06 December 2012, 11:41 p.m. – NOW ON its first decade, the UST Christmas Concert Gala has become an annual tradition among Thomasians and a fitting reminder of how God became man and dwelt among the people, UST Rector Fr. Herminio Dagohoy, O.P. said earlier this evening in his welcome remarks.
A Christmas tree-lighting ceremony with event chairwoman Maricris Zobel and Conservatory of Music dean Raul Sunico opened the concert.
Fr. Dagohoy expressed gratitude to organizers of the concert, noting that they had “never taken a shortcut with Christmas.” The Rector said he hoped the University’s benefactors would “never get tired of going here and supporting us.”
The annual gala became a perfect opportunity to showcase homegrown talents. Among the performers were Coro Tomasino, the UST Singers under conductor Fidel Calalang, Jr., and the UST String Orchestra and Brass Ensemble led by Prof. Herminigildo Ranera.
Christmas hymns were performed by students, alumni, and faculty members. Among them were the triumvirate of sopranos Nenen Espina, Thea Perez, and Naomi Sison, and tenors Lemuel de la Cruz, Eugene delos Santos, and Ronan Ferrer.
Renato Lucas and Lourdes Gregorio performed a duet titled “Siciliene” on cello and harp, respectively.
Also gracing the concert were baritone Andrew Fernando, mezzo-soprano Clarissa Ocampo, and premiere soprano Rachelle Gerodias.
Aside from Thomasian musical prodigies, the concert also featured the Hail Mary the Queen Children’s Choir. One of its members, Vyktoria Therezze Bayle, sung “Payapang Daigdig” with the UST orchestra.
Ranera said this year’s concert was one of the best so far, if not the best. Zobel, for her part, said the production has improved greatly since she became a part of it five years ago.
“The University has so much to offer, [and] has all the fantastic talent, so it’s just a matter of using all of that. I would definitely support it for years to come,” Zobel said. J.J.G. Basijan and R.L.C. Cunanan
