The Manila Symphony Orchestra (MSO) presented the second concert of Celebration: The MSO Centennial Season with a gala performance titled “From Mozart to Mahler.” The concert took place on May 30, 2026, at 7:30 PM at the Proscenium Theater in Rockwell, Makati. Co-presented by Standard Insurance and EastWest Bank, the event was organized in partnership with the Austrian Embassy Manila and the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Conservatory of Music.

The performance featured guest conductor Joshua Dos Santos leading the orchestra alongside featured soloists Emanuel John Villarin on violin and Christian Wrona on viola. For this production, the Manila Symphony Orchestra performed side by side with selected members of the UST Symphony Orchestra. The highly anticipated evening drew a completely sold-out audience and culminated in an enthusiastic standing ovation following Mahler’s monumental symphony.

Repertoire and Historical Showcase

The concert program paired two major works from the Classical and Romantic repertoires, featuring Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Sinfonia Concertante for Violin, Viola, and Orchestra in E-flat Major, K. 364 and Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 1 in D Major, “Titan.”

Prior to the musical performances, the MSO screened an eight-minute documentary directed by J.C. Jose, highlighting the institution’s 100-year history and its enduring cultural ties with Austria.

The documentary explored three major eras in the orchestra’s history. It began with the founding years (1926–1939), highlighting the establishment of the orchestra under its founder, Viennese conductor Alexander Lippay. It then covered the World War II and resistance period (1940–1945), focusing on the orchestra’s role as a symbol of cultural resilience under the leadership of Austrian conductor Herbert Zipper. Finally, the film showcased the modern initiatives and leadership guiding the MSO toward its centennial milestone.

Dignitaries and Prominent Guests in Attendance

The gala performance was attended by an array of distinguished cultural and diplomatic figures. Among the notable guests was National Artist for Music Dr. Ramon Santos, together with MSO Foundation trustees Maan Hontiveros, Atty. Jose Feria, Atty. Katrina Legrada, and Corazon Alvina.

Major corporate partners and sponsors were also represented, including Standard Insurance Group Chairman Mr. Judes Echauz and Ms. Faith Mondejar representing JTI Philippines. The evening likewise welcomed representatives from the Embassy of the Netherlands, the Austrian Embassy, and the Japan Information and Culture Center. Dr. Renato Lucas attended on behalf of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA).

About the Performers

Emanuel John Villarin, a 22-year-old violinist and Manila Symphony Junior Orchestra (MSJO)–Standard Insurance scholar, is a graduating bachelor’s student at the Hochschule für Musik Hanns Eisler Berlin under Prof. Eva-Christina Schönweiß. He is a recipient of the Ani ng Dangal Award and was recently awarded an academy position with the NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra in Hamburg beginning in August 2026, affirming the success of the educational programs of the MSO Foundation.

Christian Wrona, an international chamber musician and viola soloist, also graduated from the Hochschule für Musik Hanns Eisler Berlin under Annemarie Moorcroft. He holds a degree in Computer Science from the University of Western Ontario and works extensively with social institutions worldwide through the Musethica program.

Guest conductor Joshua Dos Santos, a protégé of Maestro José Antonio Abreu, trained under Venezuela’s renowned music education program, El Sistema. He previously served as Associate Conductor of the Simón Bolívar Chamber Orchestra and as a Conducting Fellow with the Los Angeles Philharmonic.

Established in 1927, the UST Symphony Orchestra (USTSO) is a distinguished all-student symphony orchestra based within the UST Conservatory of Music. Led by Assoc. Prof. Herminigildo Ranera, the ensemble regularly contributes to the nation’s cultural landscape and performs at major concert venues and university events.

Upcoming Concerts

• June 14 — Celli Sentimental | Centro de Turismo, Intramuros
• July 4 — Season Concert III: 80 Years of Filipino-American Friendship | MET