UST Singers perform in classical concert in Guam

Three outstanding alumni from the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Conservatory of Music (CM) recently performed in a benefit concert in Guam to raise funds for an alumni group's scholarship program.  According to a news release of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), the concert was held  at the Matapang Ballroom of the Guam Holiday Resort and Spa on July 28.

 

The concert entitled “An Evening of Music and Celebration” was organized by the UST Alumni Organization of Guam (USTAOG) and the Philippine Consulate General in Agana.

 

It sought to raise money for the USTAOG’s college scholarship funds, the DFA said.

 

Performing at the concert to an audience of over 200 were UST alumni baritone Cipriano de Guzman, soprano Thea Perez, and pianist Dingdong Fiel.

 

"These accomplished featured artists treated the audience to a night of beautiful music featuring solo and duet classics from musicals,” the DFA said.

 

They performed "My Fair Lady," "Les Miserables," "West Side Story" and the "Phantom of the Opera," to name a few.

 

De Guzman also sang “Nasaan Ka Irog” by Nicanor Abelardo while Perez performed “Makikiliti Kang Totoo” by Tito Arevalo and Levi Celerio.

 

Aside from this, Perez performed pieces from the operettas Naughty Marietta and The Merry Widow and Fiel performed Prelude No. 12 "Fireworks" by Claude Debussy.

 

For their finale, they sang “Gaano Ko Ikaw Kamahal,” composed by two Philippine national artists, Levi Celerio and Ernani Cuenco.

 

Accomplished singers

 

De Guzman is a recipient of a full scholarship from the Klassikal Music Foundation businessman and tenor George Yang.

 

De Guzman graduated as a Cum Laude with a Bachelor in Music Education Voice Emphasis minor in piano.

 

He is currently under the wings of Maestra Irma Ponce-Enrile Potenciano and Professor Fidel Calalang Jr. for his course in Choral Conducting as a Bachelor in Music Major in Voice minor.

 

Similarly, Perez received a scholarship in 1999 allowing her to pursue studies at the Elisabeth University of Music in Hiroshima, Japan with a course of Master in Music in Vocal Performance.

 

During that time she was mentored by Marcella Reale and Uwe Heilman.

 

Perez is now a faculty member of the USTCM and St. Paul's University College of Music and Performing Arts hosting shows Paco Park Presents.

 

Meanwhile, Fiel earned his degree in Bachelor of Music major in Piano in 2007 with the guidance of former Conservatory dean, Professor Erlinda Fule.

 

He studied for more than two years in Germany at the Franz Liszt Hochschule Fur Musik in Weimar.

 

From 2007-2009 he was one out of only four pianists chosen to study Solo Piano and Chamber Music under then Hochschule Rector Professor Rolf Dieter Arens.

 

He is also a recipient of two prestigious awards: