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 The Manila Philharmonic Orchestra, an independent orchestra supported by private corporations, was conceptualized and founded to provide a home for all-Filipino artists. 1998 marks the birth of the orchestra and for eight flourishing years henceforth the MPO continually realizes its aspirations to make a difference in the music industry. The strong backbone of MPO is the solid passion for music.
Backed by the finest talents, the group has admirably proven the principle that music is a gift for all and not just for the chosen few. What, with a number of successful concerts in the portfolio and the competitive track records of its members, both locally and internationally. The MPO creates the “bridge” between the orchestra and the audience by participating in music-related activities. The orchestra is currently engaged in
projects that make the excitement and inspiration of music available to
the citizens. Committed to the promotion of classical music within the
community, the Orchestra fulfills its task by ensuring future audiences
through its extensive audience development programs of the projects.
These include the Manila Philharmonic Foundation and MPO School of
Music. The Foundation is the “heartstring” of the organization that
aims to educate young urban poor children to learn how to play an
instrument. The MPO School of Music is offered to enthusiasts of all
ages.
To date, MPO has more than 200 concerts and has partnered with more
than 100 known establishments from various industries. MPO has also
established its name in the market through integrated marketing
communications in collaboration with tri-media and cutting edge concert
concepts. MPO takes a great pride in the resounding success of its
2003-2004 Season Concert Series that was followed by its 2004-2005
Season Concert Series featuring top-caliber international and local
artists such as pianists Cecil Licad, Ingrid Sala Santa Maria, Aileen
Chanco, Raul Sunico, well known violinists Anastasia Chebotareva,
Alexander Tumescu and Oscar Yatco, conductors, Eduardo Browne, Mark
Kadin, Dmitri Liss, Jonathan Velasco, Gerard Salonga, Korean flutist
Hae Won Shin, Soprano Rachelle Gerodias and Tenor Nolyn Cabahug, The
Philippine Madrigal Singers, just to name a few. Adding to its
distinguished roster is the recently concluded triumphant concert with
Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli. It was a once-in-a-lifetime privilege
for MPO to be the chosen orchestra to perform with him in Manila, Hong
Kong and Singapore. In March 2005, MPO was invited to perform in the
1st Miss ASEAN pageant that was held in Jakarta, Indonesia.
With the existence of other orchestras, MPO thrives in the roller
coaster ride of constant change of music genre and the eclectic raves
of the market. MPO remains cohesive with the idea that classical and
popular music, Van Halen and Beethoven can co-exist and through the
versatility (which happens to be the major asset of MPO) of the
ensemble, great concepts come to life. This “notoriety” for cutting
edge concepts have resulted to many other performances that are
uniquely MPO including Philharmonic in Jeans sponsored by Guess USA
(1998 – 2004), Lea Salonga’s Concerts (Songs from the Screen and Songs
form Home), Symphony in F with Freestyle Band and Clashical, with the
rockband Wolfgang among others
MPO continues its mission to adhere to the orchestra’s tradition of
excellence in spreading the beauty of music. A newborn thrust of MPO,
coined by its founder, is to contribute to the nation building,
primarily to educate and inculcate skills and knowledge in music making
and to produce future musicians. MPO has been actively participating
with charitable institutions such as Cerebral Palsy, Gawad Kalinga,
Bantay Bata and CENTEX.
In years to come, the Manila Philharmonic Orchestra continually
embarks on a journey to becoming the top orchestra in the Philippines
and hopefully in the world. Wherever MPO is now, it is just a beginning
of that journey.
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