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Press Release
CHICAGO PCG STAGES CLASSICAL CONCERT SHOWCASING FILIPINO EXCELLENCE AND HERITAGE
The Philippine Consulate General in Chicago successfully held “Fil-Am Fiddle Fest: Strings of Filipino-American Heritage and Excellence,” a classical concert featuring outstanding young Filipino violinists, on 13 May 2026 at the Woman’s Athletic Club of Chicago.
The event formed part of the Consulate’s commemorative activities for the 80th anniversary of the establishment of Philippines-United States diplomatic relations, while also celebrating Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month in the United States and National Heritage Month in the Philippines.
The concert was organized in partnership with the FilAm Music Foundation, headed by its Founder and Artistic Director, Victor Santiago Asuncion, whose continued advocacy has helped promote Filipino musical excellence and support emerging Filipino and Filipino American classical artists.
The evening featured performances by violinists Jeanne Rafaella Ibañez Marquez, Adrian Nicolas Ong, and Kristine Clair Galano, accompanied by Victor Santiago Asuncion on piano. The three Filipino violinists are regarded as rising classical music artists in the Philippines and are currently making their mark in premier music institutions in the United States: Ms. Galano, a doctoral student at University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music; Ms. Marquez, a senior at The Juilliard School; and Mr. Ong, a first-year Master’s student at Northwestern University.
Their program included celebrated works by international composers such as Niccolò Paganini, Henryk Wieniawski, Eugène Ysaÿe, and Josef Hellmesberger, alongside compositions by renowned Filipino composers including Nicanor Abelardo and Antonio Molina. Among the featured Filipino pieces performed were Cavatina, Mutya ng Pasig, Sa Kabukiran, and Hating Gabi.
In her welcome remarks, Consul General Melanie Rita B. Diano highlighted that the enduring relationship between the Philippines and the United States has long been shaped by strong people-to-people ties, cultural exchange, and the shared experiences of Filipinos and Americans across generations. She noted that the evening’s concert reflected this enduring partnership, with the featured artists representing the very best of Filipino excellence as young musicians thriving in leading American music institutions while proudly carrying their Filipino heritage onto the global stage.
She further emphasized that music serves as a bridge between cultures and communities while also carrying the history, identity, and collective memory of the people from whom it comes. The achievements of the featured artists, she added, reflect the enduring friendship, openness, and exchange between the Philippines and the United States.
At the end of the program, the Consul General presented a Plaque of Recognition to Mr. Asuncion in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the promotion of Filipino excellence, culture, and heritage, and for his visionary leadership through the FilAm Music Foundation. Certificates of Recognition were likewise awarded to the three featured violinists for their exceptional artistry and for helping represent the very best of Filipino musical excellence on the global stage.
The concert received an overwhelmingly positive response from the audience, many of whom praised the remarkable talent and artistry of the young performers and the thoughtfully curated program showcasing both international and Filipino classical repertoire.
The event was attended by Consuls General and other members of the Chicago Consular Corps, partners of the Consulate from the business, cultural, and academic sectors, members of the Filipino-American community, and supporters of the arts. END.
Photo 1: Consul General Melanie Rita B. Diano delivers the opening remarks, highlighting the enduring
Philippines–United States ties shaped by strong people-to-people connections and cultural exchange.
Photo 2: Violinist Jeanne Rafaella Ibañez Marquez, a senior at The Juilliard School, performs alongside
Mr. Victor Asuncion
Photo 2: Mr. Adrian Nicolas Ong, a first-year Master’s student at Northwestern University, performs his solo repertoire
Photo 3: Ms. Kristin Clair Galano, a doctoral student at University of Cincinnati College Conservatory of
Music, performs her piece during the concert.
Photo 4: Consul General Diano with FilAm Music Foundation Artistic Director and Steinway Artist
Mr. Victor Asuncion (2nd from left), together with the featured violinists: Mr. Adrian Nicolas Ong (middle),
Ms. Jeanne Marquez (2nd from right), and Ms. Kristin Clair Galano (rightmost)
Photo 5: Consul General Diano, Mr. Victor Asuncion, and the featured violinists pose with the
Consuls General and members of the Chicago Consular Corps.
Photo 6: Consul General Diano, Mr. Asuncion, and the featured violinists with the members of the
the Filipino American community.
The Philippine Consulate General in Chicago successfully held “Fil-Am Fiddle Fest: Strings of Filipino-American Heritage and Excellence,” a classical concert featuring outstanding young Filipino violinists, on 13 May 2026 at the Woman’s Athletic Club of Chicago.
The event formed part of the Consulate’s commemorative activities for the 80th anniversary of the establishment of Philippines-United States diplomatic relations, while also celebrating Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month in the United States and National Heritage Month in the Philippines.
The concert was organized in partnership with the FilAm Music Foundation, headed by its Founder and Artistic Director, Victor Santiago Asuncion, whose continued advocacy has helped promote Filipino musical excellence and support emerging Filipino and Filipino American classical artists.
The evening featured performances by violinists Jeanne Rafaella Ibañez Marquez, Adrian Nicolas Ong, and Kristine Clair Galano, accompanied by Victor Santiago Asuncion on piano. The three Filipino violinists are regarded as rising classical music artists in the Philippines and are currently making their mark in premier music institutions in the United States: Ms. Galano, a doctoral student at University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music; Ms. Marquez, a senior at The Juilliard School; and Mr. Ong, a first-year Master’s student at Northwestern University.
Their program included celebrated works by international composers such as Niccolò Paganini, Henryk Wieniawski, Eugène Ysaÿe, and Josef Hellmesberger, alongside compositions by renowned Filipino composers including Nicanor Abelardo and Antonio Molina. Among the featured Filipino pieces performed were Cavatina, Mutya ng Pasig, Sa Kabukiran, and Hating Gabi.
In her welcome remarks, Consul General Melanie Rita B. Diano highlighted that the enduring relationship between the Philippines and the United States has long been shaped by strong people-to-people ties, cultural exchange, and the shared experiences of Filipinos and Americans across generations. She noted that the evening’s concert reflected this enduring partnership, with the featured artists representing the very best of Filipino excellence as young musicians thriving in leading American music institutions while proudly carrying their Filipino heritage onto the global stage.
She further emphasized that music serves as a bridge between cultures and communities while also carrying the history, identity, and collective memory of the people from whom it comes. The achievements of the featured artists, she added, reflect the enduring friendship, openness, and exchange between the Philippines and the United States.
At the end of the program, the Consul General presented a Plaque of Recognition to Mr. Asuncion in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the promotion of Filipino excellence, culture, and heritage, and for his visionary leadership through the FilAm Music Foundation. Certificates of Recognition were likewise awarded to the three featured violinists for their exceptional artistry and for helping represent the very best of Filipino musical excellence on the global stage.
The concert received an overwhelmingly positive response from the audience, many of whom praised the remarkable talent and artistry of the young performers and the thoughtfully curated program showcasing both international and Filipino classical repertoire.
The event was attended by Consuls General and other members of the Chicago Consular Corps, partners of the Consulate from the business, cultural, and academic sectors, members of the Filipino-American community, and supporters of the arts. END.
Photo 1: Consul General Melanie Rita B. Diano delivers the opening remarks, highlighting the enduring
Philippines–United States ties shaped by strong people-to-people connections and cultural exchange.
Photo 2: Violinist Jeanne Rafaella Ibañez Marquez, a senior at The Juilliard School, performs alongside
Mr. Victor Asuncion
Photo 2: Mr. Adrian Nicolas Ong, a first-year Master’s student at Northwestern University, performs his solo repertoire
Photo 3: Ms. Kristin Clair Galano, a doctoral student at University of Cincinnati College Conservatory of
Music, performs her piece during the concert.
Photo 4: Consul General Diano with FilAm Music Foundation Artistic Director and Steinway Artist
Mr. Victor Asuncion (2nd from left), together with the featured violinists: Mr. Adrian Nicolas Ong (middle),
Ms. Jeanne Marquez (2nd from right), and Ms. Kristin Clair Galano (rightmost)
Photo 5: Consul General Diano, Mr. Victor Asuncion, and the featured violinists pose with the
Consuls General and members of the Chicago Consular Corps.
Photo 6: Consul General Diano, Mr. Asuncion, and the featured violinists with the members of the
the Filipino American community.