Manila Symphony Junior Orchestra wins Gold Prize at 13th Bratislava International Youth Music Festival

The Manila Symphony Junior Orchestra (MSJO) just won a Gold Prize, as well as the Grand Prix for orchestra, at the 13th Bratislava International Youth Music Festival held from July 2 to 4 in Slovakia.

The MSJO took to social media to share their triumph, writing that they garnered 99 points at the festival under the baton of their conductor, Jeffrey Solares.

The Grand Prix is awarded to ensembles who get 97 points or higher. MSJO took home the Grand Prix for orchestra, while the Afrikaans Hoer Meisisskool Pretoria from South Africa took home the Grand Prix for choir. Out of 17 ensembles who performed, only the two were given the honor.

"The MSJO performed a program of 20 minutes, consisting of Stephan Koncz’s 'A New Satiesfaction,' 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," MSJO wrote on Facebook.

The festival was presided by artistic director Professor Milan Kolena, with the jury comprising distinguished musicians from Australia, the United States, and Slovakia.

The MSJO delegation this year comprised 40 musicians, plus three faculty members who trained the group, namely conductor Jeffrey, Sara Maria Gonzales, and Arnold Josue. The delegation was also joined by their sponsor Standard Insurance, led by group chairman Ernesto "Judes" Echauz.

This is the MSJO's first time to visit Bratislava to participate in the music festival, which saw the attendance of more than 500 youth participants hailing from 13 countries.

The delegation is now in Vienna to participate at the 2024 Summa Cum Laude International Music Festival, where they won first prize back in 2018. MSJO is hoping to win first prize anew this year.

The MSJO is a training program of the Manila Symphony Orchestra Foundation for advanced students. Following the MSJO's big win, the MSO congratulated the delegation on social media.

Congratulations, Manila Symphony Junior Orchestra!

— CDC, GMA Integrated News