Ryan C., music icons in national confab

Thursday, October 14, 2010

MAESTRO Ryan Cayabyab, most respected guru of the country's music artists, will be among the personalities expected to grace the 2010 Philippine Choral Directors Association (PCDA) National Convention.

The national convention, held for the first time Metro Manila at the Brokenshire Resort and Convention Center on November 11 to 15, intends to elevate the standards of choral conducting in the country.

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Choral members, conductors and directors are urged to join as there will be workshops and master classes to be handled by resource speakers including Cayabyab.

"We hope to gather all the choirs and conductors of the country to join us. We should be united, we should be together because with this, we can achieve so much more in the art form of choir," President Jonathan Velasco of PCDA told reporters during the Club 888 Forum at the Marco Polo Hotel.

Nolasco admitted that classical choir is not appreciated by the mainstream audience, but through gatherings like this national convention, people will be brought together to appreciate what choral music is all about.

"We always say that the choirs are the positive activity wherein the members can express themselves through singing. It requires you to be humble enough to make your personality fit the group," Velasco said. "Kailangan mag-blend ka, not just with your choir mates but also with your personality. Unity in a team. Kailangan mag-work kayo as one to achieve one tone."

Oscar Pantaleon, Secretary General of PCDA, said the choir is also a great alternative activity for the young, much like sports.

The Philippine Madrigal Singers are expected to arrive as well for a concert as part of the convention. (Ivy C. Tejano)