UP string ensemble performs in Paris

MANILA, Philippines - UP ARCO, the University of the Philippines’ string ensemble performed before a packed crowd at the Salon des Délégués, UNESCO Miollis in Paris last May 24.

This was the first time that the Philippine Permanent Delegation to UNESCO presented Philippine chamber music through UP ARCO.

UP ARCO's repertoire included major string orchestra works of Corelli, Bach, and Elgar, as well as works of Filipino masters such as Angela Pena, Antonino Buenaventura and Francisco Buencamino.

The string ensemble is composed of 27 students, who are all majors of the Strings and Chamber Music Department of the UP College of Music. UP ARCO is under the baton of Prof. Edna Marcil Martinez.

Professor Ruben Defeo, executive director of UP's Office of Initiatives for Culture and the Arts, headed the delegation to Paris.

UP ARCO was also invited  to perform at the 24th Festival International de Musique Universitaire held in Belfort, France from May 26 to 28. They were the first Filipino group to be invited to the event.