Guitar performance students at the UST Conservatory of Music secured podium places in the live round of the first PIMA Classical Guitar Competition.
Agung Dayaw Sicam, a freshman, emerged as the winner of the round’s open category.
The open category saw participants perform the required piece “Threaded Traces,” a solo classical guitar composition by composer Patrick Roxas.
Sicam also performed “Ave Maria (Tanti anna prima)” by Argentine composer Astor Piazzolla and “Appassionata” by Brazilian composer Ronaldo Miranda.
“I felt that these pieces really show who I am as a musician,” Sicam said in an interview with the Varsitarian.
Sicam also said the victory inspired him to pursue bigger dreams.
“This drive is enough to make me happy and enjoy music… it reminds me that music is something to love and something that soothes the soul,” Sicam said.
Sicam was followed by Music alumni Leandro Martin Ong at second place and Ramon Ysaac Andaya at third place.
Sicam, Ong, and Andaya are also recipients of cash prizes amounting to P10,000, P6,000, and P4,000, respectively.
Ramon Raphael Maglaya and Korki Guada Bobis were named finalists.
The Macaria Quartet Ensemble bagged first place in the ensemble category.
Macaria consists of alumni Gelvin Dalena, Lyon Lopez, Charles Quizon, and Val Villamin.
The UST Guitar Department’s Sibol Guitar Octet was also named finalist.
Sibol performed the movements “V. Con calma” and “VIII. Allegro, giocoso” from the 8-movement composition “Suite Polymorphe” by guitarist-composer Roland Dyens.
Its members are Pablo Miguel Almazan, Ramon Ysaac Andaya, Juan Gabriel Bautista, Beatrice Rose Cena, Loureist Zxiel Garcia, Ramon Raphael Maglaya, Clemence Jose Pobre, and Gabriel Angelo Reyna.
Maglaya said the competition was a “big learning experience” for Sibol.
“We really felt like we gave it our all and delivered one of our best performances yet,” Maglaya said.
Organized by the PIMA Guitar Quartet, the PIMA Classical Guitar Competition was held on April 26 at the Corazon Aquino Hall of St. Scholastica’s College, Manila. It awarded prizes to seven individuals and three ensembles.
