The Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra, under the baton of Maestro Yoshikazu Fukumura, will perform on March 17, 8pm at the Main Theater of the Cultural Center of the Philippines as part of its 34th concert season. Filipino cellist Renato Lucas performs as guest soloist.
Program includes A. Dvorak’s “Symphony No. 8 in G”, P.I. Tchaikovsky’s “Variations on a Rococo Theme”, and F. Mendelssohn’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream Suite”.
Renato Lucas honed his musical skills under the late Maestro Modesto Maiquez and Herminia Atienza-Ilano who were his mentors. At a tender age, he joined Prof. Sales’ Pasaknungan Chamber Orchestra and the Philippine Youth Orchestra of Prof. Sergio Esmilla, Jr. Lucas won first prize in the prestigious National Music Competition for Young Artist (NAMCYA) in 1978. The League of Filipino Composers likewise recognized him when he won the Chamber Music Composition Contest that same year.
Lucas studied abroad at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music under Bonnie Hampton, a protégé of the legendary Pablo Casals. He also won in auditions to participate in the Spoleto Festival held in Charleston, USA and Spoleto, Italy.
Upon his return, Prof. Oscar Yatco extended Lucas an invitation to be the Principal Cellist of the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra. He represented the Philippines in various Southeast Asian Arts Festivals. He was also invited to play solo with many ensembles including the Manila Chamber Orchestra, Camerata Manila, Metro Manila Symphony Orchestra, and the UST Symphony Orchestra. He played in various cello recitals and chamber music performances for the CCP’s Filipino Artist Series, Coke Bolipata’s Pundaquit Arts Festival, and the Las Piñas Bamboo Organ Festival, to name a few. Renato has worked with practically the whole spectrum of music: collaborating with pop icons Ryan Cayabyab, Basil Valdez, and Kuh Ledesma; contemporary avant-garde composers from the Asia-Pacific Region, collaborating with the Deconstruction Theatre Phillip Glass Ensemble; conductors Redentor Romero, Dr. Francisco Feliciano, and film scoring with Nonong Buencamino in Marilou Diaz-Abaya’s masterpiece, “Rizal”.
Lucas currently teaches Cello, Chamber Music, Music History, and Music Literature at the UST Conservatory of Music, where he also serves as a Conductor of the UST Symphony Orchestra.
For inquires, call the CCP Marketing Department (832-1125 local 1806), the CCP Box Office (832-3704) or Ticketworld at National Bookstore (891-9999).
