The University of Santo Tomas Museum, in partnership with the
Conservatory of Music, the UST Junior High School and the College of
Fine Arts and Design, celebrated the Yuletide season with an exhibition titled “Kindle: The Lights of Christmas” and a live concert titled “Christmas at the Museum: A Musical Night“ at the UST Museum Main Gallery. The exhibition was launched on November 14, 2018, while the live concert was held on November 15 and 16, 2018.
Hanging from the ceiling of the two-level Museum were handcrafted
Christmas-themed lanterns and golden doves designed by freshman and
junior students from the Interior Design Department of the College of Fine Arts and Design. For the celebration’s musical component, the UST Junior High School Glee Club sang joyful carols and the Guitar Ensemble, Faculty Guitar Quartet, Guitar Octet, and Woodwind Quintet from the UST Conservatory of Music performed Christmas classics.
UST Museum Director Rev. Fr. Isidro C. Abaño, O.P., in his welcome
remarks, explained the rationale behind Christmaseum, saying that,
“The Museum is at the forefront of the promotion of culture and arts in the
University, and so it opens doors of opportunities to Thomasian artists…
[Part of the reason for this initiative is also] “because I have great faith in the Thomasian [visual and musical] artists.”
UST Junior High School Principal Assoc. Prof. Marishirl P. Tropicales, Ph.D., in a message during the concert, said “I hope that the performance of our
students and our faculty members bring joy and inspiration to our hearts and may we share that same joy and inspiration to others.“
Among the songs performed were: “Djembe” by the UST Guitar Octet
with percussionist Marco Raquiza, “Loose Canon” by the Faculty Guitar
Quartet, an Ernani Cuenco Medley by the Guitar Ensemble, and “March from the Nutcracker Suite” by the Woodwind Quintet. The UST JHS Glee Club, accompanied by Mr. Lucas M. Paredes on the piano, under the direction of Ms. Maria Lulu P. Orlina and Mr. Nicanor Infante, also sang “The Most Wonderful Time of the Year”, an a cappella rendition of “Jingle Bells Calypso,” and “Munting Sanggol.” To cap off the musical spectacle, “Payapang Daigdig” and “Kumukuti-kutitap” were jointly performed by the UST JHS Glee Club and the UST Guitar Ensemble.
