The Most Reverend Father Rector Richard G. Ang, OP, PhD, gives opening remarks.
Joyous Yuletide music reverberated within the hallowed walls of the University of Sto. Tomas (UST) Chapel, where the annual Christmas concert was held recently, wowing the audience. Presented by the University’s Conservatory of Music, its faculty members, students, alumni, and friends collaborated to make the concert a smashing success.
On hand to welcome the guests who came in droves to the chapel’s lobby was newly appointed conservatory Dean, Prof. Dr. Maria Alexandra I. Chua, assisted by some members of the faculty and staff. The altar became a veritable stage that was enhanced by effective lighting and an audio-visual screen.
The concert promptly started at 7 pm, with the Very Reverend Fr. Richard Ang, O.P., Ph.D, rector of the university, giving his brief opening remarks. He said that Christmas is both “the light of Christ and hope” that music “inspires to bring brighter days to come!” The concert was made up of four different parts, aptly labeled “Gratitude,” “Noel,” “Joy,” and “Hope.”
The concert proper auspiciously started with the glorious singing of Handel’s Hallelujah Chorus from his oratorio, Messiah. The composite choirs of Coro Tomasino, Large Ensemble Class, and Liturgikon Vocal Ensemble blended their voices brilliantly to ensure gratifying listening. Daniel Bartolome stood on the podium and conducted with gusto the UST Symphony Orchestra that played with smashing verve.
Two orchestral numbers were played next by the orchestra, with no less that its principal conductor, Dr. Herminigildo Ranera, the “imam” of the conservatory’s young conductors, conducting on the podium. Performed were his own arrangements of Symphonic Bells, a medley of Johann Pachelbel’s Canon in D, the traditional carol The First Noel, and Jesu, joy of man’s desiring. One enjoyed listening to the mellow melody, whose flowing harmony brought about a nostalgic feeling of joy and reverence.
Vocal quintet: Naomi Sison, Mary Patrice Pacis, Nenen Espina, Thea Prosia, and Elisanta Cortes
The next number featured the conservatory’s voice faculty members, all singers in their own right, that formed a sparkling quintet. They were Elisanta Cortes, Nenen Espina, Mary Patrice Pacis, Thea Prosia, and Naomi Sison. They sang another Ranera arrangement, Abba Medley, spiced with carols. The singers’ brilliance regaled the audience who listened intently, and gave hearty applause at the end.
Three tenors: Randy Gilongo, Eugene de los Santos, and Ronan Ferrer
In contrast, male vocal pedagogues and singers in their own right Randy Gilongo, Eugene de los Santos, and Ronan Ferrer formed a debonair trio, singing a medley of Do You Hear What I Hear? and When You Believe. On the podium, Jeffrey Solares conducted with ease the UST Symphony Orchestra that collaborated with the singers.
Male vocal pedagogues and singers in their own right Randy Gilongo, Eugene de los Santos, and Ronan Ferrer formed a debonair trio, singing a medley of ‘Do You Hear What I Hear?’ and ‘When You Believe’
Listening was heightened with the participation of two Dominican priests, who formed a duo: Fr. Giuseppe-Pietro Arciwals, OP and Father Rey Canto, OP. The two singing friars “preached” as they sang the haunting Mary’s Boy Child as arranged by D. Jorvina, with Dr. Raul Sunico on the piano, to the delight of the listeners who gave thunderous applause at the end.
Pianist Raul Sunico acknowledges applause.
Prior to the two friars’ singing, pianist Sunico beautifully played on the piano A Filipino Christmas Medley that he himself arranged. The piece quoted works from both serious as well as popular Filipino composers, including an earlier work by Francisco Santiago composed in 1928, The Philippine Christmas Carol. The audience listened to his brilliant, well-polished playing.
Two numbers highlighted the feat of another ensemble, the UST String Orchestra. Arnold Josue led the group in playing two arrangements by G. Aquias of J. Silos’ familiar Kampana ng Simbahan and T. Salcedo’s Paskong Anong Saya. Here one was mesmerized by the arresting, velvety texture of the strings.
G. Aquias arrangement of Handel’s For unto us a child is born was a hit! The audience applauded vigorously at the end. The piece was a “deconstruction” of the Handel original, contemporized to include a popular beat sang by the composite choirs of Coro Tomasino and Liturgikon Vocal Ensemble in collaboration with a jazz band, with Antony Villanueva conducting on the podium. The audience roared at the end.
In contrast, alumnae Charina Balmores sang the tender and quiet piece, Payapang Daigdig, by National Artist Felipe de Leon, Sr. in collaboration with a guitar ensemble finely arranged by A. Mesa.
A highlight of the concert was the participation of the PAVIC (Parents Advocates for Visually Impaired) and Aeta Choirs, who charmed the audience with their spirited singing of three songs—a Christian song, If I Were There, and two traditional carols, Away in a Manger and Angels We Have Heard On High, arranged by F. Laquian. These guests were beneficiaries of the Conservatory’s Outreach Program that it conducts every summer
More ensemble playing followed. The UST Wind Orchestra, with Michael Jacinto conducting, played Christmas Overture, arranged by N. Hess. The UST Jazz Band, with four singers, played a medley of Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker and Mendelssohn’s familiar carol, Hark the Herald Angel Sing, all to the delight of the audience.
Dr. Herminigildo Ranera conducts the UST Symphony Orchestra.
That intelligent audience listened intently as Katrine Sunga’s sang Adam’s O Holy Night in collaboration with the UST Symphony Orchestra, with Dr. Ranera, conducting. The applause was overwhelming until another hit was heard, the orchestral playing of the late Fr. M. Maramba’s arrangement of Joyful, Joyful, that majestic theme Ode to Joy of Beethoven’s 9th Symphony.
Glorious community singing of two familiar songs—Joy to the World and Ang Pasko ay Sumapit—followed, assisted by the UST Symphony Orchestra with Dr. Ranera conducting. The singing filled up the chapel, an unmistakable reminder that Christmas is near.
A Postlude: UST Christmas ID by Belza et al and arranged by Chua et al for orchestra, and a chorus arranged by A. Estepa gloriously ended the concert.
Kudos to the genius of Marvin Rellamas, who directed this memorable Christmas concert that truly brought the jovial mood of Christmas!
Merry Christmas!
