra of the Filipino Youth scholars will have an opening recital and will be led by guest conductor Olivier Ochanine. On May 24, the ABS-CBN Philharmonic Orchestra under the baton of Gerard Salonga will regale guests with their repertoire of international and Filipino classical pieces. At the end of the weeklong interaction with their mentors, the young musicians will display their new and improved musicality and techniques in a graduation recital orchestral concert on May 25.

For a minimal fee, ELC will open its doors to the public to watch these concerts. Individual concert tickets may be purchased for P400 each. To watch all the concerts, one may get the season pass for P1,000.

Meanwhile, kids who want to join as delegates may still sign up for Opusfest. The Mahogany package worth P40,000 is best for those wishing to stay in the ELC, while the Spruce package worth P25,000 is for those who will make the daily commute to the camp. For tickets, call Marco Vargas at 0920-9201351, and for enrollment, call Tinky Cabanatan at 0915-1949760 or at the SFY-OFY Hall, Benpres Building, Ortigas Center.

The ELC is on Sumulong Highway in Antipolo City.