After two years of being staged online, the National Music Competitions for Young Artists—better known as Namcya—makes its live comeback to showcase the Philippines’ best young musical talent at the Cultural Center of the Philippines.

In keeping with the changing government and Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases protocols, Namcya was staged online in 2020, and continued with hybrid performances and competitions in 2021. This year, apart from the face-to-face format of the finals, the regional competitions will be conducted live as well. The venues and schedules of the regional competitions will be announced soon.

The young musical artists who will qualify in the finals will see competition in the following categories (with the respective chairs): Traditional Music (Felicidad Prudente), Symphonic Band (Josefino Chino Toledo), Junior Strings (Denise Santos Huang), Junior Voice (Ma. Austregelina Alfornon), Junior Solo and Children’s Rondalla (Mariefrance Ballester), Junior Piano (Grace Garcia), Senior Guitar (Nathan Manimtim), Junior Choir (John Pamintuan) and Open Brass (Rodel Colmenar).

Being the oldest musical competition in the country, Namcya has attracted the interest and attention of young Filipino musical prodigies who wish to launch a career in the different disciplines of music. The competition has helped launch the careers of many illustrious classical singers and instrumental artists who have carved their names both on the local and international stage.