UP ORCHESTRA

The UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES ORCHESTRA was revitalized in 2003 by Dean Ramon Acoymo at the UP College of Music. The orchestra has a two-pronged purpose that is, to serve as the laboratory class for the instrument majors of both the Strings and Chamber Music Department and the Winds and Percussion Department enrolled in Orchestra Class; as well as serving to be one of the performing groups of the university. The move to revitalize the UP Orchestra in 2003 was accomplished by merging two existing orchestra classes namely: the String Orchestra Class (a brain-child of the late Dean Rey T. Paguio) and the Symphonic Band Class.

The dream of rebuilding the UP Orchestra came to fruition under the revitalized program set by Dean Ramon Acoymo. The orchestra has a two-pronged purpose: to function as the laboratory class for string and wind majors while maintaining its status as one of the university’s performing groups. Since then, the UP Orchestra has made significant contribution to the university by the standard of training that students receive in orchestral performance studies. The semesters which are required of the students, has served to fully equip and prepare them for key positions either in local professional or civic orchestras. Most students who underwent training in the orchestra also landed principal positions in highly-competitive international music camps and festivals. Today, the orcehstra gears itself towards developing more symphonic programs while striving to be the best training venue of the future professional orchestral musicians of the country.

The UP ORCHESTRA had already successful performances including its launching at the Cultural Center of the Philippines in January 2005, the annual performance of the Handel’s Messiah for the UP, it’s constituents and the community at large, and has been featured in the pre-centennial and centennial celebration concerts of produced by the University of the Philippines and the UP College of Music. Though still in its early years, the UP ORCHESTRA already holds the distinction of performing with the country’s most distinguished artists such as concert pianists Prof. Regalado Jose, Nita A. Quinto, Charisse Baldoria, as well as notable opera singers: Ramon Acoymo, Katherine Molina, Aileen Cura, Janet Aracama.

The 60-strong UP ORCHESTRA is under the shared directorship of Prof. Edna Marcil “Michi” Martinez and Prof. Rodney Ambat.

The U.P. Orchestra at the CCP last Jan. 25, 2005, conducted by Mr. Rodney Ambat

 

UP STRING CHAMBER ORCHESTRA

The U.P. String Chamber Orchestra was formed in 1998 during the term of the late Dean Reynaldo T. Paguio. It was conceived to become one of the resident performing groups of the College of Music; in the tradition of the former student orchestras the college had in the previous years.

The present UP String Chamber Orchestra (UPSCO) started with a core of string students enrolled under the orchestra Classes of Prof. Agripino “Nonoy” Diestro, one of the country’s upcoming orchestra conductors and a lecturer of the Conducting Department. He was eventually joined by Ms. Chona Noble and Prof. Edna Marcil “Michi” Martinez of the String’s Department the following semester. In June 1999, the task of leading the orchestra was given to Prof. Wilfredo Pasamba, likewise of the String’s Department, and one of the Philippines’ leading cello players. Together with Prof. Martinez, they honed the talent of the young string players which has a steady membership averaging from 15-20 players. The group included not only string majors but string minors, string players from other colleges and units of UP as well as students from the UP Music Extension Program. The UPSCO has also been a venue for some enthusiasts coming from neighboring communities, who joined rehearsals and performances voluntarily.

To date, the group has held several performances inside and outside the University. They have been featured in the College of Music’s “Thursday Concert Series”, The Diliman Arts Month, the OICA (Office for Initiatives in Culture and the Arts) sponsored concert at the Lagoon, and together with the UP Symphonic Band, constituted the UP Festival Orchestra in 2001; which gave concerts in the UP System Campuses of Diliman, Los Baños and Baguio. This was in line with Anniversary Celebration of the UP College of Music.

With both the potential of the group and the possibilities which inter-department and or inter-disciplinary collaborations could generate, the UP STRING CHAMBER Orchestra has a lot to go for, other than being a class for learning orchestral music. Thus the fruition of Dean Rey Paguio’s dream.

 

The then U.P. Festival Orchestra, conducted by Prof. Josefino Toledo