The HARANA MEN’S CHORUS revisits the venue of their sold-out Valentine Serenade Concert “Songs From The Heart.” The Los Angeles-based group performs traditional and popular songs with courtship and love themes, in various languages. The group proudly proves the skill and versatility of the Filipino vocalist by tackling entertaining pieces and vocally-demanding arrangements, resulting in an eclectic but enjoyable program. The group is led by arranger/orchestrator Ed Nepomuceno.
PETE AVENDAŇO was a featured soloist at the Gala Concert of The Filipino American Symphony Orchestra (FASO) at the Saban (formerly Wilshire) Theatre in Beverly Hills, performed with Charice Pempengco at FASO’s Handog Sa Pasko at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium, and portrayed the male lead in the Filipino Opera Karim at Jasmin at the La Mirada Theater. This seasoned tenor has also notably performed featured roles in the Singapore Lyric Opera’s Il Pagliacci, Cavalleria Rusticana, Il Trovatore, and Macbeth. . As a tenor soloist, Pete emerged as a a prize winner in the Kundiman Fiesta competition and finalist in the National
Prize-winning soprano JOAN CANO has conquered the Dr. Marjorie Peatee Art Song Competition, the NATS Buckeye Chapter Competition, the National Music Competition for Young Artists (NAMCYA) and the Corfu International Music Festival in Greece. She has had featured roles in “Dialogue of the Carmelites”, “The Magic Flute”, “Carmen”, “La Caterina” and “Karim at Jasmin.” Joan has also been invited as a guest soloist by conductor Lim Yau in Singapore, to perform in Resphigi’s “Laud to the Nativity” and Britten’s “A Christmas Carol” at the
nation’s famous Esplanade.
Joan’s twelve years of vocal culminated with Master’s Degree in Vocal Performance from the Bowling Green State University in Ohio in 2007. Her music roots are from the University of Santo Tomas where she first earned her graduate degree, and where she was a chorister and soloist in the acclaimed University of Santo Tomas Singers with whom she toured internationally.
Music Competition for Young Artists (NAMCYA).
This former boy soprano-soloist of the Tiples de Santo Domingo graduated with a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Santo Tomas, and toured Europe, North America, and South America extensively with the internationally-acclaimed University of Santo Tomas Singers. Pete is now Music Director of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, teaches music at the Blessed Sacrament School, and directs the Children’s Choirs of Immaculate Heart of Mary School and Our Lady of Loretto Elementary School. Pete is a founding member of the UST Singers Alumni in America and the Philippine Chamber Singers of Los Angeles. His latest recording is a collection of Philippine Art Songs entitled “Kundiman.”
Host SHEILA FERRARI started her career in musical theatre and later on she would be crowned Miss Philippines USA and North American Pinoy Pop Superstar Grand Champion. Building upon her previous success, she went on to host Pinoy Pop Superstar in the US and Canada. Her quick wit and vibrant personality led her to be chosen to host ABS-CBN’s A Love Story Red Carpet Premiere and for MYX Music Channel’s hip hop show “The Hook” as a VJ. Sheila continues to perform onstage (Miss Saigon, South Pacific) and appears in films (Nobody Dates in LA, Prom Queen, Fame 2009).
Guest Guitarist RIC ICKARD won first prize in both classical and jazz guitar competitions in the 1980 Philippine Guitar Festival, the first to ever win both categories, on the same day. Aside from performing around the world, Ric is a regularly featured artist at the annual Chet Atkins Appreciation Society Convention in Nashville, Tennessee. Though his varied repertoire covers a broad musical spectrum, his album released by classical label Naxos is a collection of Philippine melodies.
Host ANNIE NEPOMUCENO is a renowned vocal coach and founding member of vocal trio Three of a Kind. She has won both Katha and Awit Awards for Vocal Arranging, having worked with pop groups as The CompanY and classical ambassadors the Philippine Madrigal Singers. Annie has also appeared in musicals such as “Once On This Island,” “Rama at Sita,” and Cabrillo Music Theatre’s “The King and I” in Thousand Oaks. Though popularly known as a vocal music specialist, Annie is also a publisher of choral music. She holds a Bachelor of Music degree in Composition and Musicology from the University Of The Philippines. Her rare blend of academic music understanding, ethnic studies and mainstream pop music industry experience has enabled her to have both education and entertainment perspectives in her projects.
