09 June 2025, Tianjin – World-renowned Filipino pianist Maestro Raul Sunico showcased his prowess in piano and mentored Chinese musical prodigies from the Tianjin Conservatory of Music in a masterclass held in the city south of Beijing.
Titled “Golden Keys: A Piano Masterclass to Showcase of Filipino Musical Mastery in China,” the masterclass held on 09 June 2025 is part of the commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of Philippines-China Diplomatic Relations.
Ambassador Jaime FlorCruz said people-to-people exchanges are at the center of activities lined up by the Philippine Embassy in Beijing to commemorate this milestone year.
“This is a milestone cultural and academic exchange between our very own Maestro Sunico and Chinese students from a top music school like the Tianjin Conservatory of Music. It speaks of the richness and depth of our people-to-people ties and brings out the harmony between our two countries,” Ambassador FlorCruzsaid.
“It is an important cultural interaction between Maestro Sunico, who carries his decades of experience as a musical artist, and the promising young Chinese prodigies, who will shape the future of music.” the Ambassador noted.
For Dr. Sunico, it was also an opportunity not just to impart skills and his talent, but also to connect with the young musicians.
“My interaction with talented and passionate Chinese students from the Tianjin Conservatory of Music provided an opportunity for me to showcase a Filipino piece. Despite differences in Chinese and Filipino melodies, my students picked up the pieces very well, proving that music is a universal language,” Dr. Sunico remarked.
Maestro Sunico played Filipino classic Kumintang, reflecting the emotional depth of Filipino culture, and Liebestod, a Richard Wagner/Franz Liszt opera, reflecting the love and connection between people.
From Beethoven's classical period to Stravinsky and Rachmaninov's 20th-century works, Maestro Sunico’s masterclass covered a wide range of topics, including technical proficiency with quick passages, polyrhythms, and dynamic control.
He also talked about expressive depth spanning Stravinsky's modernism, Schubert's tragedy, and Debussy's impressionism.
Tianjin, a municipality located near Beijing, is known for its rich musical heritage and a cultural bridge between Western classical traditions and Chinese cultural influences.
The event was made possible through the Embassy’s partnership with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and Sentro Rizal Beijing.
Apart from his visit to Beijing and the masterclass in Tianjin, the Filipino maestro will also have similar performances in Chongqing and Guangzhou, upon the invitation of Philippine Foreign Service Posts in China, as part of cultural initiatives to promote Philippine culture in China. (30)
