98.7 DZFE | The Master's Touch

First time’s a charm for our next batch of NAMCYA winners: violinist Gavril Tiburcio—first prize winner of the junior strings category—and pianists Daniel Asis and Zildjian Viray—who share the top spot in the junior piano category. All share how they learned about NAMCYA, and how they prepared for their maiden competition. DZFE’s Daniel is the host as MAESTRO FILIPINO continues the feature on the...

A new year brings a new set of winners for the National Music Competitions for Young Artists. On MAESTRO FILIPINO DZFE’s Daniel speaks with three plucked string musicians—Lance Capitan, senior guita, John Sacley, junior solo rondalla, and Nelson Espejo, conductor of the Plectra Corde Rondalla, senior rondalla—to inaugurate the three-part spotlight on the victors of NAMCYA 2024.

Violinist Aylen Pritchin reacquaints himself with Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto in D major for the next concert of the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra. In doing so, he intends to see the work in a new light—and invites the audience to do the same. Pritchin talks about the concerto’s complexities and more as he speaks with DZFE’s Daniel on today’s edition of MAESTRO FILIPINO.

A Christmas showcase concert has become something of a tradition for the Manila Symphony Junior and Children's Orchestras. This year, they mounted Children of Christmas for a particular cause: the MSO Academy and its teacher training program. Joining DZFE’s Daniel is MSO Foundation, Inc. Executive Director Jeffrey Solares, who discusses the importance of the Academy’s mission of teaching teach...

From a kundiman for orchestra to freshly-minted pieces for his specially-tuned bamboo ensemble—composer Conrado del Rosario III’s body of works is both rich and broad, built over several decades and three continents. On MAESTRO FILIPINO, del Rosario joins DZFE’s Daniel to look back on his years in music, and share some of his compositions.

Hearing impairment is no barrier to a life of music for Sharlene Morta, who actively performs as a pianist and Hearlife Verein artist. With Hearlife Verein program director Tosh Jacob-Soliven, Sharlene shares her journey and music, and talks about her mother’s book recounting her story, on today’s program of MAESTRO FILIPINO. DZFE’s Daniel is the host.

Last year, cellist John-Henry Crawford became the first recipient of the American Recital Debut Award, founded by pianist Victor Asuncion. This week, he and Victor are in the country presenting masterclasses, and music from their album, Corazón: The Music of Latin America. They will also present a recital with violinist Diomedes Saraza, Jr., who also plays the solo in Sibelius’ Violin Concerto in...

It is not often that Spanish-Filipino flutist Rafael Adobas Bayog visits the Philippines. And while he is here, he would be remiss if he did not give something to the community before flying back to Spain. On MAESTRO FILIPINO, he talks about his upcoming masterclasses and concert where he shares his award-winning expertise, and some of the music that has accompanied him throughout his career.

When she plays, cellist Sara Sant’Ambrogio not only pours out her heart and soul—she also invites her listeners to do the same. This month, she pours out her heart and soul in Edward Elgar's Cello Concerto for the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra season concert, Triumph. She tells us how she approaches that work on MAESTRO FILIPINO hosted by DZFE's Daniel.

Jeffrey Ching, composer-in-residence of the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra, takes us through the mists of time and legend in Before Brabant—an opera recounting the early years of the Swan Knight, Lohengrin. First staged in a concert performance ten years ago, the work comes to Manila with fuller orchestration, and accompanied by an animated film to capture the story’s magic and enchantment.

There is nothing like an in-person concert. That is why, after performing Nino Rota’s Trio online in 2020, clarinetist Jayson Rivera, cellist Gerry Gonzales, and pianist Dingdong Fiel rendered the work once more for Manila Pianos Artist Series, this time in front of a live audience. Shortly before their concert—which happened earlier this month—DZFE’s Daniel spent time with the trio to talk about...

What does it mean to be human? The answers are to be found in what Scripture teaches, that God made us in His image and to image Him. DZFE's Tiffany and Daniel discuss the rich implications of this fundamental gospel truth on DZFE’s special Reformation month feature, IMAGING GOD, with Greystone Theological Institute founding president, professor and pastor, Dr. Mark Garcia. 00:00:29 Made being...

It was as much a concert and competition tour as it was a European campaign. Earlier this year, Los Cantantes de Manila traveled the breadth of Europe, performing and bagging several prizes along the way. Among their spoils: three first prizes at the Concorso Polifonico Internazionale “Guido d’Arezzo,” and a qualification for next year’s Grand Prix for Choral Singing. On MAESTRO FILIPINO (Sat 1200...

From Beethoven to Szymanowski—award-winning German pianist Jonas Stark shares music from both ends of the Romantic period at his upcoming masterclass and recital later this month. He gives us a foretaste on MAESTRO FILIPINO with DZFE’s Daniel.

Guitarist Monching Carpio casts some of the most recognizable Philippine folk songs in a new light in his recently-published collection, Play Filipino. Speaking with DZFE’s Daniel on MAESTRO FILIPINO, he shares its pandemic origins and the method behind his arrangements.

Three years after her passing, pianist Nena del Rosario-Villanueva returns to the limelight as Dr. Alegria Ferrer shares her life and legacy on MAESTRO FILIPINO. Ahead of two tribute concerts by the Keyboard Department of the UP College of Music, Dr. Ferrer talks about how del Rosario-Villanueva blazed a trail for Filipino pianists on the international stage, became a household name, helped create...

A new work by Jeffrey Ching, a new concertmaster, and a brilliant guest soloist in violinist Shlomo Mintz—FIESTA sets the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra’s 40th concert season off to a strong start. On MAESTRO FILIPINO (Sat 1200, Sun 2400, Thu 2000), PPO music director and principal conductor Grzegorz Nowak shares what lies ahead, and his goals for both the orchestra and its audience. DZFE’s Dan...

From Las Piñas’ Banda San Jose to the UP College of Music, flautist John Karlo dela Cruz shares his story, and music, on MAESTRO FILIPINO. DZFE’s Daniel is the host.

Within the span of a month, the University of Mindanao Chorale has earned a place at two international choir competitions next year. Their most recent win, at the Taipei International Choral Competition, saw the group earn gold in two categories, as well as in the grand prix. We hear about the UM Chorale’s most recent victory from tenor, projects coordinator and social media manager Christian Gara...

Even before she became a violinist, Sophie Bantilan was already comfortable at the piano. She returns to her first instrument in Gerygone—a milestone concert heralding a new stage in Sophie’s career, and where she performs with her beloved Philippine Suzuki Youth Orchestra. She tells us the history behind that event and its name on today’s program of MAESTRO FILIPINO. DZFE’s Daniel is the host.

Opera arias have long occupied an important part of flautist Clarizz Petrasanta’s repertoire. Now, they take the spotlight again in the Manila Pianos Artist Series concert, Opera Fantasies, as Clarizz prepares for her master’s degree in the birthplace of opera, Italy. She speaks with DZFE’s Daniel on today’s program of MAESTRO FILIPINO.

British-Indonesian pianist George Harliono has performed for many different audiences all over the world, each with its own unique energy. However, there is one thing he hopes happens at every concert: that the audience enjoy the music as much as he enjoys playing it. Hear Harliono in conversation with DZFE’s Daniel ahead of his first Manila performance, on today’s program of MAESTRO FILIPINO.

A Carnegie Hall performance and an album of Bach’s solo sonatas and partitas—these are but part of violinist KayCee Galano’s remarkable list of achievements. Soon, she will share her expertise in a masterclass mounted by the Filipino String Teachers Association, and in the concert, Felix, Gustav & Igor On Campus, where she performs with the UP Symphony Orchestra in one of the pillars of the vi...

After two years in the UK, soprano Lizzie Estrada is back in the Philippines, and is set to perform in the homecoming recital, Songs My Mother Taught Me, mounted by Manila Pianos Artist Series. The title, of course, comes from Dvorak, but the inspiration behind the recital comes from very close to Lizzie’s heart. She tells us more about that, and her other performances while she’s here, on MAESTRO...

Violinist Chino Soberano has all but set down roots in the United States. Even so, he regularly turns his sights back to the Philippines to give back to the communities that set him on his path to a career in music. On a recent visit, he dropped by our studio to share, not only a couple of wonderful recordings, but also his work both here and abroad. Hear his conversation with DZFE’s Daniel on MAE...