The University of California San Diego Division of Arts and Humanities in the United States has accepted a home-grown lass from Baguio City as a graduate student for the post-graduate degree of Masters in Arts in Performance (soprano) for January 2021.
Stefanie Quintin-Avila is a Cordilleran and Baguio City High School alumna who has been hailed by the Straits Times as a singer who “possesses a voice with remarkable flexibility and a truly commanding musical presence.”
Her repertoire ranges from Renaissance to contemporary music, including many world premieres. She attended the Vielklang Akademie für Alte Musik in Tübingen, Germany, and studied with early music specialist-lutenist Lee Santana and soprano Sybilla Rubens. She also collaborated and performed with classical guitarist Carsten Linck, specializing in the performance of English Ayres and German Lied.
As a proponent of contemporary music, she has premiered and performed works by notable composers Philippine National Artist for Music Dr. Ramon Santos and American composer Eli Marshall, to name a few. She is a member of the Ripieno Ensemble PH, a Pierrot ensemble based in Manila, dedicated to the promotion and performance of contemporary music in the Philippines and in Southeast Asia.
She has performed as a soloist in various international festivals, such as the Asia-Europe New Music Festival (Vietnam); Yilan International Arts Festival (Taiwan); soundSCAPE Festival (Italy); Baroque Festival (Singapore); and International Bamboo Organ Festival (Philippines).
She has been featured in concerts/performances with the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra, Asia Traditional Orchestra, Singapore Symphony Orchestra, Singapore Lyric Opera Orchestra, Hong Kong Bach Choir and Orchestra, Orensanz Center, New York City, Wilsey Center, San Francisco, and the Hong Kong New Music Ensemble.
She is a recipient of the Delphic Lyra Award for Traditional Music at the 3rd International Junior Delphic Games in 2007, PGMA Presidential Award for Culture and the Arts in 2008, and the Rey T. Paguio Scholarship (2009-2014). She is a second prize winner (professional category) at the 2nd SLO-ASEAN Vocal Competition in 2018.
She studied voice under the tutelage of Fides Cuyugan-Asensio, Rica Nepomuceno, Ena Aldecoa, Arthur Espiritu, and Christopher Arceo. She graduated with a degree in Vocal Pedagogy and Vocal Performance (cum laude) from the University of the Philippines College of Music.
All her bags are packed and ready to go. Stef thanks the Almighty for the blessings, albeit well deserved.
Every day of our lives during the more than seven months of the Covid-19, the Supreme Being has totally filled and touched our lives with kindness and generosity from people who, though wanting to be anonymous, must be recognized for their effort to help their fellowmen. We open our eyes and find them around the corner.
For one, the Lafayette Luxury Hotel and Resort in Bauang La Union and soon Baguio City of couple Paul and Rowena Lalwani, their children April, Radhica, Raj or Nini, Geeta, and bunso Ravina Lalwani Radhica Trading Co. and Geeta Commercial gave 30,000 pieces of face masks to the people of Baguio, Bauang, La Union and La Trinidad, Benguet, or a whopping 90,000 pieces face masks. Thank you for the generosity you gave the people amidst the crisis. No wonder the family is blessed.
Then comes the Rotary Club of Downtown Session who visited the orphanage of the Department of Social Welfare and Development in Aurora Hill and delivered a 50-inch smart television set, grocery items, medical supplies, and sanitary equipment for the more than 21 young adults, kids, and toddlers. The project was an initiative of RCDS president Kelwyn Tan and September birthday celebrators PP Mike Tank and IP Kat Gumaya, together with PP Doc Willy Occidental, and AG Karl Gabaen.
The RCDS and their brothers in service from the Rotary Club of Chuncheon Hanmaeum Korea donated face masks for Baguio City’s frontliners, Sto. Niño Hospital, and Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center, which were received by medical director Jun Ruñez and Doc Gwy Dizon, wife of past president Dong Dizon. Thank you, Paul and to all of you for your generosity, blessings, and selfless service to our people. Mabuhay po kayo! Blessings, indeed. Sigh.
