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| ‘FASO’ ROCKS LA - The Filipino-American Symphony Orchestra makes its mark in history |
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Beverly Hills – The Filipino-American Symphony Orchestra (FASO), once a gleam in the eyes of its founders, has become a reality at a dazzling concert held at the historic Saban Theater on Sunday evening, May 17. FASO, a 60-odd-member symphony orchestra, was the vision of Roger and Cora Oriel, publishers of Asian Journal and Balikbayan Magazine, and AJ editor-at-large and Balikbayan Magazine editor-in-chief Lito Cruz. FASO was single-handedly whipped into shape in less than six months by Bob Shroder. The Cavite, Philippines-born Filipino-American conductor, achieved his moment of glory as a musician when he steps on the podium and swings the baton. The different sections of the orchestra responded smartly and symphonic unity is achieved. The concert was not a symphonic concert in the purest sense of the word. To appeal to a wider Fil-Am market, the show was built around a mélange of music genres – classical ballet, opera, Filipino folk songs, and nationalistic songs, and kundimans (romantic songs). The opera and pop numbers were provided by three contemporary Fil-Am singers and a Filipino-Canadian singer –
Stephanie Reese, Pete Avendano, Kit Navarro and Joey Albert. Fil-Ams interviewed for their impressions by Asian Journal had a singular thread: the FASO’s debut performance is impressive and it deserves seconds. "Ithink that they (FASO) can pull in a larger audience," offers John Mina, who is one of the directors of the Jazz Society of the Philippines, USA (JazzPhil). "How about the Hollywood Bowl next time." Rex Sampaga, Mina’s co-director at JazzPhil is equally impressed, saying "FASO is quite amazing in this concert." Grace Walker of Glendale’s Commission on the Status of Women is already dreaming of a moonlit night concert at the Hollywood Bowl.Opera singer fresh from a five-month singing stint in the Philippines, did a turnaround and sang Filipino songs for the first time. And for someone who did not speak Tagalog at all, Ms. Reese did a very fine job, not missing a word; and her American accent made her Tagalog songs sound even more endearing to the concertgoers.
"I was more nervous this time," admits Reese, who came in from abroad barely a few days before the concert. "I wanted to show the other half of my music; that I really love Filipino culture. I feel so honored to be a part of this event that is celebrating our roots," she told Asian Journal.
Marikit (Kit) Navarro who played Jazmin, and Pete Avendano, who played Karim, in Dr. Ramon Sison-Geluz’s highly acclaimed opera, Karim and Jasmin, breezed through their numbers with amazing virtuosity.
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