‘Where words fail, music speaks’

Winners of the 2022 National Music Competition for Young Artists (NAMCYA) captivated a full house of Chinese audience at the historic Gulangyu Island in Xiamen, China during “A NAMCYA International Presentation: The Winners’ Concert in Xiamen,” organized by NAMCYA and the Philippine Consulate General in Xiamen.

Nerissa de Juan (soprano), Adrian Cristobal (guitar), Deiniel Sanchez (horn), Cedric Rafael Uson (violin), Theodore Julius Tan (violin), and Reynaldo Gendrano (piano) performed a repertoire of 12 Filipino and classical music masterpieces from different periods, including “Preludio from Partita 3 in Major BWV 1006,” “Cavatina Op. 7,” “Sevillana Fantasia,” “Ouvre ton Coeur,” “Bel raggio lusinghier from the Opera Semiramide,” and Filipino songs like “Mapagmahal na Pinoy Medley,” “Maalaala Mo Kaya,” “Bahay Kubo,” “Hating Gabi,” “Sa Kabukiran,” and “Kalesa.” They then performed a surprise rendition of “Waves of Gulangyu” as an encore, garnering a thunderous applause from the teary-eyed audience.

The young artists were accompanied by NAMCYA president Dr. Renato Lucas and program director Dr. Ronan Ferrer. According to Dr. Lucas, the concert was NAMCYA’s special way of celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, and it was also NAMCYA’s first international concert outside of ASEAN.

In her opening remarks, Xiamen PCG consul general Maria Antonina Mendoza-Oblena, who herself is a pianist, highlighted the importance of music and of musical exchanges, and reminded the audience that “where words fail, music speaks.”

The 571-seat concert hall was fully packed with guests and well-attended by VIPs, including Foreign Affairs Office director general Li Lin, Fujian, Xiamen Municipal People’s Government Vice Mayor Zhuang Rongliang, Zhangzhou Municipal People’s Government Vice Mayor Hong Taiwei, Consul General of the Consulate General of Singapore in Xiamen Chng Tze Chia, and other high-ranking Chinese officials, as well as business leaders, art and music enthusiasts, students, and media personalities.

DG Li Lin, who also served as Chinese Consul General in Davao, was thrilled to have the opportunity to witness a NAMCYA performance in Fujian province. “The concert is a powerful testament to the profound friendship and cultural ties between China and the Philippines,” he said.

“A NAMCYA International Presentation: The Winners’ Concert in Xiamen” was held in cooperation with the Foreign Affairs Office of the Fujian Provincial People’s Government and in partnership with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, ASEAN Culture and Economic Exchange Center, and Studio Vio.