THE UST Conservatory of Music will stage the annual UST Christmas concert on Dec. 2 at Plaza Mayor, the first to be held in person since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The technical dress rehearsal will also be open for Thomasians to watch on Dec. 1, said the Music dean, Assoc. Prof. Antonio Africa.
Africa said the concert this year would be the Conservatory’s first “all-Filipino” Christmas concert.
“We’re doing an all-Filipino Christmas concert kaya medyo nahirapan din ako sa paghanap ng mga piyesa… I mean compared sa English ‘di ba we have all these traditional songs and carols, sa Tagalog medyo limited but we tried to get the best,” Africa told the Varsitarian.
Students, faculty members, conductors, and arrangers from the Conservatory will perform at the annual gala concert. Two original Thomasian compositions will also be performed during the show.
Since 2018, the Christmas concerts have been held at the UST Santisimo Rosario Parish Church.
“The last time we did [at the Plaza Mayor] was in 2017, and then bumalik kami sa chapel. There have been a lot of requests na ibalik siya sa Plaza Mayor dahil nga mas masaya doon. It was decided [by] the administration that we will stage it once again [at the Plaza Mayor]. We would just like to ask for your prayers na sana ‘wag tayo ulanin,” said Africa.
“We are all happy to be back kahit kami na… nasa preparation [napapagod]. Pero masayang pagod to e, and we just hope that whatever we impart to you, whatever we’ll be able to prepare [for] you guys, sana ma-appreciate niyo.”
Performances will start at 6 p.m. at the Plaza Mayor after the traditional Agape and lighting of Christmas lights and decors on campus on Dec. 2.
“UST Paskuhan 2022: Pananabik. Pagbabalik. Panunumbalik” is the theme of this year’s Paskuhan festivities, which will start on Dec. 1 with the Panunuluyan and end on Dec. 19 with the grand Paskuhan concert. M.F. Reyes
