Melodies of each note echoing in the room, the intricate finger style that transposes from one note to another and the passion burning in every music played. The soul is, indeed, alive as renowned Czech guitarist, Lukáš Sommer, serenaded the Philippines during his weeklong tour.
The Czech Embassy in Manila commemorated the Liberation Day through a series of concerts featuring the talented young Czech guitarist and composer, Lukáš Sommer. Bringing to the country his music and artistry, Sommer performed his original masterpieces to the diverse Filipino audience, such as students, artists or the members of the diplomatic corps.
Sommer’s performance commenced with a concert at the National Museum of Natural History on 6 May where various cultural enthusiasts, students, government workers, and other private individuals graced his first concert in the country. The concert was a joint project of National Museum of the Philippines and Czech Embassy in Manila to mark the Heritage Month.
Lukáš Sommer also played a solo act and a group act with a Spanish guitarist Alex Alcaraz and a Filipino percussionist Jean Paul Zialcita, at the stage of The Ruins, Poblacion bringing a vibrant and dynamic energy at the EuroPinoy concert held on 7 May. The EuroPinoy concert was organized by the Delegation of the European Union in the Philippines together with EU member state Embassies and EU cultural institutions to bridge the ties between the Philippines and EU member states through music.
This was followed by an intimate concert at Palm Grove Rockwell on 8 May to remember the liberation of then Czechoslovakia during the 2nd World War. Members of the diplomatic corps, government, business sector, media, and others shared in this commemoration not only the soothing music of Lukáš Sommer but as well as the taste of Czech beer, Pilsner Urquell.
The tour culminated with a concert at Room Gallery in Puerto Galera on May 10 where Sommer opened “Merge”, an exhibition of paintings of an art group from Mindoro, headed by Wildfredo Rufon and glass sculptures of Czech artists Jiří Pačinek.
Apart from the concerts, Lukáš Sommer also conducted Masterclasses at the University of the Philippines-Diliman College of Music and at the International School of Manila on May 6 and May 8 respectively. He also graced the morning show of CNN Philippines, New Day, where he talked about his experience in the country and his influences as a musician.
“It was a heartwarming time spent sharing my music to the Philippines. Aside from the enthusiastic audience, I am also amused of the beautiful nature that the country has,” says Sommer who extremely enjoyed sharing his music with the Filipino audience.
As an outcome of his visit to the Philippines, already back in Prague, Lukáš Sommer will organize in June 2019 a lecture on Philippine traditional and contemporary music by Prof. Jonas Baes, a Philippine composer and lecturer at the University of the Philippines-Diliman.
Sommer is one of the Czech Republic’s leading personalities in the generation of young musicians who is known for his innovative style of classical guitar combined with the philosophy of yoga and meditation. He studied guitar and composition in the Czech Republic under the mentorship of prominent Czech professors and musicians such as Professor Věroslav Neumann, Professor Ivan Kurz, and Professor Vilma Manová. Apart from composing music, Sommer is also a sought-after arranger of popular music in the film soundtracks of Ondrej Soukup, Michael Kocáb, Oh Yoon Suna, and Johnny Mayer, and has worked with a variety of Czech and international agencies.
See related story:
Viva Europa 2019! The sight and sounds of Czech guitarist Lukáš Sommer enthralls Manila
https://thephilbiznews.com/2019/05/10/the-sight-and-sounds-of-czech-guitarist-lukas-sommer-enthralls-manila/