The next big stars
They may not come from the Dream Academy, but they are definitely the next big stars!
Now on its 36th year, the annual National Music Competitions for Young Artists (NAMCYA) is probably the first and original talent search in the country. Since its conception in 1973, NAMCYA has consistently held its ground for discovering outstanding raw talents in performance categories of choir, voice, piano traditional music, bass instruments, guitar, rondalla and more recently, dance.
NAMCYA seeks to encourage young artists to preserve, develop and promote Philippine music as art and as a handmaid of cultural development.
Inevitably, it has a become a showcase for freedom of expression through music and the arts that in year 2001, the period of November 26 to December 2, and last week of November every year hence has been declared as National Music Week for Young Artists by Proclamation No. 80.
NAMCYA culminated last Sunday in a gala night at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCCCP). This year’s theme, “Paglikha ng Kalikasan ng Diwa’t Mundo sa Musika’t Sining” (Creating an environment of the spirit and the world through music and the arts) underscores the creative spirit of environment-conscious young Filipinos who are capable of creating music not only for their time but for all generations.
This year saw the youngest participants in piano and traditional music ensemble. High school students were encouraged to join the dance and solo voice competitions while college students competed in the individual instrument competitions.
NAMCYA chairperson Veronica Tapia-Merk points out that it is the only competition of its kind that taps undiscovered Filipino talent from all schools nationwide. “NAMCYA brings out the best in our Filipino youth who are capable of not only creating music for their generation but also of playing music by the masters,” she says.
Dr. Monet Acoymo, secretary general of NAMCYA further says that unlike most competitions, it does not have winners and losers in the conventional sense. “Those who do not receive the highest honors merely require further honing of their skills,” Acoymo adds.
BEST OF THE BEST
NAMCYA has been a principal instrument in discovering major music talents from all over the country. Every year, over one million young musicians, trainors and administrators, are involved in the long and tedious process of selecting the best from all 16 regions.
The competitors must win in the district, provincial, then regional competitions to be able to compete on the national level. They are required to perform a cluster of works – classical and contemporary pieces, as well as works of leading Filipino composers.
NAMCYA has a two-fold program: discovering and developing young Filipino musicians from every region of the country, carried out through annual competitions, festivals, workshops and trainings, as well as expanding the Filipino music.
Likewise, it aims to raise awareness and appreciation by urban audiences of various traditional musical genres from cultural communities such as the Aeta, Bago, Bagobo, Bajau, B’laan, Bontoc, Dibabawan, Gaddang, Ifugao, Iranun, Kabihug, Kalagan, Kankana-ey, Karao, Maguindanao, Manobo, Maranaw, Subanen, Tausug, T’boli, Tinguian, Tiruray and Yakan.
Outstanding NAMCYA young artists like kulintang artists Amal Lumuntad, Salipada Mohamad, Juwing Jamma and Darna Insung have been featured in international festivals.
Samaan Sulaiman, kudyapiq player, has been awarded the Gawad Manlilikha ng Bayan (GAMABA) as a living national treasure.
Many other NAMCYA winners have blossomed to become the country’s brilliant young artists like pianists Cecile Licad, Rowena Arrieta, Raul Sunico, Jaime Bolipata, Dionisia Fernandez, Jovianney Cruz, Ariel Dechosa, Zinorl Broñola; violinists Julian Quirit, Orville Cerna, Hector Corpus-Aguilar, Hernan Constantino, Joseph Esmilla, Regina Buenaventura and Joey Corpus; tenor Noel Velasco; sopranos Andion Fernandez and Wilardena Misenas; cellist Ramon Bolipata; and flautist Antonio Maigue.
Notable NAMCYA choral group winners include the University of the Philippines Singing Ambassadors, the Ateneo Glee Club, The University of the Philippines Concert Chorus, The University of the Philippines Cherubims and Seraphims, Loboc Children’s Choir, Saint Louis University, Baguio City Glee Club and the Himig Singers of Davao City.
OPENING DOORS
Jed Balsamo had the privilege of winning twice in NAMCYA. The first was in 1995 as a composer for Piano Competition Category C and in 2001 as pianist in the same category.
“I felt I just got lucky kasi first year college student pa lang ako nun, wala pa akong masyadong alam. Malaki ang impact sa akin kasi ang mga kalaban ko mga 3rd year and 4th years students. Malaking boost sa akin yun,” he relates.
The composer/arranger hails from Hingoog City, Misamis Oriental, and graduated from St. Scholastica’s College of Music. He is currently teaching at the College of Saint Benilde, Philippine High School for the Arts and Centro Escolar University.
After clinching the top honors, he has been a regular accompanist for the participants in NAMCYA. He also sat as a jury in last year’s piano competitions and now as the head of the piano category competitions.
NAMCYA opened a lot of opportunities for Jed. He became a member of the orchestra in the local staging of Miss Saigon, arranging and scoring for Ballet Philippines and CCP, TV shows, and films such as “Saan Nagtatago si Happiness” and “Concerto”.
“Participants have become better. Yun ang general trend. Gumagaling sila because of the training. Medyo mabigat din kasi yung competition requirements ng NAMCYA, hindi sya biro-biro. With that kind of training and exposure, NAMCYA sets the stage for them when they join international competitions,” he says.
Despite the mushrooming of reality talent searches Jed believes that NAMCYA will always be relevant.
“The past years, there has been a surge of contestants from the provinces. Limited lang kasi sa budget kaya kulang talaga sa marketing and promotions. Sa music industry, pag finalist ka sa NAMCYA, big deal ‘yan. It has been here for more than 30 years and has continued to produce world-class talents,” he says.
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