MSO to perform Bartok, Chopin

TWO FORMER prizewinners of the National Music Competition for Young Artists will be heard in a special concert of the Manila Symphony Orchestra (MSO) under Arturo Molina on Aug. 20, 7 p.m., at the UP Abelardo Hall in Diliman, Quezon City.

Featured soloists are violinist Diomedes Saraza Jr. in Bartok’s “Violin Concerto No. 2” and pianist Oliver Salonga in Chopin’s “Piano Concerto No. 2.”

Saraza had his concert debut with the New York Symphonic Arts Ensemble at Julia Richman Auditorium in New York. He was a prizewinner of the Juilliard Schools’ William Schuman Competition and was also featured in a long tradition all-sonata concert of the Juilliard School called “Sonatenabend.” He recently earned a bachelor’s degree in the same prestigious school studying under renowned violin pedagogue professor Stephen Clapp.

Now pursuing his doctorate degree in California, Salonga is a holder of a Master of Music in Piano Performance degree from the Cleveland Institute of Music, where he studied under Antonio Pompa-Baldi, a silver medalist at the 2001 Van Cliburn Competition. Earlier, he won a concerto competition in Florida while studying at Lynns University as a full music scholar after graduating at the Philippine High School for the Arts. He won the gold medal in the 2008 Joenju International Piano Competition in South Korea, and was one of the top 20 competitors in the 2010 Hilton Head International Piano Competition in South Carolina from among 160 applicants.

Tickets are at P1,000 (orchestra) and P500 (balcony) with 20-percent discount to senior citizens and students. Call 5763132 or 09065104270.