Manila Symphony Junior Orchestra Conquers Europe
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The MSJO in Europe. Total conquest (Photo courtesy of the Bratislava Music Agency and the MSJO delegation).
As if these were not enough, they also won the Grand Prix (Grand Prize) in the recently concluded Bratislava International Music Festival in Slovakia on July 4 just three days earlier.
Ecstatic members of the MSJO after announcement of winner. They got the gold and Grand Prize (Photo courtesy of the Bratislava Music Agency and the MSJO delegation)
The competition phase of the festival was held July 7 at the Golden Hall of the Musikverein, one of the most iconic concert venues in the world.
MSJO tied with the Hsing Lung String Orchestra from Taiwan while second place went to the Hong Kong Youth Strings and the Taipei Municipal Zhongzheng Junior High School. Third Place went to the Singapore National Youth String Orchestra.
In a courtesy call, the MSJO delegation received a congratulatory message from Her Excellency Evangelina Lourdes “Luli” Arroyo-Bernas, Philippine Ambassador to Austria and Slovakia. The entire MSJO delegation was invited to a reception at the Philippine Embassy in Vienna after their double victory.
Courtesy call: the members of the MSJO with Her Excellency Evangelina Lourdes “Luli” Arroyo-Bernas, Philippine Ambassador to Austria and Slovakia (Photo courtesy of the Bratislava Music Agency and the MSJO delegation)
MSJO’s latest European concert tour started June 29 with performances in Budapest, Salzburg, plus the competition in Bratislava where the Filipino string orchestra scored 99 points. MSJO got the only Grand Prix given to participating orchestras.
In Vienna, they performed in the Winner's Concert at the Vienna Konzerthaus on July 9 after which they continued the concert tour in Prague with another engagement at the Smetana Hall July 11 before returning to the Philippines on July 13.
The MSJO during sound check-in the Brahms Hall of the Musicverein in Vienna (Photo courtesy of the Bratislava Music Agency and the MSJO delegation)
The MSJO 2024 European tour was sponsored by Standard Insurance led by its Group Chairman Ernesto “Judes” Echauz who was with the group for the entire duration of the tour. The sponsor also provided top quality equipment to all students and teachers.
The MSJO delegation with their sponsor Judes Echauz, chairman of Standard Insurance (Photo courtesy of the Bratislava Music Agency and the MSJO delegation)
In the competition, MSJO performed a program of Puccini’s Crisantemi, Dvorak’s Scherzo from Serenade for Strings, Stephan Koncz’s A New Satisfaction, Ernani Cuenco’s Nahan arranged by Cyro Cloud Bon Moral, and Tagu-Taguan by Ryle Nicole Custodio.
Believe it or not, the MSJO musicians performed their repertoire entirely from memory!
Said one of the festival workshop facilitators and jury member Christoph Ehrenfellner: “I have no words to express my delight for the performance of MSJO. They totally struck us all with their unique warmth in sound and human attitude as well. Maestro Jeffrey Solares was here again with both hands full of precious musical fruit. What a pleasure and privilege to hear them again. I expected something special, but you surpassed my expectations. It was absolutely magic. I really want to congratulate you in the name of all of us at the jury. I have been a jury member in this competition for 14 years and it is very rare that my sheet for writing (comments) is blank. Just a full (perfect) score at the end.”
The Summa Cum Laude International Music Festival is considered one of the most prestigious music festivals for young musicians in Europe.
This year’s edition was attended by over 2,000 participants from 14 countries and 38 distinct ensembles. It is led by its Artistic Director Prof. Saul Saks and Managing Director Christian Bender.
The Manila Symphony Junior Orchestra (MSJO) was led by its conductor Jeffrey Solares, the executive director of the MSO Foundation and Associate conductor of Manila Symphony Orchestra (MSO), and current MSO Concertmaster Sara Maria Gonzales and MSO Principal cellist Arnold Josue.
MSJO in Vienna after the competition (Photo courtesy of the Bratislava Music Agency and the MSJO delegation)
The MSJO is a youth orchestra training project of the MSO Foundation that includes the Manila Symphony Orchestra, one of Asia's oldest orchestras, the MSJO, and the MSO Music Academy.
The MSO Foundation has applied for a grant with the National Performing Arts Companies where it hopes to be chosen as a National Orchestra under the Republic Act 11392 that will allow deserving non-government performing arts companies to receive regular funding from the Philippine government.
Recalled Solares: “We all feel blessed just being here in Europe and having this opportunity to play in these historic venues. Winning in the competition is just a bonus for us.”
For the record, MSJO made its Vienna debut on July 6, 2017 in the hometown of Mozart in Salzburg. They performed Mozart’s Divertimento in D, K. 136 from his set of “Salzburg” Symphonies written in Mozart’s hometown.
One jury member remarked after MSJO’s 2021 performance: “I have seen so many great orchestras perform in this hall, but your orchestra has a different warmth in your sound. Vienna is envious of the Philippines because we don’t have the sea. We can feel the waves of the sea while watching you perform.”
MSJO at THE Golden Hall of the Musikverein in Vienna (Photo courtesy of the Bratislava Music Agency and the MSJO delegation)
In their sendoff concert at the Apolinario Mabini Hall of the Department of Foreign Affairs last June 27, the MSJO was greeted with a rousing standing ovation.
In a program consisting the works of Dvorak (Serenade for Strings), Kasilag (Lullabye from Philippine Scenes), Custodio (Tagu-Taguan) and Cayabyab (Kay Ganda ng Ating Musika), among others, the MSJO sounded fresh and more compelling.
n Miravite’s Transcendence for cello and voice and re-arranged for strings, Damodar das Castillo unleashed his piercing cello sound which felt like it came from the instrument of the legendary Pablo Casals!
This year’s MSJO contingent consists of 40 musicians (20 girls and 20 boys) and they registered in the Vienna festival as early as November 2023.
Solares added: “It is an uncanny coincidence that all our tours since 2017 have exactly 50-50 ratio between boys and girls. Almost half are new members and are on their first tour while the other are back for their third or second tour. This time we also have five international scholars studying abroad. The youngest is nine and oldest is twenty-six. “
Their main sponsor, Standard Insurance, covered all the expenses (hotel, airfare, meals). “That is the reason why we were able to focus on the artistic preparations instead of having to do fundraising,” said Solares.
One of the most well-applauded numbers in the sendoff concert was Ryle Nicole Custodio’s Tagu-Taguan inspired by games Filipino children play. The orchestral variations on the keyword taya (the “it”) -- with the orchestra supplying the speech choir -- was local color at its best.
Pointed out Solares on the MSJO tour programming: “The local compositions were the hardest to decide on. We almost wanted to just repeat pieces from the 2018 tour. Finally, I decided on two choral pieces that we transcribed for strings: Nahan by Cuenco transcribed by Cyro Cloui Bon Moral and Tagu-Taguan by Ryle Custodio. I have always idolized the Madz for the quality of their performance and repertoire selection. Several of our pieces are transcriptions of works they have performed. I even let the orchestra to listen to their singing as reference for interpretation.”
Since the European trip is a sponsored tour, members of the orchestra were chosen on the basis of the skill level of its members. “The most important is their commitment to rehearsals. I believe that compared to the 2021 team when we won first place, this year I think we have much better and more mature players. At least 12 are NAMCYA winners and some had already studied abroad.”
Part of the MSJO tour are teachers Sara Gonzales and Arnold Josue who are part of the artistic preparations. “We also got guest musicians to coach us especially Mark Ramirez of the Sun Symphony who came to give workshops.”
“Musicians from Europe recognize our natural instincts and innate musicianship, and all we need is a sustained and systematic support and a culture of excellence.”
The conductor shares lessons from the first two competitions. “What we have learned is that given enough support and committed teachers, Filipino musicians have great potential to reach levels of excellence at par with the best in the world. Musicians from Europe recognize our natural instincts and innate musicianship, and all we need is a sustained and systematic support and a culture of excellence.”
MSJO conductor Solares sums up the morale of the youth orchestra. “Everyone was excited, everyone was grateful and all were eager to give their best. Indeed, there was some big pressure in matching our achievement in 2017, 2018 and 2021. For now, we are just happy to have the opportunity to just go back and once again bring honor to our country.”
Posted MSJO violinist Cedric Rafael on FB on his way home to Manila: “Goodbye Europe! Thank you for the experience of performing while wearing Filipino barong in your countries! Now I am on my way to participate in the Asian Youth Orchestra (AYO) camp and tour!”
"Tagu-Taguan" performed by the MSJO at the Radio Slovak Hall, Bratislava, Slovakia on July 4, 2024. It is a traditional Philippine version of the children's game Hide and Seek, wherein the ''it'' (tayá) chants while the other players hide. This piece was arranged for string orchestra for the Manila Symphony Junior Orchestra as part of its repertoire in its 2024 European concert tour.
Scherzo from Serenade for Strings Op. 22 by Antonin Dvorak performed by the MSJO in the Smetana Hall, Prague, Czech Republic, July 11, 2024.
Jealousy Tango for Two Violins and Strings by Jacob Gade, arranged by Glenn Aquias based on a performance by Stephan Grapelli and Yehudi Menuhin and performed by Emanuel John Villarin and Jeanne Rafaella Marquez at the MuTh Theater known as the home of the Vienna Boys Choir.
Congratulatory message from Her Excellency Evangelina Lourdes “Luli” Arroyo-Bernas, Philippine Ambassador to Austria and Slovakia.
Pablo A. Tariman contributes to the Philippine Daily Inquirer, Philippine Star, Vera Files and The Diarist.Ph. He has covered the performing arts for 48 years and is coming out with his second book, Encounters in the Arts. He was one of 160 Asian poets who made it in the anthology, The Best Asian Poetry 2021-22 published in Singapore. He was recipient of the Philippines Graphic’s Salute Award for poetry in 2023 and the 2024 Nick Joaquin Literary Awards. Born in Baras, Catanduanes, he has three daughters and six grandchildren.
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