A dream Valentine concert
As solo performers, each of these three artists is considered as a class act in his (her) own right who never fails to get the nod of appreciative audiences everywhere for outstanding instrumental renditions.
Appearing together in a single production, they form an awesome combination that is guaranteed to bring the ultimate musical enjoyment to their fans with their beautiful performance of classical, pop and standard pieces through the wonderful sounds of their violin, saxophone and harp.
John Lesaca (violin), Tots Tolentino (saxophone) and Noelle Cassandra (harp) will transport fans to new heights of musical excellence when they get together for the first time for an enchanting evening of love songs at a Valentine’s dinner-concert on Feb. 14 at the PICC Reception Hall in
Entitled Love...What Matters Most, the Valentine’s triple treat produced by Grand Concerts is considered a “dream concert” that will showcase the talents and skills of three of the country’s most accomplished artists who have gained renown here and abroad for their scintillating instrumental performances of a wide selection of musical genres.
I’m sure music buffs are familiar with violinist John Lesaca who has become a byword in the field of popular entertainment for his passion and dedication in promoting widespread interest in and appreciation of music — especially instrumental music — through his numerous shows and records.
John began to develop his flair for music at the age of five by playing the ukelele and, later on, the violin while simultaneously playing the guitar and other musical instruments. After his classes at the UP High School, he would perform classical songs with his violin as concertmaster of the UP Children’s Ensemble, while playing rock music as lead guitarist of a band in the evenings. He was featured as guest in the local concerts of foreign artists like Gladys Knight and the Pips, Burt Bacharach, Henry Mancini and Andy Williams. He holds the distinction of being the only Filipino artist to be accorded equal concert billings with Noel Pointer during his One On One show in 1986.
A member of all of the country’s major symphony orchestras, John continues to play non-classical music in order to expose the violin to a greater number of listeners, whom he acknowledges for their good music appreciation. He has been the recipient of numerous honors and awards not only as a violinist but also as an environmentalist, television program host and a supporter of worthy civic projects. Knowledgeable in intellectual property rights, he is the chair of the Intellectual Property Coalition, Inc. and is a member of the Optical Media Board.
On the other hand, Tots Tolentino started to play the flute at the age of 16 under the guidance of Professor Clamor at the University of the Philippines Conservatory of Music. While in college, he joined various groups like the UP Jazz Ensemble, Ed Jose’s Sunlight, a quartet with Bob Aves, and My Place (a jazz joint on
In the early 1980s, Tots took up a course in jazz while continuing studies in soprano, alto and tenor saxophone under Joseph Viola at the Berklee College of Music in
Since embarking on a solo career in 1990 through the Mild Seven Promotional Tour, Tots has launched three albums: Tots Tolentino and Inah with Vicor Records, and Color Real with Dyna Recording.
Two years later, he received the Gold Record Award and won the Best Instrumental Composition award for Revelation on flutist Tony Maigue’s album. Inah and Color Real were also named Best Jazz Recording by the 1994 Awit Awards.
A Filipino-Chinese from Vancouver, Noelle Cassandra is a classically-trained harpist who began her formal training in music when she took up harp studies at the tender age of four at the Vancouver Academy of Music, a passion that she pursued through further education at the University of British Columbia where she earned the Dr. and Mrs. A.M. Bomstead Scholarship and a Bachelor of Music degree.
A wizard at playing classical pieces, pop songs and OPMs on harp, she is also known as an arranger, songwriter and singer who had the opportunity to work with some of the Philippines’ top artists and performers like Sharon Cuneta, Kuh Ledesma, Paolo Santos, Louie Ocampo, Martin Nievera, Tots Tolentino and John Lesaca. She had performed at major local concert venues like the Araneta Coliseum and PICC, among others.
Another of Cassandra’s major interest is competitive sports in which she is recognized as a provincially-ranked badminton player who has represented
Since arriving in the Philippines (going by her badminton moniker, “Casey”), she continues to excel in both fields of music and sport, being the title-holder for ladies doubles in the 2006 JVC Open Badminton Championships (elite level) and the 2006 Yonex-Sunrise Philippines National Open Badminton Tournament (open level).
[Tickets to Love...What Matters Most are priced at P3,800 (dinner-show) and P1,500 (show only) and are available at Ticketnet outlets at SM Department Stores and at Ticketworld outlets at National Book Stores, Robinsons Department Stores, Ayala Malls and Music One. For inquiries, call Ticketnet at 891-9999 or Ticketworld at 911-5555. Patrons can avail themselves of the best available seats and a 10 percent discount by buying their tickets on or before Jan. 31. Limited seats are available on a first come, first-served basis.]
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And while we are into music, here’s good news for fans of Maroon 5 which, I’m sure, has taken a toll on you because you’ve been dying to see them in person, then you can finally relax. Isn’t that last sentence a not-so-subtle reference to the group hit single This Love?
The band — composed of frontman and lead vocalist Adam Levine, guitarist James Valentine and keyboardist Jesse Carmichael (who also acts as backup vocalist), bassist Mickey Madden and drummer/percussionist Matt Flynn — will be in
A project of Viva Concerts and Events, the show, billed Maroon 5 Live in Manila, will feature the band’s hits, including Harder to Breathe, the aforementioned This Love, She Will Be Loved, Sunday Morning and Must Get Out, all from Songs About Jane, the band’s multiplatinum-selling first album.
Also in its repertoire are selections from the band’s second album, It Won’t Be Soon Before Long. If you thought that the singles Makes Me Wonder, Wake Up Call, Won’t Go Home Without You and the upcoming If I Never See Your Face Again.
Maroon 5 has already released a few “live” albums (1.22.03 Acoustic in 2004 and Live — Friday the 13th in 2005) which the band’s fans (Filipinos included) must have played over and over again. But there’s nothing better than listening to them perform live.
(Note: Maroon 5 Live in
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