Concert celebrates Philippine-American bilateral ties, America’s 250th independence milestone
By Romulo Aromin, Jr., MD
The Manhattan School of Music (MSM) partnered with the Philippine Consulate General in New York to host an evening of music commemorating the 80th anniversary of Philippine-U.S. diplomatic relations as well as the 250th anniversary of America’s independence on July 4, 2026.
MSM’s Consulate Series held April 13 at The William R. and Irene D. Miller Recital Hall, aimed to further its cultural presence in New York City by way of a rich and diverse musical recital. This initiative was made possible through the leadership of Madeleine Lucas Tolliver, Dean of Performance and Production Operations, and Nicolas Gonzalez, AVP for Strategic Innovation and Specialist Initiatives.
Artists consisted of MSM students and alumni, which included a number of Filipino Americans, as well as seasoned international performers. The group’s multicultural backgrounds made the event unique and gave it a fresh perspective.
The program was further enhanced through the collaboration of Maestro Constantine Orbelian, Executive and Music Director and Principal Conductor of the New York City Opera with the first segment featuring a number of compositions from international classical and American canons. True to its mission, New York City Opera has a long history of inclusion and diversity where it supports artists from different backgrounds and thus provides a uniquely American opera that embraces a cross-sectional representation reflective of its composite audience.
Vladimir Petrov, a Russian American graduating Piano major who was raised in Mexico and a scholar of NYC Opera, rendered classical pieces from Sergei Rachmaninoff’s “Vocalise” and Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s “Andante Maestoso” together with cellist Kristin Reiko Cooper.
Kristin Sampson, an American Mexican soprano, described by the New York Times as endowed with a “bright, sizable and expressive voice,” marveled the audience with her solo performances from Tobias Picker’s “Maryanne” from Emmeline, Carlisle Floyd’s “Ain’t It a Pretty Night?” from Susannah, Leonard Bernstein s “I Feel Pretty” from West Side Story, to Jerry Bock’s Vanilla Ice Cream” from She Loves Me.
The final half of the program showcased the works of Philippine national artists and composers Gilopez Kabayao, the first Filipino violinist to have performed at the Carnegie Hall in 1950; composers Fulgencio Tolentino, Lucresia Kasilag, and Ernani Cuenco. Kasilag and Cuenco’s compositions were reinterpreted and arranged by Riko Higuma and Thomas Palmer, respectively, and performed by the Zodiac Trio, MSM’s Artist-in-Residence.
Adeline Baban, a Filipino American graduating student majoring in Violin performed “Itik-Itik”. Two other FilAm voice students Josette Candelaria and Elijah Ramos, tickled the audience with “Makikiliti Kita” from Severino Reyes’s Walang Sugat.
Additionally, Filipino American Tenor Ramon Tenefrancia, MSM Associate Director of Scheduling and Patron Services, and Soprano Riley Bragg, rendered Cuenco’s songs which included “Kalesa,” “Nahan,” “Gaano ko ikaw kamahal,” “Hangin,” “Ganyan pala ang pagibig,” and “Diligin mo ng hamog ang uhaw na lupa.”
The program’s multicultural colors were further enhanced by attires through SOCSKSARGEN USA, featuring Inaul, T’boli Blaan garments and T’nalakfrom Lake Sebu’s artisans created by the indigenous weavers of southern Philippines.
