At this year’s summer music workshop we were fortunate to have Elaine Mallari from the Manila Symphony Orchestra come to teach the violin on the first day. She also gave John Ericson, the Goducate Orchestra’s principal cello player, a short lesson.
The 13 students who each received a violin donated by Wolfgang Violin Studio (Singapore) earlier this year when Channel News Asia did a TV programme on the Goducate Orchestra will form our Junior String Orchestra.
Students who are not learning to play an instrument received voice training.
What we still lack are competent teachers in the viola, cello, double bass and clarinet.
Elaine Mallari training the students who will form the Junior String OrchestraJohn Ericson teaching Jerome (last year a guitar student) how to play the celloStudents undergoing voice trainingMariane and Mary Jane practising the clarinet
Last month three members of the Goducate Orchestra—Jessica Evangelista (flautist), Mariel Camposo (violinist), and Kimberly Cabalfin (violinist)—graduated from high school in Laguna. Through an informal arrangement Goducate was invited to present them with Certificates of Recognition at the school’s graduation ceremony. This presentation was a complete surprise to the students and their parents.
Jessica
Jessica graduated as class valedictorian. She received 11 medals and numerous certificates for her various extracurricular activities. Her parents were surprised that she topped the class because she spent so much time on orchestra practice. Asked how she managed, she said, “Thank you for the Goducate Orchestra, for the discipline that it taught me. One thing I Iearn that being an orchestra member is just like you are studying in school. Being an orchestra member, you need to persevere, you need to listen carefully to the conductor, you need to practice the skills and knowledge that the teacher teaches you. And the same principles you need in studying in school. That’s why, the principles I acquired being an orchestra member, I applied it when I was studying high school”.
Jessica’s mother told me that when Mrs Calora, the lady who donated the land for the school, heard that Jessica received a Certificate of Recognition from Goducate for her services as a volunteer going to villages to teach other children music, Mrs Calora was impressed and said that she would look for sponsors to help young people like Jessica.
It made me realize that there are people willing to help the needy but they don’t know who to support. Goducate helps the needy to help themselves and others, and to draw these people to the attention of sponsors.
When Channel News Asia brought music experts from Singapore to Laguna to help the Goducate Orchestra, they also brought along Ray Sison, principal flautist of the Manila Symphony Orchestra, to help select which of our members would go to Singapore for training. He kindly invited our orchestra to listen to a concert by his orchestra on March 15.
With Elaine Lim, pianist
With Ray Sison, flautist
For the members of our orchestra, who come from poor villages, going to Manila to listen to a professional orchestra, and the Manila Symphony Orchestra at that, was bound to be a thrilling and unforgettable experience. Unfortunately, there were other factors that made the experience unforgettable.
As Jordan, our trombonist said, “We totally don’t know that the event was this formal kind. We are the only group who wear casual dress. At first we hesitate to go in as we think we are at the wrong place or the wrong occasion”. He added, “Our ignorance was noticed at once. When we clap our hands as the Manila Symphony started playing, everybody looked at us. We tried our best to hide in our chairs”.
But it all ended well. As Jordan put it, “We know so little, yet the stars came to take group pictures with us. And next time we will be in our best attire”.
