Manila Symphony Junior Orchestra wins grand prize in Europe music fest
Just a few days after their send-off concert in Manila last June 27, the Manila Symphony Junior Orchestra (MSJO), under the baton of Jeffrey Solares, was awarded the gold prize plus the Grand Prix at the 13th Bratislava International Youth Music in Slovakia on July 4.
The ranking: first, MSJO; second, Fire Choir; third, St. Margaret’s Anglican Girls‘ School Choir; and fourth, Afrikaans Hoër Meisieskool Pretoria.
Over 50 youth participants from 13 countries attended the three-day festival for youth choirs and orchestras, presided over by the festival’s artistic director Milan Kolena.
Distinguished musicians from Slovakia, the USA, Australia and Italy formed the jury.
Of the 17 ensembles in the festival, only two were given the Grand Prix, one for choir—the Afrikaans Hoer Meisisskool Pretoria from South Africa, and one for orchestra—the MSJO from the Philippines.
A first-timer in the Bratislava music festival, the MSJO got the Grand Prix, which is given only to participants who garnered 97 points or higher. The MSJO scored 99 points.
The MSJO performed a 20-minute program at the Slovakian Radio Symphony Hall consisting of Stephan Koncz’s “A New Satisfaction,” Antonin Dvorak’s “Scherzo from Serenade for Strings,” Ernani Cuenco’s “Nahan” arranged by Cyro Cloui Bon Moral and “Tagu-Taguan” by Ryle Nicole Custodio.
Before the festival, the MSJO had already performed concerts in Budapest, Hungary and Salzburg, Austria.
Vienna music fest
On July 6, the MSJO traveled to Vienna to participate in the 2024 Summa Cum Laude International Youth Music Festival, where they won first prize in 2018.
In 2021, at the height of the pandemic, the youth orchestra also bagged the gold medal on the basis of videos submitted to the festival jury. The competition was conducted online because of the pandemic.
With their initial Vienna conquest in 2017 at the 11th Summa Cum Laude International Youth Music Festival, the MSJO became the first Filipino orchestral ensemble to set foot in the famous Golden Hall of the Musikverein, considered one of the best concert halls in the world.
MSJO made its Vienna debut in 2017 in the hometown of Mozart in Salzburg. They performed Mozart’s Divertimento in D, K. 136 from his set of “Salzburg Symphonies,” eventually winning over 140 orchestras from 33 participating countries.
One jury member remarked after MSJO’s 2021 performance: “I have seen so many great orchestras perform in this hall, but your orchestra has a different warmth in your sound. Vienna is envious of the Philippines because we don’t have the sea. We can feel the waves of the sea while watching you perform.”
In their send-off concert at the Apolinario Mabini Hall of the Department of Foreign Affairs last June 27, the MSJO was greeted with a rousing standing ovation.
Sustained support
This year’s MSJO contingent consists of 40 musicians (20 girls and 20 boys). The orchestra registered for the Vienna festival as early as November 2023.
Said Solares: “It is an uncanny coincidence that in all our tours since 2017, we have exactly a 50-50 ratio between boys and girls. Almost half are new members and are on their first tour, while the others are back for their third or second tour. This time we also have five international scholars studying abroad. The youngest is 9 and oldest is 26.“
Their main sponsor, Standard Insurance, covered all the expenses (hotel, airfare, meals).
“That is the reason we were able to focus on the artistic preparations instead of having to do fundraising,” said Solares, adding, “What we have learned is that given enough support and committed teachers, Filipino musicians have great potential to reach levels of excellence at par with the best in the world. Musicians from Europe recognize our natural instincts and innate musicianship, and all we need is sustained and systematic support and a culture of excellence.”
The morale of the youth orchestra is high, said Solares. “Everyone was excited, everyone was grateful, and all were eager to give their best. There was some pressure in matching our achievement in 2017 and 2018, but we are just happy to have had the opportunity to go back.”
By Pablo A. Tariman
