FOUR UST Conservatory of Music students won awards in the National Music Competitions for Young Artists (NAMCYA) 2022 held from Nov. 15 to 20 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines in Pasay City.
Music junior Deiniel Sanchez and sophomore Renz Ciriaco won the first and third prizes, respectively, in the open brass category.
In the junior piano category, sophomore Yvonne Ang bagged the third prize, while freshman Juliana Silangcruz was given an honorable mention.
Participants were required to perform different pieces for the preliminary, semi-final, and final rounds.
Sanchez played Paul Dukas’ “Villanelle pour Cor et Piano” in the preliminary round and the first movement in Mozart’s Horn Concerto No. 4 in Eb major, K. 495, for the semi-finals.
Sanchez said he chose to perform Richard Strauss’ Horn Concerto No. 1, Op. 11 in the final round because he has listened to Strauss since he started playing the horn.
“My understanding of this piece [has grown] with me ever since and continuously up to now. It was with great honor and joy to be able to perform and win with this piece,” Sanchez told the Varsitarian.
Ang, who performed Dmitri Shostakovich’s Piano Concerto No. 2 in F Major and Claude Debussy’s Etude No. 1, L.136-1. Pour les “cinq doigts” for the final round, said the melody of the pieces was simple and concise, but was challenging to execute.
“It is such a beautiful piece, but I would say that the second movement would be a fan favorite… This was truly such a fun piece to play, and it reminded me much of my childhood,” Ang told the Varsitarian.
Meanwhile, Silangcruz played Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 17 in G Major, KV 453, and Claude Debussy’s Etude No. 11, “Pour les arpèges composés,” in the finals.
“It was fulfilling as I felt like months’ worth of my time, effort, and dedication has been rewarded,” Silangcruz told the Varsitarian.
Founded in 1973, NAMCYA is the country’s most prestigious competition for young musicians. Nolene Beatrice Crucillo
