Open Spaces 2013 – The 3rd Baguio Music Festival

TO OTHERS, February in Baguio means float and street dancing parades, but to some musicians and music lovers, it is also time for the annual Baguio Music Festival.

Launched in 2011 with the support of the Baguio Flower Festival Foundation Inc. and chaired by Councilor Richard Cariño, “Open Spaces 2013 – The 3rd Baguio Music Festival” promises to be an exciting showcase of musical talents. And as in the previous festivals, this year’s four-day event will take audiences on a diverse musical journey highlighting the richness of the local music scene in various venues at Camp John Hay.

“What are the events lined up this year? Maybe we can jam, just like before,” Abby Clutario of Manila-based group, Fuseboxx asked Open Spaces Executive Director Karlo Marko Altomonte.

The group performed during the 2011 launch and is returning again this time as one of the featured bands at the festival’s finale.

On February 14, “Open Spaces” 2013 opens with a Valentine’s Day concert at the Bell Amphitheater, Camp John Hay entitled, “Arias,” which features some of the city’s foremost classical and musical theater vocalists.

Heading the cast of “Arias” is noted tenor, John Glen Gaerlan who will be performing along with baritone Lloyd Virgo, soprano Emerald Ventura and local musical theater veterans Jeff Coronado and Ryle Johan Danganan with a repertoire that ranges from beloved Broadway hits and arias from different operas.

“Four Women, For Women” on February 15 puts four of Baguio’s women in music on center stage – Aliw Awardee Raye Baquirin performing solos from Filipino musicales, Eunice Caburao with a Janis Joplin-filled repertoire, and again Emerald Ventura, this time jazzing it up with her husband-guitarist Ethan Andrew Ventura and Ryle Johan Danganan belting it out and rocking the stage with 70’s hits at the Ayala Technohub grounds at Camp John Hay.

“You gotta have a fiddle in the band,” so goes a country song, and in “Take Me Home – Tunog Baguio” on February 16 at the Scout Valley – Shalan ni Kabadjo, Camp John Hay, country-western band North Crew’s got it.

Composed of steel guitarist Arsen Marzan, vocalist/guitarist Jonathan Quijencio, bassist/vocalist Rodolfo Pedronio, drummer Kristopher Marzan and fiddler/vocalist Chad Rhet Capuyan, North Crew leads the day’s cast with folk veteran Bubut Olarte, bluesman Bong Dailo and rock band Native Flavor in an evening of folk, rock and country music. The audience is encouraged to come in boots and cowboy hats.

And finally, on February 17 also at Scout Valley – Shalan ni Kabadjo, festival chair and jazz pianist Richard Cariño joins Baguio’s top jazz artists in the band, Fusion, along with Déjà vu, Skydive Academy, Ian Paolo Acosta and the Asymptote band and returning guest artist Abby Clutario and Fuseboxx in “Improv,” an evening of jazz and other musical improvisations.

The event is being staged by local artist collective Open Space and co-presented by the Baguio Flower Festival Foundation Inc., Baguio Ayala Land Technohub and John Hay Management Corporation and sponsored by Tiong San. All performances begin at 4 p.m. and are free and open to the public.

“Open Spaces 2013 – The 3rd Baguio Music Festival” advocates the protection of Baguio’s environment, and the preservation and enhancement of the city’s parks and other open spaces.

For further information, call RL Abella-Altomonte, production manager, at 09214647040.