HAILED for his “palpable musical instinct and intelligence” (Catanduanes Tribune) and for “producing a distinct sound” (Charles Castleman), Adrian Nicolas Ong had his orchestral debut at the age of 17 with the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra (PPO) under the baton of Music Director, Maestro Yoshikazu Fukumura. He performed Saint-Saens’ Introduction and Rondo Capricciioso.

In 2019, he performed Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto with the ABS-CBN Orchestra under the baton of Maestro Gerard Salonga. Adrian has also collaborated with esteemed musicians Dr. Raul M. Sunico, Mary Anne Espina, Herminigildo Ranera and Victor Asuncion.

The young artist has already given recitals at the CCP, the National Arts Center (NAC, Laguna), and Maybank Performing Arts Center. He was even part of the chosen artists of the FilAm Music Foundation scheduled to perform at Carnegie Hall but it was cancelled due to the pandemic.

Adrian has studied with professor Gina Medina-Perez at the Philippine High School for the Arts (PHSA) and privately with Melissa Esguerra.

Eventually, he pursued studies abroad and in 2019, graduated with honors at the Interlochen ArtsAcademy under the tutelage of Paul Sonner. Adrian is an incoming junior at the Mannes School of Music and is currently studying with world-renowned violin pedagogue Lewis Kaplan and Yibin Li.

A Friends for Cultural Concerns of the Philippines (FCCP) Scholar since 2019, Adrian has helped the FCCP during this pandemic raise funds for its scholars through an online recital with Dr. Raul Sunico, Martin Lopez and Lance Capitan.

We recently interviewed this young and accomplished artist for Culture Carousel aired in 98.7DZFE-fm, the Master’s Touch. Here is that interview.

Culture Carousel: Can you briefly tell us about your family? Are you all musically inclined?

Both of my parents are dentists and most of my relatives are in the medical field, and I have a younger sister in middle school who sings classical. At first my parents were hesitant to enroll me for violin lessons. They first enrolled me in Taekwondo when I was four, and in swimming at six. When I was nine, I pleaded again and they gave in.

Serendipitously, my mother learned that her friends’ daughter was having violin lessons and she recommended Ms. Melissa Esguerra. A few years went by and I got a little bit more serious and my parents reminded me that the violin was just a hobby and they wanted me to become a dentist, or do something related to the medical field.

After grade school, I asked if I could audition for PHSA. But my parents were quite hesitant. I eventually passed the auditions. I pleaded with my parents to allow me to enter PHSA even though I was already enrolled at La Salle Greenhills. I really wanted to pursue music, and if they didn’t allow me, I would be in filmmaking instead.

Who influenced you to play the violin and what is so special about it?

The first memory I had of the violin was when I was four. I was in the waiting area of a hospital, I think, and I heard someone playing the violin on the TV. I cannot remember who was playing but I remember the sound that the violin produced.

Since then, there have been many violinists who influenced me to keep on playing like Maxim Venerov, who we watched endlessly on YouTube in my teens, Nathan Milstein, David Oistrakh and my former mentor, Ms. Gina Medina Perez. I was also asked by my father why I liked the violin so much, and I said it sounds like its singing and it can also produce a wide range of colors and effects that is only unique to the violin.

As an incoming junior at the Mannes School of Music in New York City, what made you decide to study abroad and not just continue your music studies in the Philippines?

While studying there, I learned that the PHSA was patterned after Interlochen Arts Academy in Michigan and found out about its wonderful violin program. I auditioned that summer of 2016 and received a scholarship to study.

Studying abroad was always a dream for me, to learn different styles of violin playing and techniques from masters whom I observe up close. It was not an easy decision for my parents to let me go, considering the distance and the expenses.

Since 2019, I have been a scholar of the FCCP. This non-profit organization is very special because they have helped countless Filipino artists in need of financial assistance to finish their schooling. Studying abroad has given me opportunities to hear amazing musicians live and up close. Sometimes I even had the chance to play for them or meet them.

What are your career goals?

Right now, my main goal is to finish my studies and hoping one day, I will eventually give back to others just what has been done for me. The life of a musician can be very unsure. Right now, I explore different avenues whether its chamber or orchestra or playing as a soloist and try to make the best out of it. I also see myself teaching in the future and sharing the knowledge that I learned and passing it on to the next generation of musicians.

Who is an excellent artist for you?

Someone who is honest and sincere in what they do, who can recognize and bring out the beauty in what they do. An artist is someone who transcends the physical demands of the instrument for the sake of something greater than themselves. And someone who can see the beauty in the little things.

After a performance, what impression do you want to leave the audience?

Every performance will be different from the last, even if the pieces are the same. Sometimes, things will not go as planned during the rehearsal and it is always a leap of faith when one goes on stage. But what doesn’t change is the act of sharing the music I have been practicing countless hours, hoping to impart the intention and emotions of the composer and at the same time, my feelings for peace and ultimately just being able to have fun and enjoy beautiful pieces of music that the audience and I get to hear.

I would like to acknowledge and thank my family, my teachers, my friends at CCP, in PHSA, Interlochen Arts Academy, Mannes School of Music and the people who continue to support and believe in me and for making me into the musician and person I am today. Thank you.