A clarinetist from the UST Conservatory of Music made his professional debut in “Konsyerto: Unang Hakbang” on Sept. 24 at the Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo (Main Theater) of the Cultural Center of the Philippines.
Andrew Constantino joined the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra and played Carl Maria von Weber’s Clarinet Concerto No. 2, Op. 74 in allegro.
Constantino showed his grasp of the woodwind instrument and blended with the orchestra through the piece’s dynamic changes.
The senior clarinet student was the Woodwind Category C grand prize winner of the 2015 National Music Competitions for Young Artists (NAMCYA), bringing home the Best Interpretation of the Contest Piece award.
He had his first concert under the Manila Chamber Orchestra Foundation Young Artists’ Series and was featured by the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra in their “Sunsets at Makiling” concert in May.
Constantino was also main clarinetist in the Singapore International Festival of Music in 2016.
Renato Lucas, secretary general of NAMCYA, said “Unang Hakbang” is a ‘giant step’ for budding musicians.
“A lot of our millennials have anxiety about classical music, so kailangan talaga ng ‘unang hakbang’ (first step) to introduce [the genre],” told the Varsitarian in an interview.
Under the baton of Conservatory of Music’s Prof. Herminigildo Ranera, the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra performed European classics like Nicolo Paganini’s “Moto Perpetuo,” Bela Bartok’s “:Piano Concerto No. 3, Sz. 119” and Gioacchino Rossini’s “L’italiana.”
