THE 19-YEAR-OLD violinist Diomedes Saraza Jr. electrified Philamlife Theater as the impeccable soloist in Paganini?s D Major Violin Concerto, and got a rousing standing ovation on the first part of a symphonic program along with the Manila Symphony Orchestra under German guest conductor Christoph Poppen.

The soloist projected solid focus, rare intensity, and a musicality that touched the heart. It was also a unique partnership -- Poppen and Saraza and a resounding triumph for the Manila Symphony Orchestra, which fleshed out a dynamic reading of Beethoven?s Symphony No.5 in C Minor and Haydn?s Symphony No. 104 in D Major.

?The key to a good performance is to focus consistently during the concert no matter what happens,? Saraza said.

?All the things that you have practiced must find their way in the performance.?

The MSO started the concert with Bach?s Air in D as a special tribute to President Aquino who passed away on the day of the concert.

Of the violin soloist, US-based violinist Joseph Esmilla said: ?He will stand out among the new generation of young Filipino violinists.?

Saraza is also the first Filipino Outstanding Academic Achievement awardee of President Obama?s Education Awards Program during his senior year at St. Raymund High School for Boys in Bronx, New York, where he was also nominated as one of the best high-school students in New York.

Saraza told the Philippine Daily Inquirer: ?The Obama citation was a recognition of all my hard work in school. I was in the first honor roll over the past four years in my school, but I shared the award with 15 others. My parents, of course, were happy and proud.?

Now an incoming full scholar at the Juilliard School of Music in New York, Saraza is thus far the only young Filipino violinist accepted there since the 1970s, where the last Filipino violin student was Esmilla.

Most difficult

Saraza said he was very happy with his Philamlife concert, which was his first performance with an orchestra of the fiendishly difficult Paganini D Major concerto.

?The most difficult part of playing this concerto is the notes themselves. They require a huge amount of energy and violin technique. The thing that makes it more difficult is putting the right character on the notes.

?My teacher used to say this piece should sound easy and playful even though the notes are hard. You can?t just focus on hitting the notes right because they require from the soloist the right mood and character -- not to mention various shapes and color.?

Saraza was so focused on his piece that he was not aware President Corazon Aquino had died till after his performance. Of course, he wondered why the Manila Symphony Orchestra was playing Bach?s Air in D right after the national anthem, which was not in the program, until he was told of Aquino?s death.

Said Saraza: ?As a Filipino, I salute President Aquino for everything she did for our country. It?s very unfortunate that one of the happiest days of my musical life is also one of the saddest days of our country.?

The MSO will be heard again in the same venue on Sept. 26, with Mary Anne Espina as soloist in Chopin?s Piano Concerto No. 1.

UST Singers win US tilt

Even with the worldwide swine-flu scare, the UST Singers remained unfazed in their latest US tour and emerged the top winner in the recently concluded 2nd California International Choral Competitition held in San Luis Obispo, California.

They were judged the top winner in the required-pieces category, where they were judged the best interpreter of Bach?s ?Alles was odem hat lobe denn Herrn?; ?Ave Maria? by Los Angeles-based composer Morten Lauridson; and ?Numerations? by Lithuanian composer Jonas Tamoluionis.

As if this were not enough, they also won first prize in the folklore category, where they performed Fidel Calalang Jr.?s ?Ayug ti Amianan? (Scenes from the North), sung in three parts.

The Philippine choir, which bested choirs from the US, Macedonia, Africa and Saudi Arabia, also copped the People?s Choice Prize given to the best choir as chosen by the public in the four-day choral event.

Before this choral triumph, the UST Singers has won over 45 top prizes in previous choral competitions around the world.