Pinoy shines in Asian Youth Orchestra - INQUIRER.net, Philippine News for Filipinos

MANILA, Philippines?His parents called him Mahler, his younger brother Sigmund. Mahler for Gustav, the symphony composer, and Sigmund for the father of psychoanalysis. While the verdict on 14-year-old Sigmund is still out, 18-year-old Mahler Villanueva?s path hews pretty close to his given name.

In July this year, the UP College of Music sophomore hit six Asian cities on a concert tour, doing French horn duties with the Asian Youth Orchestra (AYO). He was one of six young musicians from the Philippines chosen from more than 1,000 young hopefuls who auditioned across Asia.

Summer camps

The experience was both exhilarating and terrifying, Mahler Villanueva recounts. But, in spite of his young age, Mahler?s break was nothing if not carefully cultivated. ?Malaking bahagi sa akin ang summer camps ng PYSB,? he acknowledges. PYSB stands for the Philippine Youth Symphonic Band, first founded in 1978 to keep the tradition of symphonic music alive. Revitalized by the nonprofit Young Musicians Development Organization or YMDO, the PYSB holds annual music camps that hone music skills. Mahler attended four of those intensive live-in music camps.

So, when the opportunity arose to audition for the Asian Youth Orchestra, Mahler was more than ready. For a month, he played in concerts in China, Hong Kong and Japan?a stint that has likewise opened other prospects for him.

Concert tour

The AYO stint was a double milestone, points out Irene Araneta, chairman of YMDO?s Board of Trustees. ?We are supremely proud to have contributed two musicians to this year?s Asian Youth Orchestra,? she shares, adding that Vincent dela Cruz of the PYSB also joined the six-week camp and Asian concert tour of the AYO.

And now, Mahler is back in Manila and busier than ever. Yesterday, he performed with the PYSB in the fun concert, ?Laro! Child?s Play!,? a re-imagining of Philippine traditional folk songs in modern rhythms.

Also this month, YMDO will release the group?s four-track CD sampler. This way children here and abroad can partake of the renewed joy in Filipino music!