The Ultimate Pianist 2008 Competition

Beah Darda C. Gumarang, a third year BM in Piano student was one of the seven solo piano contestants selected by a panel of international pianists out of 13 participants for the piano solo part of ULTIMATE PIANIST COMPETITION 2008.
The ULTIMATE PIANIST 2008 is a piano competition participated by pianists of Filipino heritage residing abroad and pianists of all nationalities residing in the Philippines. The competition aims to simultaneously propagate the talents of the Ultimate Pianist as a Solo Recitalist, an Accompanist to Singers, a collaborative Chamber Musician and as Soloists with Orchestra. Each contestant played a 40-minute repertoire consisting of works from different periods of music: Baroque to Contemporary, before a panel of jury composed of eminent pianists from the USA, CANADA, ISRAEL, CUBA-PUERTO RICO, CHINA and GERMANY.

Just to be heard by these renowned pianists for 40 minutes is a unique experience. To be selected within the cut-off limit is truly a great blessing. We sincerely thank the Lord. CONGRATULATIONS BEAH and the College of Music and the Performing Arts.

Melissa Taqueban's Chamber Recital- a success!

MELISSA G. TAQUEBAN successfully rendered a Chamber Recital (A partial requirement for the degree Master of Music in Piano Performance). She performed before a packed audience in the Founders’ Hall, St. Paul University Manila last July 19, 2008. Her repertoire includes R. Schumann’s DICHTERLIEBE, Op. 48 with Ronan Ferrer, tenor, G. Faure’s DOLLY SUITE, Op. 56 with Darren Elias Matias, and W. A. Mozart’s PIANO QUARTET in G minor, KV 478 with Proceso Yusi, violin, Magdalena Fernandez, viola, and Felicitas Ronquillo, cello. Melissa is under the tutelage of Prof. Najib Ismail.