Classical guitarist Sting Asistores will have his sendoff concert July 4, at Conspiracy Café along Visayas Avenue in Quezon City, before he leaves for Interlochen Arts Academy in Michigan, United States.

A First Prize winner (Junior Category) in the recently concluded St. Scholastica College Classical Guitar Competition, Asistores learned about Interlochen through his Philippine High School for the Arts batchmate Adrian Nicolas Ong who is now a Violin major in Interlochen Academy of the Arts.

He immediately applied online through its website and got a positive response a week after he sent a video of himself playing “Le Catedral” and “Variations on a Theme by Mozart.”

For now, he credits his teacher Lester Demetillo for always being very patient with him.

“He taught me how to pay attention to the smallest details of the music I am playing. He is also aware of my weaknesses and taught me how to overcome them. The good thing is he really pushes me beyond my limitations.”

His music horizon further expanded when he took masterclasses with known personas of the classical guitar.

The sendoff concert presented by Independent Philippine Arts Ventures (IPAV) is part of a concert series called “Classical Music Night.”

“Through this series, we envision to create a wider audience for classical music here in Metro Manila, not by alienating them with cocktails and fine dining, but by elevating them through top-caliber performance, educational spiels and beer,” Stephanie Quintin, head of IPAV, said.

Also included in the lineup are Nobel Queano (August); Carlo Juan and Raffy Ronquillo (September); Patricia Poblador (October); Danelle Dionisio (November); and Joseph Hernandez (December).

Tickets for July 4 concert is only at P100. –CONTRIBUTED