Far Eastern University (FEU) has opened its 2014 cultural season, which will be a year-long celebration of the FEU Auditorium’s 65th anniversary. The theme is  “Journeys and Identity.”

“We are proud to open the 2014-2015 cultural season with a showcase of Filipino artists who are making waves abroad,” said Martin Lopez, director of FEU’s President’s Committee on Culture (PCC). “These performances celebrate Filipino artistry and are a perfect way to show our students and the public the unique and exceptional talent of Filipino artists. They have all embarked on personal and professional journeys which have led to the discovering of their identities, not just as Filipinos but artists on the global stage.”

San Francisco-based pianist Hiyas Hila opened the season recently with the concert,  “Beethoven Plus.” Hila collaborated with the Metro Manila Concert Orchestra (MMCO) conducted by Josefino “Chino” Toledo, an outstanding alumnus of FEU.
Meanwhile, Vancouver-based choreographer and dancer Alvin Tolentino performed “Colonial,” a multimedia dance piece, last Aug. 15.

Pianist Jose Artemio Panganiban III mounted the recital, “Schumann Plus,” on Aug. 23.  He performed with the MMCO under the baton again of  Toledo.

Son of former Chief Justice Artemio Panganiban, also an outstanding alumnus of FEU, the younger Panganiban has a distinguished career in music and finance, earning three graduate degrees from Stanford University and pursuing advanced piano studies in Munich, Germany.

“Here at FEU, we stage performances by our students, as well as established local and foreign artists, with the aim of building awareness, appreciation and audiences for the arts,” said Lopez. “The performances in August are just a glimpse of what we have in store for the rest of the year.”

Tickets for the 2014 concert season range from P500 to P1,500. Students are entitled to a 50-percent discount, while senior citizens get 20-percent off.

For more information, contact the FEU’s PCC at tel. 02-7364897 or e-mail [email protected].