6-7 July 2013

FLUTOPIA
A Flute Celebration at the Cultural Centre of the Philippines (CCP)

Flutopia marked the inaugural all-flute event organized by Cultural Centre of Philippines in the Philippines. For two days, this festival was bustling with mini-concerts, master classes, workshops, exhibitions and flute repair services. The festival culminated with the Gala Concert held at the CCP Little Theatre, which featured Jin Ta, Principal flutist of the Singapore Symphony Orchestra and pianist Lin Shumei, Principal of Flute and Music Academy Singapore.

practised diligently under the hot sun just to prepare for their CCP mini-concerts. Jin Ta also coached aspiring flutists

Sean Tan from WindWorks Singapore showing Flutopia participants a trick or two about flute maintenance

in two master classes over the two days. In addition, there were two workshops that were conducted specifically for mostly young flutists. The first workshop was about Flute Maintenance, which was presented by Sean Tan, master
Young flutists from Banda 11 of Pulongbuhangin Santa Maria Bulacan practicing under the hot sun

technician of WindWorks Singapore. The second workshop was on analysis of Mozarts Flute Concerto in G, which was conducted by Lin Shumei. The participants found the

Prior to the festival, Flutopias Chairwoman, Flutist Marie Poblete started to plan for performances that involved a diverse group of flutists from the flute community in the Philippines. The outcome was an amalgamation of dissimilar but delightful flute repertoire at the lobby mini concerts, which happened at regular intervals throughout the two days. The PhilBanda, the official wind band of CCP, also officially kicked off the event with a selection of festive music and the spritely piccolo tunes in Sousas Stars and Stripes forever. Flutopia provided an unforgettable educational platform for many participants too. One group of flutist students from Banda 11 of Pulongbuhangin Santa Maria Bulacan

workshop sessions informative and benefited from the insights that they had gathered.

Flute Technical experts from Muramatsu Flutes Japan providing flute repair and servicing

Apart from the performances and workshops, this festival was also joined by technical experts from Muramatsu Flutes from Japan, who provided flute repair for the Flutopia participants. The highlight of the festival was the Gala Concert. The concert started with Jin Ta and Lin Shumei performing

He must have left a deep impression on the audience, including a regular Filipino Arts blogger, Adrian (aka Rad) who wrote, I was very impressed towards the end when he maintained a clear melodic line amid a flurry of ascending and descending arpeggios. For a single voiced instrument, Jin Ta was able to create multiple layers as if there was another flutist playing. Needless to say, the duo received a vociferous applause. Afterwards, they surprised the audience with two encores, a Filipino piece, Lagi Kitang Naaalala by Levi Celerio and John Rutters Waltz from Suite Antique.

Flutist Jin Ta with Pianist Lin Shumei at Gala Concert

Francis Poulencs Sonata for Flute and Piano, which was followed by Claude Bollings Baroque and Blue from Suite for Flute and Jazz Piano Trio. What was uncommon was the two flute quartets repertoire that followed after that. The members of the first quartet included Jin Ta, Hercules Santiago, Gary Silangcruz and Olivier Ochainine, playing Guilio Briccialdi Flute Quartet in A major. The second quartet had Kiko Candelaria, Marie Poblete and David The long queue for the autograph session for Jin Ta and Lin Shumei after the concert was testimony to the success of the concert and the Flutopia festival. Meanwhile, we keenly await the next Flutopia festival. Flute and Music Academy Jerome Johnson, joining Jin Ta in performing Friedrich Kuhlaus Flute Quartet in E minor, Op.103. The audience was indeed treated to a charming but rarely performed flute quartet repertoire. The duo Jin Ta and Lin Shumei soon returned with Astor Piazzollas Oblivion, which was a relaxing prelude to the virtuosic Paul Taffanels Fantasy on Theme from Der Freischtz. Jin Tas craftsmanship, versatility and musicianship were clearly demonstrated impressively with this show-stopper piece.
Long queue forming at Postconcert autograph session

For a single voiced instrument, Jin Ta was able to create multiple layers as if there was another flutist playing Adrian, Filipino Art Blogger