Project II consisted of master classes, workshops, and cultural exchange concerts in the Philippines from May 28 to June 16, 2006. The project began with a concert in Puerto Galera on the island of Mindoro, followed by master classes and workshops at St. Scholastica's College. This was followed by a residency at the Casa San Miguel, a school for underprivileged, talented young musicians. The project concluded with a series of cultural exchange concerts in tribal communities on the island of Mindanao, where we collaborated with the Cartwheel Foundation, which helps provide education for indigenous children. The participants in Project II were Nicholas DiEugenio, William Harvey, and Beth Weisser, violins; Maiya Papach, viola; Chris Gross, cello; and Becky Lu, piano.
Please read William's travelogue about the tour!
Itinerary
May 28, 2006. Arrival in Manila. Drive to Batangas City, board a banka boat, overnight in La Laguna Bay.
May 29. Concert, Puerto Galera Parish Hall.
May 30. Travel to Manila. Concert to open workshops at St. Scholastica's College.
May 31. Daily workshop schedule begins.
| 9:15 a.m. | Workshops | |
| 11:30 a.m. | Break for lunch | |
| 1:00 p.m. | Rehearsals | |
| 2:30 p.m. | Break | |
| 2:45 p.m. | Master classes | |
| 4:00 p.m. | Done |
June 4. Conclude workshops with a concert. Travel to San Antonio in Zambales province.
June 5. Begin Casa San Miguel residency. Schedule consists of daily private lessons, chamber rehearsals with the teaching assistants, and coaching the Pundaquit Virtuosi.
June 9. Conclude Casa San Miguel residency with a concert.
June 10. Travel to Manila airport. Becky has the day free. Nick, Beth, Maiya, Chris, and William fly from Manila to Davao in Mindanao and go to the Pamulaan Learning Center to have a cultural exchange concert with the students there. Meet Rojean Caharian of the Cartwheel Foundation.
June 11. Becky returns to New York from the Manila airport. Nick, Beth, Maiya, Chris, and William give a concert for the Matigsalog tribe and travel to Malaybalay, where they meet Coleen Ramirez and Dindin Belgica, program officers for the Cartwheel Foundation.
June 12. Performance before Malaybalay's Independence Day celebrations. Travel to Miayaron.
June 13. Morning ritual and concert in Miarayon. Travel to Cabanglasan. Concert in the evening.
June 14. Concert in the village of Maraging. Travel to Cagayan de Oro. Concert for the students at Xavier University.
Acknowledgments
Thank you to the following individuals for their work on Project II.
- Everyone at St. Scholastica's College of Music for coordinating our workshops there and for their friendship: Sr. Mary Placid Abejo, Mary Grace Martinez, Mutya Abarico, Dino, Jeffrey Solares, Dimples Maling, Ramona Balingcos, Sr. Agnella, Greg Zuniega, and others too numerous to mention.
- Dr. Bruce Armstrong, Cultural Affairs Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Manila, for meeting us at the airport, providing transportation between Manila and Batangas City, and for his support of our project.
- Dr. Mulford Jay Colebrook, a former staff member of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, for his logistical aid.
- The wonderful clergy members who hosted us throughout our stay: besides Sr. Mary Placid Abejo and Sr. Agnella at St. Scholastica's, Father Dario Saniel in Miarayon, Father Matt Sanchez in Cabanglasan, Father Jose San Juan in Puerto Galera, and the sisters at the Jesuit retreat house in Malaybalay.
- Coke Bolipata, Director and Founder, Casa San Miguel, for coordinating our residency there, and for his friendship and inspiration.
- Rojean Caharian, Dindin Belgica, and Coleen Ramirez of the Cartwheel Foundation for coordinating our visit to Mindanao, and Cartwheel board members Benjie Abadiano and Gigi Go for their hospitality in Davao and Cagayan de Oro, respectively.
- Felipe de Leon and the Kasarinlan Philippine Music Ensemble for the wonderful experience of performing with them.
- Gina Alfonso, April Evangelista, and Everold Hosein for connecting us to the Cartwheel Foundation
- Bert Obledo of 98.7 FM, the Philippines' only classical music station, for interviewing us.
- Amanda von Goetz, for her extraordinary assistance and loyalty to Cultures in Harmony
- Lisa Robinson of The Juilliard School for her assistance with grant-writing.
- Arwen Lowbridge of Fractured Atlas for her speedy response time on helping with grant applications.
