Triple Fret, the country’s leading guitar ensemble and the only guitar trio of its kind in the Philippines, is the second featured artist of the CCP Special Concert Series on Aug. 24, 7:30 p.m. at the Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino.
This classical-contemporary guitar trio composed of guitarists Jenny de Vera, Iqui Vinculado and Marga Abejo are all graduates of premier schools in the country – the UP College of Music and the UST Conservatory of Music. They have attended masterclasses conducted by David Russell, Carlos Bonnell, Rafael Serrallet, Carsten Link, Lester Demetillo and other influential guitarists. The group stands out for its extensive repertoire of Spanish guitar pieces, tangos, jazz standards, Filipino traditional, love songs and well-loved classical pieces all infused with a style uniquely their own. In 2014, the group released their first independent album entitled #GITARA FILIPINA, which was launched in a sold out concert at the Ayala Museum.
They were awarded first prize in the Guitar Ensemble Category in the 2014 Tarrega Malaysia International Festival in Malaysia. In 2015 they again garnered the First Prize at the 27th Japan Guitar Ensemble Festival in Shinagawa, Tokyo.
Recently, the group received the 2016 National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) Ani ng Dangal for Music, the only guitar recipient of the award. Triple Fret has given numerous performances in Europe and Asia. It’s most distinguished performances in Europe include the Tong Tong Fair in the Netherlands, the SOL Guitars Festival in Valencia, Spain; and the Guitarra Festival in Siguenza, Spain in honor of the world-renowned luthier Jose Romanillos. The members also performed for the Syrian children refugees in the Syrian Refugee Camp in Kilis, Turkey.
For the Aug. 24 concert, Jeffrey Malazo, the group’s musical director, composer and arranger will take the place of Triple Fret member Marga Abejo. Jeffrey Malazo is a DCPMA (Diploma in Creative Performing Musical Arts) Guitar graduate from the UP College of Music
under Prof. Lester Demetillo.
The program includes Joaquin Turina’s Danza from Jardin de Oriente, Op. 25 arranged by Lester Demetillo, Albeniz’ Cordoba, Gregorio Labja’s Usahay arranged by Malazo, Santiago Suarez’ Katakataka arranged by Demetillo, Restie Umali’s Pandangguhan arranged by Agot Espino and Demetillo, Bach’s Concerto in D minor, BWV 1043 arranged by Ramon Vergara, the Philippine premieres of Agustin Avila’s Novem (for Triple Fret) and Gerald Garcia’s Le Grazie arranged by Malazo, the world premiere of Jennifer (for Triple Fret) by Malazo, Paulo Bellinati’s Baiao de Gude and Eraserhead’s Ang Huling El Bimbo, arranged by Malazo.
For ticket inquiries, call (02) 832-2304 or 891-9999.
