JOSE Logarta, head of the Philippine Art Ventures, an association of guitar enthusiasts, said 2015 was an exciting year for the guitar community, with well-received guitar festivals participated in by both local and international artists of note.
It was the year two Filipino guitarists won top prizes in international guitar competitions.
Aaron Aguila won first prize in Jakarta. Aemilio Engingco, placed second and third in Malaysia and Hong Kong, respectively.
The Triple Fret got the top prize in the Tokyo International Ensemble competition.
Hopefully guitar audiences will improve with iPav and the Department of Education joining forces to launch a classical music appreciation program.
Speaking of more guitar events, the 2016 Catanduanes Summer Festival opens March 19, 7 p.m., at Marem Pension House in Virac, Catanduanes
Enginco is a first prize winner of the Trattoria Poggio Guitar Competition 2015. He is the second classical guitarist to have a solo recital on the Bicol island, after Ramoncito Carpio.
The concert of classical musicians on the island was taken up as one possible way of luring tourists to Catanduanes.
This writer told a dialogue of tour operators all guest artists who had performed in Catanduanes considered the island a virtual paradise and concerts attracted A-B audiences.
Among those who have performed on the island are prizewinning Romanian violinist Alexandru Tomescu with pianist Mary Anne Espina, pianist Najib Ismail, NAMCYA winners Victor Michael Coo and Christian Tan.
Gubernatorial candidate JB Wong said he would listen to all concerns that would help improve tourism in the island.
“We need inputs from tour operators but we also have to consider arts and culture as another come-on for tourism,” Wong added.
Enginco’s program includes Regondi’s “Nocturne (Reverie),” “Usher Waltz” by Nikita Koshkin, Legnani’s “Fantasia,” Op. 19, “Recuerdos de la Alhambra” by Francisco Tarrega, “Tres Piyezas Espanolas” by Joaquin Rodrigo and “Fantasy Variations on Sarung Banggi” by Jose Valdez based on an original Bicol composition by Potenciano Gregorio.
Enginco’s recital is sponsored by MV Silangan 1, Marem Pension House, Tropang Turismo and Catanduanes Tribune. For tickets, text or call 09065104270.
Classical guitar music
The latest offering of Independent Philippine Art Ventures, Inc., is an afternoon of contemporary and classical guitar music with three outstanding artists from Japan who will play solos, duets, and trios, 5:30 p.m., March 20, at the Abelardo Hall Auditorium in UP Diliman.
Featured artists are classical guitarists Tomonori Arai and Duo Trussardi.
In Japan, Arai won First prize in the Junior Guitar Competition, Student Guitar Competition, and Spanish Guitar Music Competition.
The Duo Trussardi played at the Pattaya guitar festival in Thailand with Tomonori Arai to outstanding acclaim. They have been hailed by Gendai Guitar magazine as “one of the most talented and sophisticated young guitar duos” in Japan.
Call Ticketworld at 8919999; e-mail ipavinc@ gmail.com.