National Music Competitions for Young Artists (Namcya) Foundation, Inc. chair Veronica T. Tapia presented the winners in the culminating concert last Nov. 27 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines.
This year’s competition was held in cooperation with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA); Department of Education; Commission on Higher Education; and the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP).
Solo Instrument winners
The Piano competition winners are Gabriel Allan Paguirigan, first prize; Lorenzo Medel, second; and Chance Elan Israel, third. They are students of Nita Quinto, Mauricia Borromeo and Carmencita Arambulo, respectively.
In the Woodwinds competition, winners in the Flute category are Angelo Mateo, first, and John Lester Armenta, second, who are both from the University of the Philippines. In the Saxophone category, winner is Adriane Constantino, first, from the University of Sto. Tomas.
Winners in the Strings competition, youth category, are Maria Jeline Oliva, first; Roi Aldric Trawon, second; and Ira Alexis Aclan, third. In the Adult category, the first-prize winner is Jimmy Tagala Jr.; while honorable mentions were given to Jonathan David Livioco and Christian Tan.
Junior Ballet winners
Monica Gana is the first-prize winner in the Junior Ballet competition, while Rudolph Capungcol is second-prize winner. Both are from Steps Dance Studio. Third-prize winner is Jasmine Pia Dames from the Philippine High School for the Arts.
Special awardees in Dance are Denise Parungao, Luva Adameit Award for Best Female Dancer; Sean Kevin Pelegrin, Manolo Rosado Award for Best Male Dancer; Jessica Pearl Dames, 2-Tony Award in honor of Tony Fabella and Tony Llacer; Georgette Sanchez and Rolby Lacaba, Trudy Dubsky, Zipper Award for Best Choreography.
Group competition winners
The Traditional Music Ensemble competition for Elementary category has six winners: Bolton Elementary School “Sa Tabok” Cultural Dance Ensemble (Davao City); DepEd Bulacan Performing Arts Group (Malolos City); Dinupdop Ethnic Group (Ifugao); Likayan Children Cultural Group (Mt. Province); P. Kindat Music Ensemble (General Santos City); Tiempo Elementary School Cultural Dance Troupe (Abra).
The winners in the Elementary Rondalla competition are Lucban District Children’s Rondalla (Quezon), first prize; Sariaya East Children’s Rondalla (Quezon), second; and Maco Heights Central Elementary School Rondalla (Compostela Valley), third. Conductors are Isidro Obmasca Jr., Herbert Perez and Ranniel Raga, respectively.
The Youth Choir competition winners are Kantika Baao (Camarines Sur), conducted by Virgilio Briones, first prize; Ilocos Norte National High School Youth Choir conducted by Sherween Cabrales, second; and Muntinlupa Science High School Chorale conducted Ivy Rose Casiguran-Puri, third.
A special award, Best Performance of the Contest Piece, was given to the Ilocos Norte National High School Youth Choir, for its outstanding interpretation of “Sa Aking Mga Kababata,” composed by Robert Delgado with text by Dr. Jose Rizal.
Erratum: In my article last Dec. 26 about the Philippine Philaharmonic Orchestra concert, the Rachamaninoff piece should have been Symphony No. 2 in E Minor, Op. 27, by Schumann. My apologies.
