Manila Symphony Junior Orchestra win big in two international music competitions in Europe

Meanwhile, the group also won first place with Outstanding Success for String Orchestra Category at the 2024 Summa Cum Laude International Music Festival held at Golden Hall of the Musikverein in Vienna, Austria, which is known as one of the most iconic concert venues in the world on Sunday, July 7.

According to the MSJO, the Summa Cum Laude International Music Festival is one of the most prestigious music festivals for young musicians. This year, it was attended by over 2000 participants from 14 countries and 38 distinct ensembles.

Taiwan's Hsing Lung String Orchestra won first place, while Hong Kong Youth Strings and the Taipei Municipal Zhongzheng Junior High School won second place.

Singapore National Youth String Orchestra, on the other hand, hailed as third place.

Led by its conductor, Jeffrey Solares, and its trainers, Sara Maria Gonzales and Arnold Josue, the 40-member MSJO started its European concert tour on June 29.

The group will showcase their musical talents at the prestigious MuTh Theater in Vienna on July 8, followed by a captivating performance at the Winner's Concert at the Vienna Konzerthaus the next day. They will then take their incredible music to the Smetana Hall in Prague, Czech Republic, on July 11 before returning to the Philippines on July 13.

MSJO is a youth orchestra program of the Manila Symphony Orchestra Foundation, Inc.

According to its website, it is composed of the "most advanced students" of the MSO Music Academy and other qualified students ages 9 to 18, under the baton of Prof. Solares.