[bg|christmas_concert_gala_2011|4|110|random|12|#FFF|1|UST Christmas Concert Gala 2011 – Photos by Jilson Seckler C. Tiu, Sherwin Marion T. Vardeleon, and Jaime T. Campos]
Dec. 1, 12:14 a.m. – THIS year’s edition of the annual UST Christmas Concert Gala is not the last, the Rector and event chairpersons said earlier this evening.
Rumors say that its ninth installment, the Quadricentennial edition, would be the last showcase of the annual concert as its four-year co-chairperson, Maricris Zobel, will be experiencing conflicts in her schedule and will no longer be able to organize the event.
But Fr. Rolando de la Rosa, O.P., Rector of UST, said tonight’s presentation—which he himself said to be the best since its first presentation in 2003—had changed Zobel’s mind.
“I think I’m in this for life,” Zobel said after the two-hour musical exhibition.
She added that she would continue to support the event because of tonight’s outcome, which featured home-grown talents such as Conservatory of Music Dean Raul Sunico, premier sopranos Rachelle Gerodias and Sim Sung-Hye, the UST Symphony Orchestra, Liturgikon, Coro Tomasino, Conservatory of Music Chorus, tenors Lemuel de la Cruz, Eugene delos Santos, and Ronan Ferrer, baritone Andrew Fernando, the two-time Choir of the World UST Singers, and its conductor Fidel Gener Calalang Jr.
According to Zobel, the highly-commendable diversity of Thomasian performers and the overall look and feel of the event moved her and compelled her to continue participating in the event as the concert’s co-chairperson.
Tonight’s well-received performance includes the UST Singers’ winning piece “Jubilate Deo,” Rachelle Gerodias’ “Rejoice Medley,” Andrew Fernando and young soprano Patrick Packay’s duet “Little Drummer Boy,” Archimedes Lacorte’s saxophone solo “Pasko na Sinta Ko” and “Payapang Daigdig,” and a medley of Filipino Christmas songs by Coro Tomasino, Liturgikon, and Conservatory of Music among others. Marianne S. Lastra, Reden D. Madrid and, Alyosha J. Robillos
