Angono’s pride, the Angono National Symphonic Band is opening this year’s online concert series of recreation center Sunshine Place.
The band, founded by Elpidio San Pedro and his son, the late National Artist for Music Lucio D. San Pedro, will play the latter’s original compositions and arrangements—in commemoration of his 108th birth anniversary on Feb. 11—at the show which will run from Feb. 15 to March 15.
Joining the band is San Pedro’s granddaughter Mary Grace Soleil Intalan San Pedro, who will be singing “Ugoy ng Duyan.” Renowned pianist Mariel Ilusorio will be hosting the program.
The Angono National Symphonic Band is well known for playing the Easter Salubong, the Easter Morning procession that recalls Jesus meeting with the Virgin Mary. It earned two National Band Champion titles in 1960 and 1979. Since then, the group has performed and premiered works by the Maestro and other Filipino composers in concerts performed in different cities and theaters in the country and abroad.
The National Symphonic Band stands as the only symphonic band in the country that performs various styles of music that ranges from baroque to contemporary music.
Conducting the band is Giuseppe Andre “Jopi” V. Diestro, a cellist and music teacher who obtained his Bachelor of Music degree, major in Cello, at the University of the Philippines College of Music under the tutelage of Eduardo Pasamba. Diestro was a cellist of the Manila Symphony Orchestra from 2007 to 2013, and of the Southeast Asian Youth Orchestra in 2007 and 2008 and its Principal Cellist in 2010. He also conducts the Angono Chamber Orchestra, a community youth orchestra based in Angono.
The first Sunshine Classics 2021 offering featuring the Angono National Symphonic Band will be on view on the YouTube channel of Sunshine Place: Senior Recreation Center. Link will be emailed after ticket purchase. Contact Ilusorio at 0917-709-2255 or marielilusorio@hotmail.com.