Jayson Rivera, clarinet
Gerry Gonzales, cello
Dingdong Fiel, piano

The artists :
GERRY GRAHAM GONZALES started cello lessons when he was eleven years old with Mr. Masatomo Toyoda in Cebu under a scholarship of the Salavador and Pilar Sala Foundation which was spearheaded by Dr. Ingrid Sala Santamaria.

As he continued his journey to become a full pledged cellist, he received recognition by becoming a consistent prize winner of the solo violoncello category of the National Youth Competition for Young Artist (NAMCYA). He was able to perform as orchestra player in various music festivals in Asia such as the Southeast Asian Youth Orchestra (SAYO) in Thailand, the ASEAN youth symphony orchestra in Cambodia. As an orchestra musician, his experiences include the Cebu Youth Symphony Orchestra, Peace Philharmonic Philippines and Manila Symphony Orchestra. He has attended several cello masterclasses most notably the Forum Artium, a cello masterclass with Prof. Tilmann Wick in Germany last January 2011.

He was a member Quartetto Expressivo, a string quartet that won the 1st prize of the NAMCYA chamber music category in 2005. He was also a part of the Clarion Chamber Ensemble. During his undergraduate study he was a recipient of the Battig and PREDIS scholarship.

Currently, he is the principal cellist of the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra. Gerry is playing on an Amador Tamayo Cello.

DINGDONG FIEL who hails from Leyte, is a concert pianist, composer, vocalist, and a musical director/orchestra conductor.

He is one of the most active classical concert artists in the country with almost a concert/recital every week. He holds the distinction of performing 12 solo piano concerts last year. A feat never before done on Philippine soil.

He has garnered a total of 5 first prize wins from various piano competitions. Dingdong has done piano concerts around Europe, Asia, the Middle East and the USA - in Spain, Italy, Belgium, Germany, Guam, China, Japan, and Bahrain, among other countries.

Dingdong is the songwriter and lead vocalist of the band - HARI. The band debuted at the biggest Original Pilipino Music gathering of 2018, The OPM pinoy playlist 2018. He is currently the lead vocalist and songwriter of the group BLUE VIOLET BLUE. Dingdong was also featured at WISH USA 107.5, rendering a live performance singing his original songs.

As Musical Director/Orchestra Conductor he was involved in various theater and opera productions such as Repertory Philippines' Manila staging of the musical "NO WAY TO TREAT A LADY", Ryan Cayabyab’s rock opera - "LORENZO”, the Manila run of the famous musical "INTO THE WOODS”, Menotti’s thriller opera - THE MEDIUM, and Verdi's - LA TRAVIATA to name a few, as well as numerous classical, jazz, rock and pop concerts.

After more than 20 years of purely concertizing, he has finally decided to mentor and help nurture the next generation of musicians, opening the Dingdong Fiel International Music Academy just last December 2023, offering music lessons in Piano, Violin, Voice, Cello, Clarinet, and Drums, among other instruments.

Dingdong is an Aliw Awards winner as best instrumentalist in the Philippines.

JAYSON C. RIVERA is a distinguished clarinetist and woodwind player, renowned for his contributions to performance and music education. He is currently a member of the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra (PPO) and a Senior Lecturer at the University of the Philippines College of Music.

Born and raised in Cabiao, Nueva Ecija, Jayson’s musical journey began at age 11 when he joined the Cabiao Band 11. His early performances as a soloist during the annual Saint Cecilia celebration ignited a lifelong passion for music.

Jayson pursued formal education at the University of the Philippines College of Music, where he earned a Diploma in Creative and Performing Musical Arts (2000), a Bachelor of Music (2005), and a Master of Music in Music Performance (2020) from the Philippine Women’s University. During his time at UP, he excelled as concertmaster of the UP Symphonic Band under the mentorship of Prof. Rodney Ambat, showcasing his leadership and musical talent.

In addition to orchestral performances, Jayson has made significant contributions to musical theater, serving as a pit musician in acclaimed productions such as Phantom of the Opera, Wicked, Chicago, Singing in the Rain, and Sound of Music. His versatility as a woodwind player allows him to perform seamlessly across various instruments, enhancing the musical experience of these productions. He has also been a featured artist at the Manila Pianos Artist Series Concert.

Through his dedication to both performance and education, Jayson continues to enrich the music scene. His journey reflects a deep commitment to the artistry of music and the cultivation of future talents, leaving a lasting impact as a clarinetist and woodwind player.

Manila Pianos Artist Series
October, 2024