LEA SALONGA, RYAN CAYABYAB INSPIRE STUDENTS AT UST MASTERCLASSES
The internationally acclaimed theater actor-singer coached the students in acting, movement and stillness during a performance; and the National Artist for Music said that confidence, fierceness and excellence play a big part in one’s craft.
Internationally acclaimed theater actor-singer Lea Salonga and National Artist for Music Ryan Cayabyab recently held an online masterclass for students of the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Conservatory of Music in two separate dates. Participants were composed of Musical Theater and Voice students of soprano Nenen Espina, who teaches at the UST Conservatory.
The masterclass with Salonga was the 13th episode of a series of online discourses between renowned local and international artists from the music and performing arts industry and students from the Theater and Opera classes of the UST Conservatory under the Bachelor’s degree in Music program.
The series was dubbed “KKK: Kwentuhan, Kantyawan, Kantahan: Isang Serye.”
Nine students from the Theater class performed their chosen Broadway pieces for Salonga to critique during the three-hour masterclass.
Shean Accad sang “Empty Chairs at Empty Tables” from Les Miserables; Vico Bonoan, “Pure Imagination” from Charlie and The Chocolate Factory; Roman Bernardino, “Land Of Lola” from Kinky Boots; Jan Montenegro “Losing My Mind” from Follies; Jasmine Nepomuceno, “Fascinating Rhythm” from Lady, Be Good; Ruth Brillo “Breathe” from In The Heights; Aledrain De Jesus “Somewhere That’s Green” from Suddenly Seymour; Sherwin Anne De Leon “Maybe This Time” from Cabaret; and Alexa Faith Samodio “One Perfect Moment” from Bring It On: The Musical.
Salonga stressed the importance of clarity in delivering the lyrics of the pieces and how delicate a performer’s role is in the art of storytelling. She coached the students in acting, movement, and stillness while singing, which are part of the storytelling aspect in a performance.
Cayabyab’s masterclass, dubbed “Ryan, Ryan, Muchikahan,” and which ran for almost four hours, was the 12th episode in the series.
Participants were composed of Musical Theater and Voice students of soprano Nenen Espina, who teaches at the UST Conservatory.
The session started with a medley of his works interpreted by various artists from a 1997 performance at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP). Cayabyab discussed the history and background of his works, such as Rama Hari, Katy: The Musical, Alikabok, Magnificat, Larawan, and his trilogy of musicals for Tanghalang Pilipino, Noli Me Tangere, El Filibusterismo, Noli Me Tangere and Ilustrado.
Cayabyab highlighted the importance of the materials that accompanied the trilogy and their historical context.
He said that confidence, fierceness and excellence play a big part in one’s craft.
He challenged the students to write music in their own dialects and not to force-write in English if it restricts them in relaying their message.
Also present at the masterclass were UST Conservatory of Music Dean Antonio P. Africa, Ph.D., and artists who regularly performed Cayabyab’s works, such as Miguel Vera, Sweet Plantado-Tiongson and Eladio Pamaran.