The upcoming concert by impressario extraordinaire Pablo Tariman at the Nelly’s Garden in Jaro, Iloilo City will have four genius musicians: tenor Nomher Nival, soprano Jasmin Salvo, pianist Gabriel Paguirigan, and clarinetist Andrew Constantino.
They will bring Iloilo City to an intimate Evening of Opera on December 7 starting 6:30 P.M. This is going to be a conclusion from a series of concerts put together by Tariman for the Ilonggo audience which will serve as a musical tribute to Ilonggo tenor Otoniel Gonzaga.
The concert is definitely a rare opportunity and a historic Yuletide Season event.
Who are the artists and why they are a geniuses?
NOMHER U. NIVAL | tenor
Nival obtained his Bachelor’s Degree in Music, major in Voice Performance from the University of Santo Tomas Conservatory of Music.
A top prizewinner of the National Music Competition for Young Artists, Nival has sung the roles of Dancairo in the Lyric Opera/MSO, production of George Bizet’s Carmen under the baton of Arturo Molina, Remendado in the Lyric Opera/UST Symphony Orchestra production of George Bizet’s Carmen under the baton of William Barkheimer, Dr. Blind in Johann Strauss Jr.’s Die Fledermaus of the CCP/UST production under the baton of Jae Joon Lee.
Nival has sang the role of Tamino in Magic Flute and the role of Crisostomo Ibarra in Felipe Padilla de Leon’s opera, Noli Me Tangere staged at the CCP main theater.
JASMIN SALVO | soprano
Jasmine Salvo studied at the University of Santo Tomas Conservatory of Music where she was under the tutelage of tenor Lemuel de la Cruz. A prizewinner of the Jovita Fuentes National Voice Competition and the ASEAN International Voice Competition in Singapore (non-professional category), she portrayed the role of the opera singer in the latest staging of David Hwang’s acclaimed play, M. Butterfly mounted in Manila, Iloilo, Cebu and Dumaguete City.
One of her latest engagements was with distinguished tenor Arthur Espiritu with other equally outstanding sopranos in the country.
At the top of her list of favorite female singers is Maria Callas whom she credits for a wide-ranging voice, bel canto technique and interpretations. She said, “I have learned so much from her thoughts and words of wisdom.”
These quotable words from Callas include: “To sing is an expression of your being, a being which is becoming.”
Asked what song defined her, she answered, “It would be ‘A Million Dreams’ from The Greatest Showman. No matter what other people think or say, they won’t stop me from dreaming. I sing because it’s my passion.”
ANDREW CONSTANTINO | clarinet
Now 23, Andrew Constantino had his first clarinet lessons at age nine under his father and after a year, he appeared as soloist in many concerts. A music scholar of the Philippine High School for the Arts, he graduated with honors (cum laude) at the University of Santo Tomas Conservatory of Music where he earned a degree of Bachelor of Music in Clarinet Performance.
He was featured by the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra during its “Sunsets at Makiling” concert and had his first professional concert under the Manila Chamber Orchestra Foundation Young Artists 2015. He won grand prize and “best interpretation of contest piece” prize at the National Music Competition for Young Artist Series. He participated in the Singapore International Festival of Music where he performed in several concerts. Middle of this year, he joined the Asian Youth Orchestra rehearsal camp and tour across Asia. He had attended various master classes with John Schertel, Wendy Mazon, Brian Gnojek, Marcel Luxen, Andrew Simon and Mr. Florent Heau.
GABRIEL ALLAN PAGUIRIGAN | pianist
A top prize-winner of the National Music Competitions for Young Artists (NAMCYA), Paguirigan was a scholar of the Philippine High School for the Arts (PHSA) and finished Bachelor of Music Major in Piano at the University of the Philippines.
Hailed by the Philippine Star as a “virtuoso-in-the-making,” Paguirigan is also a prizewinner of the 2013 PPO Young Pianists Competition and the 2013 PTGP Piano Ensemble Competition.
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