Oslo Musikkakademi holds Concert for Ondoy Victims

The Oslo Musikkakademi under the direction of Ms. Martha Smith and her husband, pianist, Dr. Haakon Smith, staged a concert of classical music at the Røyken Kirke on 25 October 2009. All proceeds will go to the victims of Typhoon Ondoy. At the start of the concert, Ambassador Elizabeth P. Buensuceso made a power point presentation on the extent of the damage and government and NGO efforts to help the victims.

Soloists, who are students of the academy, performed arias from masterpieces of Purcell, Puccini, Donnizetti, Mozart and Grieg. A soloist of Filipino descent, 14-year old Edrian Esmena, became the darling of the mostly Norwegian audience with his soulful renditions of favorites like You Raise Me Up, O Sole Mio and Caro Mio Ben.

Elated by the success of this initial effort, the organizers will be staging a similar concert in Oslo, again for the benefit of the victims.