TWO musicians from the Conservatory of Music won in the National Music Competitions for Young Artists (NAMCYA) 2021 on Nov. 26.
Voice major Nerissa De Juan was named champion in the Senior Voice category. She sang four songs: “Erwatung” by Arnold Schoenberg, “Bel Raggio Lusinghier” from the opera “Semiramide” by Gioachino Rossini, “Duyan ng Kasaysayan” by John Pamintuan, and “Mutya ng Pasig” by Nicanor Abelardo.
“I was honestly surprised because years ago, this was just a dream, and now that it has already happened, I couldn’t believe it,” De Juan told the Varsitarian.
The music senior dedicated her performance to two teachers who passed away this year, Lemuel Dela Cruz and Genesis Rivera.
Piano performance alumnus Reynaldo Gendrano won first prize under the senior piano category. He played German composer Robert Schumann’s “Piano Concerto in A minor Op. 54.”
Gendrano said he chose the piece as it was “full of depth, of happiness and longing, of dream and reality, and of coldness and warmth.”
“[It] affects me emotionally, as if I’m the one l narrating the entire piece,” Gendrano told the Varsitarian.
NAMCYA’s theme this year was “Panagbangon, Pannakapaimbag: Pagbangon, Paghilom.” The competition was founded in 1973.
“Muli nating bigyang pagpupugay ang ating mga kabataan, sila ang ating kayamanan bilang Pilipino,” Renato Lucas, NAMCYA president and UST professor, said in his speech on the opening of the finals week.
The winners were announced live on NAMCYA’s official Facebook and Youtube pages.
Nerissa’s performance can be streamed here, while Reynaldo’s performance can be watched here.
The concert for all solo winners was broadcast on Nov. 27 on NAMCYA’s official Facebook Page.
