By Bryle B. Suralta
For 46 years now, the National Music Competitions for Young Artists (NAMCYA) has consistently and quietly molded generation after generation of homegrown Filipino talents. Through NAMCYA, rondalla ensembles, choral groups, various music educators and many more have flourished, thanks to its tutelage and support. For this year, just before the competitions, it hopes to reinvigorate the spirit of Filipino music in its purest form through the “NAMCYA @ 46 Concert of Winners Alab ng Musika: Wagi #galingNAMCYA” concert.
The concert, slated on August August 23 at the Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo of Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP), will showcase past NAMCYA winners in hopes of revitalizing the organization and also answering an underlying question posed by NAMCYA president Dr. Renato Lucas: “What is music for?” And this year’s performers are here to help provide the answers.
From two-time cellist winner Giancarlo Gonzales, who was a member of the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra as a guest musician for their Carnegie Hall debut in New York City, and Alfonso “Coke” Bolipata, a multi-awarded performer, teacher, writer and administrator of a community school for music and the arts, Nelson dela Cruz, who won Most Outstanding Conductor in a competition in Singapore, to groups like the Pundaquit Virtuosi, whose members have garnered prestigious awards from the Metrobank Art and Design Competition, the Shell Art competition and even seats at the Asian Youth Orchestra, DYCI Dagalak, the University of Sto. Tomas Symphony Orchestra and others, the performers are all products of NAMCYA.
Dr. Renato Lucas himself is a former laureate of NAMCYA, as well. He hopes that the concert may reignite something within Filipinos that will push them to pursue and learn about our rich music tradition.
“It (music) makes us human, like any art form,” he says, speaking of the importance of music, addressing the press at the Dusit Thani Manila Hotel. “The difference is that the art forms are intangibles as opposed to the natural sciences that are tangible. It makes meaning. It creates meaning for us to exist.”
The concert also serves as an introduction to the actual competitions that will start on August 31, which will be hosted in different parts of the country for the semifinal round. The NAMCYA finals week, meanwhile, will take place at the CCP from November 26 to December 1.
NAMCYA aims to not only encourage Filipinos to present their gift of music to people, but to also honor patriotism and Philippine culture by helping our diverse musical heritage grow. Through its trainings and competitions, it gives young artists an opportunity to improve themselves as performers while broadening their knowledge and perspective on music education.
“Music is a gift, a gift for humanity,” adds National Artist for Music Dr. Ramon Santos, who also serves as a board member for NAMCYA.
Dr. Santos also sees the competitions as a constant reminder for us to look to the past, so that we may better understand what the future may look like for Filipino music scene. He thinks of Filipino music as an amalgamation of the different musical styles and expressions that have shaped not only our country, but the world, as well.
“Ang ating mga tradisyon, tayo lang ang nakakagawa non. Kaya kailangan natin ang mga ito sapagkat kapag hindi natin alam ‘yan parang wala tayong identity. Para tayong mga manok na walang ulo (Our traditions, we are the only country that can continue them. That’s why we need these because if we didn’t know them, we’re no better than a chicken without a head),” Dr. Santos shares. “Para tayong mga tao ng buong mundo. Kaya kailangan hindi mawala sa atin ‘yang mga characteristics na ‘yan (We’re like the ‘people of the world,’ That’s why we should never let those characteristics go).”
Aside from the “Alab ng Musika: Wagi #galingNAMCYA” concert, other events and activities slated for this year are the “NAMCYA @ ALABANG 400: The Cellist and The Apprentice” mini-concert at Alabang 400 VIllage Clubhouse presenting Dr. Renato Lucas and Joshua Ethan Dakanay with Denzel Abarquez on the piano on August 24 at 5:30 p.m. Admission is free.
These events, with help from Dr. Santos, Dr. Lucas and today’s young performers, are here to keep the culture and tradition of Filipino music alive and well. And they’re counting on us to join and support them, too.
“‘Yon ang unang una na dapat natin malaman, ang tradisyon ng ating musika (That’s the first thing we need to know, our music tradition),” he concludes.
For ticket and donation inquiries, kindly contact the NAMCYA Secretariat at (02) 836 4928, (02) 836 4929 or 0949 993 2592.
