.jpg){kind=logo}
.jpeg)
UPAA-W VOH/String Concert
.jpg)
Joseph Ortiguera
Violinist
A versatile musician, violinist Joe Ortiguera’s musical credits range widely from premiering the work of American composer Sebastian Courrier at Carnegie Hall, making a music video with American country band The Dixie Chicks to recently performing with The Eagles on their Hotel California Tour. He has performed with such artists as Lionel Richie, India Arie, LeAnne Rimes, Richard Marx, Michael Bolton and Amy Grant. He has delighted audiences all over with his performances of Philippine music. As a student at the University of the Philippines, he performed numerous recitals throughout the country under the guidance of teachers Alfonso “Coke” Bolipata, Sergio Esmillia and Arturo Molina. His recording of the Nicanor Abelardo Violin Sonata can be heard on “Saysay Himig,” UP Press, 2018.Currently he serves as Assistant Concertmaster of the Tupelo Symphony Orchestra and Principal Second Violin of the Tuscaloosa Symphony Orchestra and performs with the Alabama, Huntsville, Meridian and Pensacola Symphony Orchestras. He has taught at the University of Minnesota, University of Louisville, University of North Alabama, University of Montevallo and currently serves on the faculty of Alabama State University, Shelton State Community College and Mississippi State University. Originally from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Joe Ortiguera attended the University of Minnesota earning a Bachelor of Music – Cum Laude and Master of Education degree. He also earned a Master of Music from the University of Louisville and Doctor of Musical Arts degree at The University of Alabama.
Joanna Mendoza
Violinist
Noted for her "eloquent phrasing" and "lush, sonorous and assertive tone,” JoannaMendoza has been enjoying a life in string quartets and teaching for the past twenty-five years.She regularly records, performs, and teaches in and outside the U.S. as violist of the AriannaString Quartet and Professor of Viola at the University of MO-St. Louis.As violist of the Arianna String Quartet, Ms. Mendoza’s performances have been praised for“emotional commitment and fluent virtuosity,” (Pretoria, South Africa) and described as“uniquely beautiful with extraordinary precision and depth,” (Ft. Worth, TX). Liveperformances of the ASQ can be heard on National Public Radio’s “Performance Today,” and“Live from Music Mountain”, which broadcasts across and outside the U.S. The AriannaQuartet’s recordings of the two Janacek Quartets and the Early and Middle BeethovenQuartets (Centaur Records) have received critical acclaim, including “white-hot emotionalintensity with a rare silkiness of tone,” (Fanfare). They are regularly invited to perform and givemasterclasses across the U.S. and overseas.Ms. Mendoza’s students have continued their musical studies at The Juilliard School, Rice, andNorthwestern Universities, and have attended summer festivals such as Madeline IslandChamber Music, Music Academy of the West, and Colorado College Music Festival. She is aco-founder of Arianna Arts, Inc., that hosts the Arianna Chamber Music Festival, aninternational summer festival in St. Louis.
Marvin Suson
Violinist
Marvin Suson, currently performs extensively as a free-lance violinist and violist in Southeast Wisconsin. Amongst the many groups he has played with are the Milwaukee Ballet Orchestra, the Wisconsin Philharmonic, the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra, the Kenosha Symphony, the Fox Valley Symphony, Festival City Symphony, and the Weidner Philharmonic. He is also a versatile performer, appearing as chamber musician, electric violinist, bluegrass fiddler, and he regularly leads worship from guitar at his church, Meadowbrook.
He received his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in violin performance from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee where he studied with Gerald Fischbach. He earned his Master of Music in violin performance from the University of Maryland-College Park where he studied with Daniel Heifetz. Through his graduate fellowship, he also studied viola and chamber music under the Guarneri Quartet and baroque performance with members of the Smithsonian Chamber Players. While living in Maryland, Marvin participated in the National Orchestral Institute and performed with the Alexandria Symphony, Roanoke Symphony, and Prince George’s Philharmonic. After working on a Doctoral of Musical Arts for one year on full scholarship at the University of Texas in Austin, Marvin and his wife, Joie, moved back to Wisconsin to start raising a family.
He frequently attends practice retreats at Magic Mountain Music Farm in upstate New York where he studies with Burton Kaplan, professor of violin and viola at the Manhattan School of Music and author of “Practicing for Artistic Success: the Musicians Guide to Self -Empowerment.” Since 1998 he has appeared as a recitalist with the Millennium Strings in Gilbertsville, New York in association with Magic Mountain Music Farm.
Marvin has become known as a performer of “kundiman,” a genre of Filipino songs. “Kundiman” is a Tagalog word which means “serenade.” Being 100% Filipino, he grew up hearing this expressive style of music. He has appeared as a soloist, performing and promoting kundiman in Milwaukee, Madison, Chicago, Las Vegas, upstate New York and San Francisco .
Marvin is also passionate about teaching and has held positions at the Wisconsin Conservatory and has been adjunct faculty at the University of Wisconsin-Waukesha. Currently he is adjunct faculty of violin and viola at Carroll University and Alverno University. He keeps a private studio of 25 students. Marvin also enjoys serving as a sectional coach and chamber music coach for the Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra.
He received his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in violin performance from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee where he studied with Gerald Fischbach. He earned his Master of Music in violin performance from the University of Maryland-College Park where he studied with Daniel Heifetz. Through his graduate fellowship, he also studied viola and chamber music under the Guarneri Quartet and baroque performance with members of the Smithsonian Chamber Players. While living in Maryland, Marvin participated in the National Orchestral Institute and performed with the Alexandria Symphony, Roanoke Symphony, and Prince George’s Philharmonic. After working on a Doctoral of Musical Arts for one year on full scholarship at the University of Texas in Austin, Marvin and his wife, Joie, moved back to Wisconsin to start raising a family.
He frequently attends practice retreats at Magic Mountain Music Farm in upstate New York where he studies with Burton Kaplan, professor of violin and viola at the Manhattan School of Music and author of “Practicing for Artistic Success: the Musicians Guide to Self -Empowerment.” Since 1998 he has appeared as a recitalist with the Millennium Strings in Gilbertsville, New York in association with Magic Mountain Music Farm.
Marvin has become known as a performer of “kundiman,” a genre of Filipino songs. “Kundiman” is a Tagalog word which means “serenade.” Being 100% Filipino, he grew up hearing this expressive style of music. He has appeared as a soloist, performing and promoting kundiman in Milwaukee, Madison, Chicago, Las Vegas, upstate New York and San Francisco .
Marvin is also passionate about teaching and has held positions at the Wisconsin Conservatory and has been adjunct faculty at the University of Wisconsin-Waukesha. Currently he is adjunct faculty of violin and viola at Carroll University and Alverno University. He keeps a private studio of 25 students. Marvin also enjoys serving as a sectional coach and chamber music coach for the Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra.
Elena Abend
Pianist
Venezuelan pianist Elena Abend has performed and toured throughout her native country. A graduate of the Juilliard School, Ms. Abend’s performances include Lincoln Center, Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, the United Nations, Merkin Concert Hall, the Corcoran Gallery, Chicago Cultural Center, the Pabst Theater, Atlanta Historical Society, Teatro Teresa Carreno and the Academy of Music as soloist with the Philadelphia Orchestra. Performances in Europe include recitals in London’s Wigmore Hall, The Purcell Room, the Toulouse Conservatoire, Theatre Luxembourg, at the University of Glasgow and “Musicales de Montsoreau” concert series in Montsoreau, France.
An active chamber musician, Ms. Abend has collaborated at the renowned Marlboro and Ravinia Music Festivals. She has performed on the Frankly Music, Present Music, Milwaukee Musaik, Chamber Music Milwaukee concert series, with the Rembrandt Chamber Players in Chicago, “Classical Progressions “ at the Wilson Center, “Four Seasons” concert series in California, at the Music Institute of Chicago, the Washington Island Music Festival and as guest artist with the Philomusica, Mendelsohn, and Fine Arts Quartets.Recordings include soloist performances with the Filarmonica Nacional in Venezuela, INNOVA recording, Albany Records and the Avie label. Her latest recording “Fierce Lyricism” in collaboration with flutist Caen Thomason-Redus is available on Spotify, Amazon and other digital music platforms. Pedagogically Ms. Abend has worked on numerous recording and editing projects for the Hal Leonard Corporation. She is chair of piano studies at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee where she teaches piano performance, collaborative piano and chamber music, as well as faculty at the New England Music Camp in Maine and the Collaborative Piano Institute at Louisiana State University.
An active chamber musician, Ms. Abend has collaborated at the renowned Marlboro and Ravinia Music Festivals. She has performed on the Frankly Music, Present Music, Milwaukee Musaik, Chamber Music Milwaukee concert series, with the Rembrandt Chamber Players in Chicago, “Classical Progressions “ at the Wilson Center, “Four Seasons” concert series in California, at the Music Institute of Chicago, the Washington Island Music Festival and as guest artist with the Philomusica, Mendelsohn, and Fine Arts Quartets.Recordings include soloist performances with the Filarmonica Nacional in Venezuela, INNOVA recording, Albany Records and the Avie label. Her latest recording “Fierce Lyricism” in collaboration with flutist Caen Thomason-Redus is available on Spotify, Amazon and other digital music platforms. Pedagogically Ms. Abend has worked on numerous recording and editing projects for the Hal Leonard Corporation. She is chair of piano studies at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee where she teaches piano performance, collaborative piano and chamber music, as well as faculty at the New England Music Camp in Maine and the Collaborative Piano Institute at Louisiana State University.
The Philippine Center Strummers
The group consists of multigenerational members who perform at different events and for different audiences. Members include:
Bob Stehr, Carmelita Stehr, Lucy Sloan, Belinda Tenorio, Walter Wong, John Pickeral, Cecile Saraspe, Gerry Ramos, Ray Ballecer, Emily Ballecer, Evalynne Pickeral, Elma Racadio, Volette Singson, Letty Cueto, Alice Suaverdez, Deanna Cruz, Jenny Quizon, Eliana Olsen, Elijah Cash, May Evangelista, Ann Wegner, Vera Lefort, Dan Clark, Mareta Prill, Roselle Rogers, Reggie Pajanustan, Rene Azcueta, Linda Ravelo
Instructor: Jojo Agoncillo Ramos