The National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) is set to recognize exceptional contributions to Filipino music at the NCCA
As part of the celebration of Linggo ng Musikang Pilipino (LMP) 2025, the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) is set to award composers who won biennial Composition Prize on July 29, 2025, 3:00 PM, at the Tanghalang Leando V. Locsin in Intramuros.
Started in 2016, the NCCA Composition Prize is a competition on concert hall music, which calls for extended works that go beyond popular or traditional music-writing or improvisation.
The deliberation of the jury composed of former NCCA chair Prof. Felipe M. De Leon, Jr., Maestro Gerard Salonga, and Dr. Ramon Santos was held last January 22, 2025 and is divided into ten (10) categories namely 1) chamber category, 2) handbell choir, 3) multi-percussion solo, 4) solo piano group a, 5) solo piano group b, 6) solo piano group c, 7) solo organ, 8) solo rondalla, 9) solo string, and 10) solo wind.
Winners for the Chamber Category are Orion’s Belt by Cloyd Robinson Calucag (Category Winner), Sonata for Kulintang and Piano by Paul Earvin Bibal (Special Jury Prize), and Tryptique by Alejandro Consolacion II (Special Jury Prize).
Amianán by Ian Gabriel Corpuz wins the Handbell Choir Category.
Batanes: Julian Aftermath by Erma Dianne Decena wins Special Commendation in the Multi-Percussion Solo Category.
For the Solo Piano Groups, Etude for wrist articulation by Lawrence Parcon wins Special Jury Prize for Group A; Bottle in the Ocean by Ralph Joseph Dauz wins Special Jury Prize for Group B, and Ang mga itim na nota by Mark Jericho Pacia wins Group C Category.
(VII) Variations on a Filipino Folk Tune by Alejandro Consolacion II wins the Solo Organ Category with Fantasia by James Willy Canoso bagging the Special Jury Prize.
The Solo Rondalla Category fetes the most winners as Kalikasan: Guho ng Bukas at Kahapon by Jerome Quejano (Special Jury Prize), Sinfonietta for Solo Bandurria by Cloyd Robinson Calucag (Special Commendation), Pantomina by Joy Wendell Arco (Special Commendation), and Idlak sang Bito-on (Gleam of the Stars) by Gezer Santiso (Special Commendation).
For Solo String Category, Gahum by Patrick Paul Roxas emerges as the winner with Journey of a Hopeless Romantic by Alejandro Luis Del Corro (Special Commendation)
Lastly, and Poong Matayog by Jouie Anne Reyes wins Category Winner in the Solo Wind Category.
Following the awarding ceremony, the NCCA will also launch the World Premiere Concert Series, an inaugural series which will feature five (5) winning pieces from the 2024 NCCA Composition Prize.