LOS ANGELES—As we reported on Saturday, the Filipino-American Symphony Orchestra (FASO) is poised to make its historic debut as the first Filipino symphony orchestra outside the Philippines on May 17 in Beverly Hills.
Honored to be featured as guest artists who will perform with the pioneering orchestra are Joey Albert, Stephanie Reese and Pete Avendaño."I am very excited," wrote Stephanie, an LA-based singer currently doing shows in the Philippines, including one with Ryan Cayabyab, and who will perform in Beijing in May. She added in her e-mail, "It’s been a while since I sang with a full orchestra. It will be even more amazing that this orchestra features Filipino musicians."
Behind FASO are community leaders Roger and Cora Oriel, publishers of Asian Journal (AJ), a popular Fil-Am paper that serves both coasts of the US. "These two very special individuals really give such love and support to the arts," Stephanie acknowledged. "Their continued support of Filipino artists like myself are something that I have admired long before this orchestra endeavor. I am looking forward to saying congratulations to [them] and Lito (Ocampo Cruz, AJ editor-at-large), for accomplishing a dream."
"I am paying tribute to my roots," Stephanie hinted at what she will perform in the concert at the Saban Theatre, formerly known as Wilshire Theatre, in Beverly Hills. She also shared our hope that FASO, with Cavite native Bob Shroder as music director and conductor, will become a durable Fil-Am cultural treasure. "I know... that the orchestra will be a permanent institution because its members, supporters and creators are too passionate about it to let it dissipate," she said.
Pete, who holds a Bachelor of Music degree in music education, major in voice from the University of Santo Tomas, told us, also via e-mail: "I recently [rehearsed] for the first time with the orchestra. Hearing young Fil-Ams, some of whom have never been to the Philippines, play Filipino compositions and enjoying it, is something that I will never forget."
The tenor who played the lead role Karim in the Filipino opera Karim at Jasmin at the La Mirada Theater, spoke appreciatively of Bob, a University of the Philippines alumnus who played with the Manila Symphony Orchestra and the Manila Chamber Orchestra before he immigrated to the US. "Bob loves his Filipino roots," Pete volunteered. "When I first met him, I kept speaking to him in English. When he suddenly spoke in Tagalog, I was really surprised. Later, he played the flute on my Kundiman album."
Pete, based in LA like Stephanie, is one of the founding members of the UST Singers Alumni in America and the Philippine Chamber Singers of Los Angeles. He revealed his numbers in the milestone concert on the evening of May 17: "I will perform two solo pieces, Sa Ugoy ng Duyan by the late National Artist Lucio San Pedro and a contemporary piece entitled Isang Kundiman, a song written for OFW (Overseas Filipino Workers) by Gerry de Leon and arranged for orchestra by FASO’s very own Kendro Calica. I will also sing The Prayer and Ang Bayan Ko with Joey and Stephanie."
For inquiries about the concert, e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
( Published on April 29, 2009 in MDWK Magazine p. 5 )
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