Hearing impairment is no barrier to a life of music for Sharlene Morta, who actively performs as a pianist and Hearlife Verein artist. With Hearlife Verein program director Tosh Jacob-Soliven, Sharlene shares her journey and music, and talks about her mother’s book recounting her story, on today’s program of MAESTRO FILIPINO. DZFE’s Daniel is the host.

Last year, cellist John-Henry Crawford became the first recipient of the American Recital Debut Award, founded by pianist Victor Asuncion. This week, he and Victor are in the country presenting masterclasses, and music from their album, Corazón: The Music of Latin America. They will also present a recital with violinist Diomedes Saraza, Jr., who also plays the solo in Sibelius’ Violin Concerto in D minor for Fantasy, the next season concert of the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra. Hear all about that on MAESTRO FILIPINO, hosted by DZFE’s Daniel.

All music on the program features with permission from the artist.

It is not often that Spanish-Filipino flutist Rafael Adobas Bayog visits the Philippines. And while he is here, he would be remiss if he did not give something to the community before flying back to Spain. On MAESTRO FILIPINO, he talks about his upcoming masterclasses and concert where he shares his award-winning expertise, and some of the music that has accompanied him throughout his career.

When she plays, cellist Sara Sant’Ambrogio not only pours out her heart and soul—she also invites her listeners to do the same. This month, she pours out her heart and soul in Edward Elgar's Cello Concerto for the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra season concert, Triumph. She tells us how she approaches that work on MAESTRO FILIPINO hosted by DZFE's Daniel.

Jeffrey Ching, composer-in-residence of the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra, takes us through the mists of time and legend in Before Brabant—an opera recounting the early years of the Swan Knight, Lohengrin. First staged in a concert performance ten years ago, the work comes to Manila with fuller orchestration, and accompanied by an animated film to capture the story’s magic and enchantment.

There is nothing like an in-person concert. That is why, after performing Nino Rota’s Trio online in 2020, clarinetist Jayson Rivera, cellist Gerry Gonzales, and pianist Dingdong Fiel rendered the work once more for Manila Pianos Artist Series, this time in front of a live audience. Shortly before their concert—which happened earlier this month—DZFE’s Daniel spent time with the trio to talk about how they first came together, their plans for the future, and Rota’s music that so closely reflects the group’s personality.

What does it mean to be human? The answers are to be found in what Scripture teaches, that God made us in His image and to image Him. DZFE's Tiffany and Daniel discuss the rich implications of this fundamental gospel truth on DZFE’s special Reformation month feature, IMAGING GOD, with Greystone Theological Institute founding president, professor and pastor, Dr. Mark Garcia.

00:00:29 Made beings, unmade God

00:06:06 The fundamental ways we image God

00:08:57 Image-bearing as communal

00:13:38 Importance of the church in image-bearing

00:15:44 Protestant vs. Roman Catholic view of the image of God in man

00:18:44 Gender references to God in Scripture

00:23:24 How do men and women in their maleness and femaleness image God?

00:29:04 Eternal purpose of our maleness and femaleness

00:34:30 Clarity for those who struggle with embodied existence

00:38:16 ... cognitive and physical disabilities

00:44:30 A positive view of our embodied limitations

00:51:24 Looking for a God-glorifying spouse

00:58:40 The significance of singlehood

01:05:13 Acedia: Refusal to live out our calling

01:13:00 A Christian approach to marital intimacy

It was as much a concert and competition tour as it was a European campaign. Earlier this year, Los Cantantes de Manila traveled the breadth of Europe, performing and bagging several prizes along the way. Among their spoils: three first prizes at the Concorso Polifonico Internazionale “Guido d’Arezzo,” and a qualification for next year’s Grand Prix for Choral Singing. On MAESTRO FILIPINO (Sat 1200, Sun 2400, Thu 2000), DZFE’s Daniel spends time with Los Cantantes bass, assistant conductor, and marketing and PR head Jaed Aure to talk about the impetus behind the group’s latest European tour, the events they took part in, and their preparations for next year’s grand prix.

From Beethoven to Szymanowski—award-winning German pianist Jonas Stark shares music from both ends of the Romantic period at his upcoming masterclass and recital later this month. He gives us a foretaste on MAESTRO FILIPINO with DZFE’s Daniel.

Guitarist Monching Carpio casts some of the most recognizable Philippine folk songs in a new light in his recently-published collection, Play Filipino. Speaking with DZFE’s Daniel on MAESTRO FILIPINO, he shares its pandemic origins and the method behind his arrangements.