Youngsters sing the love songs of their parents in OPM concert

Tiffany Viray

Jared Martin

Singers Jared Martin, 21, and Tiffany Viray, 17, are thrilled to be part of the upcoming tribute concert to Original Philippine Music (OPM) composer Cecile Azarcon, who is celebrating 35 years in the music business.

In “An Evening of Original Philippine Music with Cecile Azarcon and Sounds of Manila,” the pop singers will collaborate on one or two OPM duets of songs that have been playing in their homes since they were kids.

One of Azarcon’s timeless hits, “Ikaw ang Lahat Sa Akin,” which was the first Tagalog single of then up-and-coming pop balladeer Martin Nievera in the ‘80s, and revived in the ‘90s, was one that stood out for both singers, especially to Jared.

“My earliest memory of me performing was when I was 2 years old singing ‘I Will Always Love You’ by Whitney Houston on top of a table at Pizza Hut and belting out ‘Ikaw Ang Lahat Sa Akin’ by Martin Nievera in the kitchen of my grandparents’ home,” recalled Jared who recently shared the stage with Nievera at a concert in Atlantic City.

OPM songs form a “fundamental part of my love for Filipino music,” and should be deemed important by all Filipinos, he said.

“We don’t just borrow music from America. We have our own music that we should be proud of,” he added. Jared is currently enrolled at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia’s bachelor’s program in vocal performance and master’s program in music education.

Pop singer Tiffany, who is a working high school student from Freehold, New Jersey, grew up singing OPM duets with her father.

“OPM is how we portray our own music, and how we portray our own message,” said Tiffany who recently appeared in televised auditions at “The X Factor” on FOX. “Our music is definitely different from others.”

Besides “Ikaw ang Lahat Sa Akin,” Azarcon also wrote “Even If,” recently revived by Tony winner Lea Salonga; “How Did You Know,” recently revived by Gary Valenciano; “Ikaw Ang Lahat Sa Akin” by Nievera; and “I Think I’m In Love,” originally sung by Kuh Ledesma, and many more!

Besides Jared and Tiffany, the one-night-only concert will also feature live performances from Azarcon and the Sounds of Manila band, made up of Ronnie Sabangan, Hermie Angeles, Suzanne Lansangan-Sabangan, JR Gendrano, Bobby de Leon (on hiatus) and Aaron Garcia (on hiatus); seasoned show band vocalists Arnel Arcedo and Tony Gado; and guest guitarist Carlo Tampac of Chapter 2 band.

The concert, “An Evening of Original Philippine Music with Cecile Azarcon and Sounds of Manila,” is a presentation by Synergy Production & Marketing Inc. It will be held at Peter Norton Symphony Space (2537 Broadway and 95th Street) on Sunday, April 27, at 7 p.m.

For tickets ($60-VIP, $45-Orchestra, and $35-Balcony) call Symphony Space box office at 212-864-5400 or purchase from Synergy Production at 212-206-1627.