...Among the new names worth mentioning are Jonathan Albert Arevalo Coo and his younger siblings, Cecilia (violin) and Victor (cello) who, like the Bolipatas, are growing into another family trio of NAMCYA winners.

Jonathan is on a home visit from his studies at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York.  Performing in a concert to share his achievement with local enthusiasts last May 18 at the Greenhills Music Studio, Jonathan interpreted works of Schubert, Chopin, Liszt, and Kasilag in such a virtuosic manner.

The young Coo had been a leading piano student of Carmencita Guanzon Arambulo, Corazon Arevalo Coo, and Roberta Rust and Rebecca Penneys in the United States.  He had been a scholar in both academics and music and a winner at competitions even before he left for the studies in the US.  Earning credits for masteral programs in music literature and performance, he has been encouraged to pursue studies for a doctorate in both fields and possibly in enthnomusicology and composition.

Along with his formal studies at Eastman, he has been featured as concertist in various states -- Arkansas, Ohio, Florida, and South Carolina.  With Victor and Cecilia, he performed in Thailand this May and is set to debut at the Jewish Community Center in Rochester in November.

This dedicated achiever has made it his mission to propagate appreciation for Philippine music.  Fascinated by the music of National Artist Lucrecia R. Kasilag, Jonathan makes it a piont to play Kasilag pieces in his concerts.  Playing the Kasilag Rondeau in E-flat major at his May 19 concert, the audience -- and the composer herself -- were awed at the artistry and intelligence with which Coo expressed the work...