The Conservatory of Music is set to celebrate its 80th anniversary with a series of events aimed at fostering greater appreciation for UST’s contribution to music and music education.
The Conservatory was established in March 1946, following the University’s reopening after World War II.
“For our 80th year, we want to build the community and foster more relationships in musical arts,” Prof. Maria Alexandra Chua, dean of the Conservatory of Music, told the Varsitarian.
A staging of ‘South Pacific’
The Conservatory is set to stage the Tony and Pulitzer Prize-winning Rodgers and Hammerstein musical, “South Pacific,” at the Proscenium Theater on Feb. 21 and 22.
“This is a door opening for us student leaders to serve and do what we can to inspire our fellow students,” Lucas Paredes, president of the Conservatory of Music Student Council, told the Varsitarian.
The musical was chosen not only for its lasting relevance but for its resonance with the country and UST’s wartime history.
“It still talks of very relevant issues today, such as interracial mixing, marriages, prejudice, war, the Pacific War, World War II, and of course, it resonates with our experience,” Chua said.
“South Pacific” tells the story of American nurse Nellie Forbush, who falls in love with French plantation owner Emile de Becque amid World War II on a remote South Pacific island.
“When you work with a production, you work not as a solo artist, but you work as a community. It fosters camaraderie, and it’s a very good learning experience, especially for students,” Chua said.
“I think it’s a perfect production where everyone comes together to produce something,” she said.
‘Sampung Mga Daliri Atbp.’
An annual concert staged by the Conservatory of Music, “Sampung Mga Daliri Atbp.,” will be held at the Newport Performing Arts Theater on May 3.
The concert will be on its 35th iteration and will feature 10 pianos, with one to three pianists each. This year’s repertoire has an all-Filipino lineup, namely kundiman folk songs, film soundtracks, and OPM.
The UST Symphony Orchestra and the Conservatory’s instrumental ensembles and bands are expected to perform.
Choral groups UST Coro Tomasino and Liturgikon Vocal Ensemble are also expected to join in the concert.
80th anniversary exhibit
The Conservatory will set up an exhibit, in partnership with the MusikaPilipinas project, at the UST Museum for the entire month of August.
Music manuscripts of Filipino composers will be displayed alongside ephemera or memorabilia related to the Conservatory of Music’s history.
Audio recordings of the manuscripts will be an interactive feature.
“This will be an exciting opportunity to promote and champion the music created, performed, discovered, and studied by many competent Thomasian musicians,” Paredes said.
The Conservatory’s musical and academic contributions are also expected to be displayed in the exhibit.
“These events collectively open a window, a glimpse into the past 80 years of the Conservatory,” Paredes said.
“The best way to honor this Conservatory is by continuously fashioning ourselves to be the best that we can ever be,” Paredes said.
