Strings of Gold: Send-off Concert of Cellist Damodar Das Castillo at MiraNila Heritage House – September 19, 2024

 The MiraNila Heritage House & Library proudly presents “Strings of Gold: Send-off Concert of Cellist Damodar Das Castillo” on September 19, 2024, at 6:00 p.m. in the Main Hall of MiraNila.

Virtuoso concert pianist and Juilliard-trained Mariel Ilusorio will accompany the famed cello prodigy, Damodar Das Castillo.

Ilusorio will perform on MiraNila's newly restored Steinway 1904 grand piano, considered rare in the Steinway & Sons catalog.

At the onset of MiraNila's construction in 1929, owner Francisca Tirona Benitez and architect Gregorio Paredes—her cousin who trained alongside National Artist Juan Arellano in Philadelphia—conceived the idea of showcasing this instrument with its unusual rococo-style feet. They positioned the piano on an elevated platform at the base of an elegantly winding staircase, allowing the expanse of the living room to foreground the graceful setting.

The repertoire will feature a blend of classical cello music by Bach and Chopin, along with popular classical pieces by Nicanor Abelardo, Henry Mancini, and Richard Rogers.

The evening will conclude with a cello concerto by Dvořák, one of the pieces that established Damodar's reputation in the international competition circuit.

Damodar made his mark at age seven, guided and inspired by his cellist father. In 2015, he joined the Manila Symphony Junior Orchestra as its youngest member and quickly became its most frequently featured soloist.

Among his notable performances in 2017 were those before heads of state at the ASEAN Summit and his debut as a featured soloist with the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra.

A two-time Ani ng Dangal Awardee in Music, Damodar has garnered top prizes in prestigious international competitions, including The Young Musician in Tallinn, Estonia (2019); the International Anton Rubinstein Competition Cello Junior in Düsseldorf (March 2020); the Young Ludwig Youth Music Competition (Berlin, September 2020); and the Musica Goritiensis International Music Competition (Gorizia, Italy, July 2021).

Damodar is currently enrolled in pre-college studies at the Mozarteum University Salzburg under Prof. Barbara Lübke-Herzl. He was recently awarded a scholarship to further his studies under Prof. Valentin Radutiu at the Carl Maria von Weber College of Music in Dresden.

Beyond his classical studies, Damodar is a teenager with a love for basketball, football, and table tennis. He enjoys playing death metal on his electric cello and jamming with a jazz band, seeking universal truths while carving his path in classical music.

His father, Alvin, plays a supportive role in his son's journey. "I mainly handle competition applications and hotel bookings. I just remind him about the competition date and leave it to him to practice—or not. I'm not too concerned if he wins. What matters to me is how he handles the results of his preparation" (ABS-CBN News).

Standard Insurance Company, under Chairman Ernesto T. Echauz, has been a constant supporter, providing Damodar with a cello handcrafted by Master Luthier George Gerl, a winner of the 2012 German Musical Instrument Prize.

Mariel Ilusorio, a virtuoso concert pianist and seasoned music educator, trained at Juilliard, the Oberlin Conservatory of Music in Ohio, and the State Academy of Music and Theater in Hannover. After winning top prizes in piano competitions under the tutelage of Stella Brimo, Ilusorio pursued studies and performances in the US, Germany, France, Switzerland, Italy, South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Indonesia. After 26 years abroad, she returned to the Philippines, captivating audiences with her performances. She also organizes concerts and recitals and teaches at several prestigious institutions, including UST Conservatory of Music and St. Scholastica’s College of Music.

The house opens at 5:30 p.m., and the program promptly starts at 6:00 p.m.

For the general public: Tickets are priced at P1,500 with limited seating available. Order now by texting 0927 277 6335 (Robeen Manalo).

Guests are kindly requested to wear soft-soled shoes, which are more gentle on the antique floors.

Pre-concert snacks and post-concert dinners are available at Bizu MiraNila with a 5% discount for ticket holders on the day of the concert. Call Jenn or Kim at +639273015129 to reserve.

MiraNila Heritage House & Library is located at 26 Mariposa Street, Brgy. Bagong Lipunan, Crame, QC. (Find us on Facebook: MiraNila Heritage House and Library).

“Strings of Gold” is presented by the Benitez-Tirona MiraNila Foundation in partnership with Leon Gallery, Erehwon Center for the Arts, and Gallery of The Blue Leaf, with support from Bizu Groupe.