Making music, making history

Thursday, 20 November 2008 23:09 Cynthia De Castro / AJPress

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The Filipino-American Symphony Orchestra (FASO) musicians in one of their rehearsals.

The making of the first Filipino-American Symphony Orchestra

Los Angeles—Sometimes, the best of ideas are brought out from the least expected places. Asian Journal Publisher and CEO Roger Oriel and friend Lito Ocampo Cruz, who first met when they co-produced Kuh Ledesma’s reunion concert with the Music & Magic at the Carnegie Hall in New York, the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles and the Blaisdell Hall in Honolulu in the late ‘80s, were merely having their usual casual conversation at the backporch of Mr. Oriel’s residence in LA last summer when the idea of establishing the first Filipino-American Symphony Orchestra came to them. A call to Roger and Cora Oriel’s uncle Andy Tecson, a violinist himself and also a member of the AJ family, quickly followed, and he got in touch with fellow musician, Bob Shroder. That call was music to Bob’s ears. The rest is history in the making.

Filipinos are generally thought to be musically gifted people. Once during a break in an international business conference that I attended in Hongkong, the Filipino delegates were asked to belt out a couple of songs. Surprised, the Pinoys apologized and said they can’t sing. To which the Europeans shouted back, "No way, all Filipinos can sing!"

Well, it’s not true that all Filipinos can sing, but it is safe to say that Filipinos do generally love music. Pinoys love not only singing but listening to music. Just visit the Philippines, and you’ll notice that all public transportations, from jeepneys to tricycles, are tuned to music. Most public places are, too, like malls, restaurants, terminals, and others. From classical to pop, to jazz and rock.

No wonder, the Philippines has one of the oldest orchestras in Asia -The Manila Symphony Orchestra, which was founded in 1926.

Thus, it is just fitting that in Los Angeles County—the region which has the biggest concentration of Filipinos outside of the Philippines—there should also be a Filipino orchestra. Seeing the need for such a group has long been overdue, many talented Filipino musicians in LA have often wondered who will have the burden to take on the cudgels and form the orchestra. A few months ago, the dream began to take shape as Asian Journal has taken the lead in forming the first Filipino American Symphony Orchestra (FASO).

To cultivate the artistry of Filipino musicians and showcase the innate Filipino musical talent, Asian Journal is at the helm of FASO, calling and inviting all musicians—from high school students to veteran orchestra musicians—to join the orchestra.

"We’re making history here in LA as we form the first Filipino-American Symphony Orchestra," said Bob Shroder, musical director of FASO. "The musician’s level that we’re looking for is from advance to professional, with experience playing in an orchestra," he added.

Musicians who play any of the following instruments are encouraged to join: Strings (violin, viola, cello and double bass), Woodwinds (flute, oboe, clarinet and bassoon), Brass (trumpet, trombone, French horn and tuba), and Percussion (tympani and drums).

The Filipino-American Symphony Orchestra (FASO) musicians in one of their rehearsals.

Ever since the Asian Journal announced the formation of FASO a few weeks ago, many talented Filipino musicians from Southern California have been joining the weekly rehearsals. The present members are a mix of young musicians and veteran chamber orchestra virtuosos who have all been excited at the prospect of being a part of a dream come true.

Bob Shroder said he is very happy about the turn-out so far, but they want more to join. "We welcome everyone—even non-Filipinos, high school and college students—to join. So long as you can play a musical instrument well, you can be a part of our group. Our goal at FASO is to form 2 groups—a junior and a senior group. We have had two rehearsals already and I can say that we’ve made very good progress." Bob said.

Rehearsals are held every Tuesday at the SIPA office at Temple St, Historic Filipinotown. For more details, call Andy Tecson at (213)-300-4870 or Bob Shroder at (818) 395- 8936. Or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

( www.asianjournal.com )

( Published November 21, 2008, Asian Journal New York p. A1 )

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