MASTERCLASSES :: Third National Masterclass for Choral Conductors :: Speakers
SPEAKERS
- Atty. Mark Thursday Alciso [ Intellectual Property Rights in the choral world ]
- Mark Anthony Carpio [ Working with young and changing male voices ]
- Ryan Cayabyab [ The man and his music ]
- Malou Hermo [ Different approaches to teaching sight-reading ]
- Eudenice Palaruan [ Folk and modern fusion ]
- John Pamintuan [ Hi-tech contests, hi-tech pieces ]
- Anna Piquero [ Metro pop, pop metro ]
- Thomas Schüle [ Choosing the right international festival or competition for your choir ]
- Branko Stark [ Maintaining proper vocal health ]
- Onyl Torres [ I like to move it: morning synergy ]
- Jonathan Velasco [ Singing together ]
- Peter von Wienhardt [ The art of accompaniment ]
Atty. Mark Thursday Alciso
Atty. Mark Thursday P. Alciso received his Bachelor of Arts (Economics) degree from the De La Salle University in 1996 and his Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of the Philippines in 2000. He first worked as an associate of the Sycip Salazar Hernandez & Gatmaitan law firm in Makati City which is the largest and among the most prestigious law firms in the Philippines. He worked there for about five (5) years handling criminal, civil, labor and intellectual property cases. In 2006, he returned to his home province Surigao del Sur to handle pro bono cases for indigents and assist in the political campaign of his father. He went back to Manila in 2008 and became a partner of the Reyes-Fajardo & Alciso Law Office where he primarily handled intellectual property cases. In 2009, he decided to work as in-house counsel for one of his clients, the Filipino Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, Inc. (FILSCAP), to concentrate fully on music copyright practice and gain specialization in that field.
FILSCAP is a collective management organization which primarily enforces the public performance right of local and foreign composers, lyricists and music publishers. Its repertoire covers over 20 million copyrighted local and foreign musical works which constitutes about 95% of the copyrighted musical works that are being publicly performed or played in the Philippines.
At present, Atty. Alciso handles the copyright infringement cases of FILSCAP and represents FILSCAP in conferences, meetings and seminars. He participates in the drafting of regulations and legislation concerning copyright law and he regularly gives lectures on music copyright as part of his advocacy to educate the public about the rights of creators of musical works.
Atty. Alciso also acts as legal counsel for the Filipino Visual Arts and Design Rights Organization (FILVADRO) which was recently established to administer and enforce the rights of visual artists.
FILSCAP is a collective management organization which primarily enforces the public performance right of local and foreign composers, lyricists and music publishers. Its repertoire covers over 20 million copyrighted local and foreign musical works which constitutes about 95% of the copyrighted musical works that are being publicly performed or played in the Philippines.
At present, Atty. Alciso handles the copyright infringement cases of FILSCAP and represents FILSCAP in conferences, meetings and seminars. He participates in the drafting of regulations and legislation concerning copyright law and he regularly gives lectures on music copyright as part of his advocacy to educate the public about the rights of creators of musical works.
Atty. Alciso also acts as legal counsel for the Filipino Visual Arts and Design Rights Organization (FILVADRO) which was recently established to administer and enforce the rights of visual artists.
Mark Anthony Carpio
Mark Anthony Carpio is acknowledged as one of the foremost experts in the field of choral music among the younger set of Filipino conductors. As the choirmaster of the Philippine Madrigal Singers, he leads the group through its disciplined regular rehearsals and hectic calendar of performances. Mark is also a much sought-after choral clinician, frequently giving extensive and in-depth workshops all over the Philippines, as well as in various Asian and European countries. As a noted countertenor, he has performed twice at the Las Piñas Bamboo International Organ Music Festival as an alto soloist: 2005 Handel’s Jubilate and Te Deum; 2009 Haydn’s Great Organ Mass in E flat Major. In November 2008, he made his recital debut at the Cultural Center of the Philippines for the Filipino Artist Series.
Mark entered the University of the Philippines College of Music in 1992 where he studied piano under several distinguished professors such as Asuncion Laureola, Jose Ma. Contreras, and Perla Suaco. Moreover, he was a recipient of the Music Promotion Foundation and Jovita Fuentes MusiCultural Society scholarships. After graduating Cum Laude in 1992, he focused his attention as a member of the Philippine Madrigal Singers, led by National Artist for Music Andrea O. Veneracion back then. He was part of the group’s numerous international concert and competition tours, most particularly the batch that swept the top prizes in Tolosa, Spain in 1996 and the European Grand Prix du Chant Chorale in Tours, France in 1997. That same year, he was also accepted as one of the Philippine representatives into the highly selective World Youth Choir held in Japan.
In 2001, Mark was personally chosen by Prof. Veneracion to succeed her reins as the choirmaster of the Philippine Madrigal Singers. Since then, he has led the group in its numerous tours all over the world. In 2004, he brought the choir to Europe where they won both First prizes in the Habanera and Polyphony categories in the Certámen Internacional de Habaneras y Polifonia held in Torrevieja, Spain. Among the Madz’ greatest recent accolades under his direction are their victories in the 35th Florilege Vocal de Tours, France (2006), and at the 2007 European Grand Prix for Choral Singing held in Arrezo, Italy. On 27 July 2009, the Director-General of UNESCO, Mr Koïchiro Matsuura, designated the Philippine Madrigal Singers as UNESCO Artists for Peace at a ceremony which took place just before the group’s concert at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris.
Aside from the Philippine Madrigal Singers, Mark is also the conductor of the Kilyawan Boys Choir, an internationally award-winning choir, generally consisting of young boys from the Quezon City area.
Mark entered the University of the Philippines College of Music in 1992 where he studied piano under several distinguished professors such as Asuncion Laureola, Jose Ma. Contreras, and Perla Suaco. Moreover, he was a recipient of the Music Promotion Foundation and Jovita Fuentes MusiCultural Society scholarships. After graduating Cum Laude in 1992, he focused his attention as a member of the Philippine Madrigal Singers, led by National Artist for Music Andrea O. Veneracion back then. He was part of the group’s numerous international concert and competition tours, most particularly the batch that swept the top prizes in Tolosa, Spain in 1996 and the European Grand Prix du Chant Chorale in Tours, France in 1997. That same year, he was also accepted as one of the Philippine representatives into the highly selective World Youth Choir held in Japan.
In 2001, Mark was personally chosen by Prof. Veneracion to succeed her reins as the choirmaster of the Philippine Madrigal Singers. Since then, he has led the group in its numerous tours all over the world. In 2004, he brought the choir to Europe where they won both First prizes in the Habanera and Polyphony categories in the Certámen Internacional de Habaneras y Polifonia held in Torrevieja, Spain. Among the Madz’ greatest recent accolades under his direction are their victories in the 35th Florilege Vocal de Tours, France (2006), and at the 2007 European Grand Prix for Choral Singing held in Arrezo, Italy. On 27 July 2009, the Director-General of UNESCO, Mr Koïchiro Matsuura, designated the Philippine Madrigal Singers as UNESCO Artists for Peace at a ceremony which took place just before the group’s concert at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris.
Aside from the Philippine Madrigal Singers, Mark is also the conductor of the Kilyawan Boys Choir, an internationally award-winning choir, generally consisting of young boys from the Quezon City area.
Ryan Cayabyab
Ryan Cayabyab, the only Asian winner in the 2001 Onassis International Cultural Competitions, is the epitome of the homegrown Filipino talent in the world arena of music. Truly a master of his art, Cayabyab is a multi-faceted musician who effortlessly glides from one genre to another clearly indicating the breadth of his versatility. Cayabyab is a composer, arranger, producer, music director, conductor, performance artist, television show host, music educator and arts administrator.
As music director, conductor and accompanist, he has performed in the world’s most famous concert halls working with music greats such as Sammy Davis, Jr., Frank Sinatra, Dianne Schuur and Jim Chappel. He has also performed as music director in command performances for monarchs and heads of states.
As a composer, his eclectic output that traverses ages, unravelling an abundance of musical gems: several masses, numerous film and television scores, full-length ballets, ten musicals, an opera, solo and ensemble instrumental pieces, short symphonic works, three one-man a cappella albums and a hefty yield of popular songs recorded by top Filipino singers spanning over three decades. His works have copped the major prizes in songwriting competitions worldwide.
Cayabyab has won a total of 10 best movie score awards from various Philippine film award-giving bodies, 19 awards from the recording industry, plus countless gold record awards for various commercial recordings. He has produced top selling and award winning albums. “Ryan, Ryan, Musikahan” the television show, won 14 awards as best television musical show and for Cayabyab, as best show host.
In 1986, together with his wife Emmy, he established what is now known as The Music School of Ryan Cayabyab, a music school that specializes in developing outstanding performance artists. The music studio has trained a whole generation of young singer-performers who have become nationally known Filipino performing artists.
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As music director, conductor and accompanist, he has performed in the world’s most famous concert halls working with music greats such as Sammy Davis, Jr., Frank Sinatra, Dianne Schuur and Jim Chappel. He has also performed as music director in command performances for monarchs and heads of states.
As a composer, his eclectic output that traverses ages, unravelling an abundance of musical gems: several masses, numerous film and television scores, full-length ballets, ten musicals, an opera, solo and ensemble instrumental pieces, short symphonic works, three one-man a cappella albums and a hefty yield of popular songs recorded by top Filipino singers spanning over three decades. His works have copped the major prizes in songwriting competitions worldwide.
Cayabyab has won a total of 10 best movie score awards from various Philippine film award-giving bodies, 19 awards from the recording industry, plus countless gold record awards for various commercial recordings. He has produced top selling and award winning albums. “Ryan, Ryan, Musikahan” the television show, won 14 awards as best television musical show and for Cayabyab, as best show host.
In 1986, together with his wife Emmy, he established what is now known as The Music School of Ryan Cayabyab, a music school that specializes in developing outstanding performance artists. The music studio has trained a whole generation of young singer-performers who have become nationally known Filipino performing artists.
Click Here for additional information.
Ma. Lourdes V. Hermo
Ma. Lourdes V. Hermo holds Bachelor and Master of Music degrees in Choral Conducting from the University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City. At the College of Music, she was a member of the the world-renowned Philippine Madrigal Singers and the Philippine Youth Orchestra. She was likewise, one of the training conductors of the Young Artists Chamber Orchestra.
Ms. Hermo is regularly invited as lecturer/facilitator in music and choral conducting workshops and invariably, acts as ‘clinician’ of competition-bound choirs. Moreover, she has been consistently engaged as adjudicator in various choral competitions including among others the Voices in Harmony and the National Music Competitions for Young Artists (NAMCYA). She sits as Chairman of the 2010 NAMCYA Children’s Choir Competitions. She is currently, the Vice-President of the Philippine Choral Directors Association and a member of the International Federation of Choral Music. Together with Mr. Jonathan Velasco, President of PCDA, they represented the Philippines in the First Asia-Pacific Choral Summit in Wuxi, China in July 2009.
At present, Ms. Hermo is a professor of Music at St. Scholastica’s College in Manila and has assumed the position of Music Director of the School of Music’s Chamber Choir as well as, the College Faculty Chorale. Since 2002, she has been the Choirmaster of the internationally acclaimed Ateneo College Glee Club which had capped its European tour in September 2006 with a string of first prizes and special awards at the Miltenberg International Competition in Germany and Arezzo, Italy. This was followed by a successful tour of Guam in April 2009. In addition, she is the Music Director of Virlanie Foundation Chorale, a non-profit organization founded by Mr. Dominique Lemay that is primarily aimed at providing a humane shelter and holistic environment for street children.
Ms. Hermo is regularly invited as lecturer/facilitator in music and choral conducting workshops and invariably, acts as ‘clinician’ of competition-bound choirs. Moreover, she has been consistently engaged as adjudicator in various choral competitions including among others the Voices in Harmony and the National Music Competitions for Young Artists (NAMCYA). She sits as Chairman of the 2010 NAMCYA Children’s Choir Competitions. She is currently, the Vice-President of the Philippine Choral Directors Association and a member of the International Federation of Choral Music. Together with Mr. Jonathan Velasco, President of PCDA, they represented the Philippines in the First Asia-Pacific Choral Summit in Wuxi, China in July 2009.
At present, Ms. Hermo is a professor of Music at St. Scholastica’s College in Manila and has assumed the position of Music Director of the School of Music’s Chamber Choir as well as, the College Faculty Chorale. Since 2002, she has been the Choirmaster of the internationally acclaimed Ateneo College Glee Club which had capped its European tour in September 2006 with a string of first prizes and special awards at the Miltenberg International Competition in Germany and Arezzo, Italy. This was followed by a successful tour of Guam in April 2009. In addition, she is the Music Director of Virlanie Foundation Chorale, a non-profit organization founded by Mr. Dominique Lemay that is primarily aimed at providing a humane shelter and holistic environment for street children.
Eudenice V. Palaruan
John August Pamintuan
John August Pamintuan is a renowned Philippine musician who has appeared as conductor and composer in five continents, and whose compositions are widely-sought for international competitions.
Since 2007, John is recognized by the American Federation of Musicians as an artist of sustained international acclaim.
As a conductor, he was formerly with the Young People's Chorus of New York City, the Palawan Children's Choir, the Ateneo de Manila High School Glee Club, and the Ateneo College Glee Club. He was assistant conductor and pianist of this last group when they won 25 gold medals, first prizes, and special awards in Maribor (Slovenia), Riva del Garda (Italy), Cork (Ireland), Tours (France), and Tolosa (Spain) in 2000.
As a composer, over the last ten years John August Pamintuan has written around 200 commissioned works for choirs around the world. In the words of Dr. Joel Navarro of Calvin College (Michigan), "John is a gifted singer, a skillful pianist, and a promising composer, and writes compositions that depict indigenous music practices and traditions that are given rich sonorities, rhythmic drive, effusion of character, and fervency of expression."
In the past months, John's works were performed in the USA, Argentina, Austria, England, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Japan, Korea, the Netherlands, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, and Venezuela. He was awarded the Prize for the Premiere of a New Work at the 2009 Florilege Vocal de Tours (France) for "Oremus" performed by Vocalia Taldea of Spain (Basilio Astulez, dir.), and also won 2nd prize for his work MISSA BREVIS in the Angelica Choir Kunitachi College of Music composition competition in Tokyo (Japan) November 2008.
In 2010, his new works are performed at the Certamen Coral de Tolosa (Spain), Musica Sacra Festival (Marktoberdorf, Germany), Polyfollia Festival (France), Malaysian Choral Eisteddfod, World Choir Games Shaoxing (China), Montreux International Choral Festival (Switzerland), and at the European Grand Prix for Choral Singing. His new book Florilegium Op. 6 is also released worldwide in 2010, and the accompanying CD in January 2011.
Future engagements include keynote addresses at the Chorus Messe in Osaka (Japan), Festival 500 Newfoundland (Canada), and a visiting conductor appointment at the Pennsylvania Academy of Music.
Since 2007, John is recognized by the American Federation of Musicians as an artist of sustained international acclaim.
As a conductor, he was formerly with the Young People's Chorus of New York City, the Palawan Children's Choir, the Ateneo de Manila High School Glee Club, and the Ateneo College Glee Club. He was assistant conductor and pianist of this last group when they won 25 gold medals, first prizes, and special awards in Maribor (Slovenia), Riva del Garda (Italy), Cork (Ireland), Tours (France), and Tolosa (Spain) in 2000.
As a composer, over the last ten years John August Pamintuan has written around 200 commissioned works for choirs around the world. In the words of Dr. Joel Navarro of Calvin College (Michigan), "John is a gifted singer, a skillful pianist, and a promising composer, and writes compositions that depict indigenous music practices and traditions that are given rich sonorities, rhythmic drive, effusion of character, and fervency of expression."
In the past months, John's works were performed in the USA, Argentina, Austria, England, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Japan, Korea, the Netherlands, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, and Venezuela. He was awarded the Prize for the Premiere of a New Work at the 2009 Florilege Vocal de Tours (France) for "Oremus" performed by Vocalia Taldea of Spain (Basilio Astulez, dir.), and also won 2nd prize for his work MISSA BREVIS in the Angelica Choir Kunitachi College of Music composition competition in Tokyo (Japan) November 2008.
In 2010, his new works are performed at the Certamen Coral de Tolosa (Spain), Musica Sacra Festival (Marktoberdorf, Germany), Polyfollia Festival (France), Malaysian Choral Eisteddfod, World Choir Games Shaoxing (China), Montreux International Choral Festival (Switzerland), and at the European Grand Prix for Choral Singing. His new book Florilegium Op. 6 is also released worldwide in 2010, and the accompanying CD in January 2011.
Future engagements include keynote addresses at the Chorus Messe in Osaka (Japan), Festival 500 Newfoundland (Canada), and a visiting conductor appointment at the Pennsylvania Academy of Music.
Anna Tabita Abeleda-Piquero
The embodiment of hard work, commitment to the choral arts, talent extraordinaire and austere discipline are words to best describe Ms. Anna Tabita Abeleda-Piquero.
A self taught pedagogue, she started teaching a choir at an early age of 16. Gaining experience and exposure as the assistant Choirmaster of the UP Singing Ambassadors under the mentorship of Mr. Eduardo Manguiat, Ms. Piquero has toured the world and joined countless competition as a mezzo Soprano. She reached the pinnacle of her singing career when she eventually joined the world-acclaimed Philippine Madrigal Singers, where she was exposed to various genre of music under the direction of the Philippine National Artist for Music - Mrs. Andrea Ofilada-Veneracion. She was part of the group when they won the European Grand Prix for Choral music in 1997. These experiences also enabled her to develop her talent in composition and choral arrangement as the resident arranger of MADZ.
She found her niche in the international choral scene as conductor when she handled the University of the East Chorale in 1999 while studying Bachelor of Music major in Conducting at the University of the Philippines, transforming the group from an ordinary University Choir to an ensemble extraordinaire winning not only locally but also in Asia and Europe in a very short time. Most recently she was awarded Special Prize for the best programming and direction in Bela Bartok 23rd International Choir Competition 2008 held in Debrecen, Hungary.
Presently she is one of the most sought after conductor/ vocal clinician/ and juror locally and around the world. She is a Board Member of the newly founded, Philippine Choral Directors Association (PCDA). She also excels in her career as the conductor/choral consultant of several company and school choirs at the same time she avidly continues to hold choral workshops all over the country as part of the MADZ and NCCA outreach programs. With much passion, she spreads the same discipline, dedication, and love for the craft to all those who are under her direction.
A self taught pedagogue, she started teaching a choir at an early age of 16. Gaining experience and exposure as the assistant Choirmaster of the UP Singing Ambassadors under the mentorship of Mr. Eduardo Manguiat, Ms. Piquero has toured the world and joined countless competition as a mezzo Soprano. She reached the pinnacle of her singing career when she eventually joined the world-acclaimed Philippine Madrigal Singers, where she was exposed to various genre of music under the direction of the Philippine National Artist for Music - Mrs. Andrea Ofilada-Veneracion. She was part of the group when they won the European Grand Prix for Choral music in 1997. These experiences also enabled her to develop her talent in composition and choral arrangement as the resident arranger of MADZ.
She found her niche in the international choral scene as conductor when she handled the University of the East Chorale in 1999 while studying Bachelor of Music major in Conducting at the University of the Philippines, transforming the group from an ordinary University Choir to an ensemble extraordinaire winning not only locally but also in Asia and Europe in a very short time. Most recently she was awarded Special Prize for the best programming and direction in Bela Bartok 23rd International Choir Competition 2008 held in Debrecen, Hungary.
Presently she is one of the most sought after conductor/ vocal clinician/ and juror locally and around the world. She is a Board Member of the newly founded, Philippine Choral Directors Association (PCDA). She also excels in her career as the conductor/choral consultant of several company and school choirs at the same time she avidly continues to hold choral workshops all over the country as part of the MADZ and NCCA outreach programs. With much passion, she spreads the same discipline, dedication, and love for the craft to all those who are under her direction.
Thomas Schüle
Thomas Schüle finished his studies of Musicology in the year 1986 at the University of Tübingen/Germany with the Master of Arts Diploma. From 1993 until 1999 he was Vice Director Sales & Marketing of the State Theatre and Opera House in Stuttgart. At the same time he was singer in the Opera Chorus and lecturer for Cultural Management at the University of Heilbronn. He has won several international choir competitions as a singer in “Studio Vocale Karlsruhe” choir.
During the past 25 years Thomas Schüle was organizer of many concerts, music festivals, CD- and TV Productions and concert tours. A highlight was the Open Air with Sir Elton John in the Soccer Stadium of Darmstadt/Germany where he was the head of organization in 2003. He was a board of Directors of INTERKULTUR at all WORLD CHOIR GAMES and WORLD CHOIR CHAMPIONSHIPS presented so far in Austria, Korea, Germany and China and the ASIAN CHOIR GAMES in Indonesia and Korea. In 2010 he will be head of organization at the Malaysian Choral Eisteddfod in Kuala Lumpur and in 2011 at the Vietnam International Choir Festival & Competition in Hoi An. He was member of the Jury at different National and International Choir Competitions in Malaysia, Korea and the Philippines.
During the past 25 years Thomas Schüle was organizer of many concerts, music festivals, CD- and TV Productions and concert tours. A highlight was the Open Air with Sir Elton John in the Soccer Stadium of Darmstadt/Germany where he was the head of organization in 2003. He was a board of Directors of INTERKULTUR at all WORLD CHOIR GAMES and WORLD CHOIR CHAMPIONSHIPS presented so far in Austria, Korea, Germany and China and the ASIAN CHOIR GAMES in Indonesia and Korea. In 2010 he will be head of organization at the Malaysian Choral Eisteddfod in Kuala Lumpur and in 2011 at the Vietnam International Choir Festival & Competition in Hoi An. He was member of the Jury at different National and International Choir Competitions in Malaysia, Korea and the Philippines.
Branko Stark (also Starc)
BRANKO STARC (1954), is a composer, conductor, vocologist and phonopedagogue. He graduated from Zagreb Music Academy. His creative work includes composing more than 180 vocal and instrumental works for which he received several prestigious awards and acknowledgements.
As a conductor, he specialized in choral music, and has directed and worked with more than twenty professional and amateur choirs, including the Croatian Radio &Television Choir, Lado Ensemble and others. He held a position of choir director in the Comedy Theatre (Zagreb City Theatre).
In the field of phonopedagogy, he has trained singers, choir conductors, actors, speech therapists, phoneticians and rhetoricians, and has been involved in the speech therapy of the hearing-impaired. As an invited speaker, he has participated at many international symposiums and academic conferences on voice pedagogy in Croatia and abroad.
He is a guest lecturer at many universities. His particular field of interest lies in the vocal theory and academic and pedagogical research in voice, as well as in publishing scientific papers on the above issues. He has founded the international societies Phonia , Croatian Association of Choral Conductors and Vocal Academy (a specialized pedagogical system for the training of the speaking and singing voice).
He is also a member of International Committee of Choir Olympics and International Federation for Choral Music (IFCM) where he participates in the role as an advisor for Croatia.
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As a conductor, he specialized in choral music, and has directed and worked with more than twenty professional and amateur choirs, including the Croatian Radio &Television Choir, Lado Ensemble and others. He held a position of choir director in the Comedy Theatre (Zagreb City Theatre).
In the field of phonopedagogy, he has trained singers, choir conductors, actors, speech therapists, phoneticians and rhetoricians, and has been involved in the speech therapy of the hearing-impaired. As an invited speaker, he has participated at many international symposiums and academic conferences on voice pedagogy in Croatia and abroad.
He is a guest lecturer at many universities. His particular field of interest lies in the vocal theory and academic and pedagogical research in voice, as well as in publishing scientific papers on the above issues. He has founded the international societies Phonia , Croatian Association of Choral Conductors and Vocal Academy (a specialized pedagogical system for the training of the speaking and singing voice).
He is also a member of International Committee of Choir Olympics and International Federation for Choral Music (IFCM) where he participates in the role as an advisor for Croatia.
Click Here for additional information.
Onyl Torres
Jonathan Velasco
Jonathan Velasco is a most sought-after choral conductor, clinician, and adjudicator in the world today. He joined the University of the Philippines Madrigal Singers under Prof. Andrea Veneracion in 1981, and became its assistant choirmaster later. In 1989, he studied Choral Conducting at the Berliner Kirchenmusikschule under Martin Behrmann and finished with distinction.
He is the first Asian principal conductor of the World Youth Choir and was jury for the 2002, 2004, and 2006 Choir Olympics in Busan, Bremen and Xiamen. He has also judged the international choral competitions in Maasmechelen (Belgium), Budapest (Hungary), Tolosa (Spain), Wernigerode and Marktoberdorf (Germany), Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) and Hongkong.
Velasco regularly holds choral clinics and workshops in Manila as well as in the USA, Germany, France, Sweden, Spain, the Netherlands, Japan, Indonesia, Taiwan, Malaysia and Singapore. He is the President of the Philippine Choral Directors' Association (PCDA) and currently conducts the Ateneo Chamber Singers.
He is the first Asian principal conductor of the World Youth Choir and was jury for the 2002, 2004, and 2006 Choir Olympics in Busan, Bremen and Xiamen. He has also judged the international choral competitions in Maasmechelen (Belgium), Budapest (Hungary), Tolosa (Spain), Wernigerode and Marktoberdorf (Germany), Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) and Hongkong.
Velasco regularly holds choral clinics and workshops in Manila as well as in the USA, Germany, France, Sweden, Spain, the Netherlands, Japan, Indonesia, Taiwan, Malaysia and Singapore. He is the President of the Philippine Choral Directors' Association (PCDA) and currently conducts the Ateneo Chamber Singers.
Peter von Wienhardt
Peter von Wienhardt was born in 1966 in Budapest. From 1984 onwards, he studied at the State University of Music and Performing Arts in Stuttgart and completed his studies there in 1992 in the class of Oleg Maisenberg. Musical impressions and influences were formed through master classes with Georges Cziffra, Werner Scholz, György Sebök and György Kurtág, to name but a few. Peter von Wienhardt won numerous national and international competitions, including the Freinsheim Piano Competition, the Bartók Competition in Budapest, the Liszt Competition “George Cziffra” in Paris, and he was twice scholarship and prize winner of the “Deutscher Musikrat”.
Since 2002, von Wienhardt has been leading an annual festival in southern Sweden (Mellby Sommerkonzerte), always with high-profile and distinguished performers. In his home city of Münster he is responsible for the established Grieg Festival Münster, and in 2010, for the first time as artistic director of the Aaseerenade, the first open air crossover festival in Germany.
For many years, von Wienhardt has been travelling the world in various capacities, including that of pianist, conductor, composer and chamber musician. He regularly has guest appearances in Asia and South America and has performed in the most renowned concert halls worldwide. The number of his CD productions as a soloist, chamber musician and composer, increases year by year. The CD production with Arabella Steinbacher, violin, with the label Orfeo, was honoured with the ECHO KLASSIK award in 2007.
Peter von Wienhardt has also devoted the past few years to reaching new artistic heights. He has composed, amongst other works, two violin concertos, a cello concerto, a piano quintet, a chamber and the piano quintet. An opera is currently in the making.
In 2010 von Wienhardt was appointed Professor of Piano and Crossover at the Musikhochschule Münster, a faculty of the Westfalian Wilhelms-University.
Since 2002, von Wienhardt has been leading an annual festival in southern Sweden (Mellby Sommerkonzerte), always with high-profile and distinguished performers. In his home city of Münster he is responsible for the established Grieg Festival Münster, and in 2010, for the first time as artistic director of the Aaseerenade, the first open air crossover festival in Germany.
For many years, von Wienhardt has been travelling the world in various capacities, including that of pianist, conductor, composer and chamber musician. He regularly has guest appearances in Asia and South America and has performed in the most renowned concert halls worldwide. The number of his CD productions as a soloist, chamber musician and composer, increases year by year. The CD production with Arabella Steinbacher, violin, with the label Orfeo, was honoured with the ECHO KLASSIK award in 2007.
Peter von Wienhardt has also devoted the past few years to reaching new artistic heights. He has composed, amongst other works, two violin concertos, a cello concerto, a piano quintet, a chamber and the piano quintet. An opera is currently in the making.
In 2010 von Wienhardt was appointed Professor of Piano and Crossover at the Musikhochschule Münster, a faculty of the Westfalian Wilhelms-University.
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