Emilio Alumno’s rendition of German composer Friedebald Grafe’s “1st Movement of the Grand Concerto for Trombone” won the gold medal in the solo category of the Malaysia International Virtual Band Championships last Aug. 31.
It was no ordinary feat for Alumno, a fourth-year Trombone major at the UST Conservatory of Music who saw his life’s struggles in his winning piece.
“Sa umpisa [ng piyesa] ay mistulang tunog ng mga nagmamartsang sundalo; ang piano at ang pagpasok naman ng trombone ay mistulang isang fanfare na naghuhudyat ng isang digmaan; at sa bandang gitna ay may malambing na parte ang solo kung saan mas aagaw ng atensyon,” he told the Varsitarian.
“Maihahalintulad ko ang piyesang ito sa aking buhay na napakaraming pagsubok pero nagpapatuloy pa rin para sa aking mga pangarap.”
Alumno wasn’t even supposed to be in UST, owing to his family’s financial situation. But thanks to a scholarship grant through the UST Symphony Orchestra he got in.
“Kinakailangan ko pa ‘rin bayaran ang aking other fees at miscellaneous fee,” he said. “Para makapasok ako, nangutang ang tatay ko, and then binabayaran niya ‘yon paunti-unti sa pamamagitan ng pamamasada ng tricycle.”
Because his residence in Cabuyao, Laguna was too far, Alumno stayed in a dormitory managed by music professors Isaiah Lipana and Emil Francisco who offered to help after finding out his situation.
“Inofferan nila ako na ako na ang bahala sa paglilinis ng dorm at wala na daw akong magiging problema sa bayarin,” he said.
“Ginawa ko best ko para mapagsabay ang pag aaral at pananatili ng kalinisan sa aming dorm; sa umaga ay papasok at magpractice ako, at sa gabi naman ay maglilinis ako ng dorm namin,” he added.
But in the middle of his online classes, Alumno’s parents suffered health problems, which required him to take up his father’s tricycle job to keep his family afloat.
He nearly failed his studies in the process, but through the help of his professors, Alumno was able to stand right back up. Ma. Dyanne Mirasol P. Reyes and Nolene Beatrice H. Crucillo
