YOUTH POPS STRING ENSEMBLE

Guided and motivated by Divinagracia Montalban-Lagua's ingenious teaching, the Youth Pops String Ensemble was organized as a solid group of dedicated performing students and music aficionados. The respective members' exposure to Ms. Montalban-Lagua's impressive styles and techniques of instruction (based on skills honed by her Juilliard School mentor, the great Ivan Galamian and on her vast experiences as a concertist and artistic director-arranger) has allowed them to achieve a pleasurable balance between mere interest, talent, and serious hard work. Because of her genuine concern for the musical development of her students, she identifies and meets their individual needs and enhances their skills to the fullest. It is to her credit that Gerald Schwartz, the Music Director of the Mostly Mozart Series in Lincoln Center, has so commendably said: "Divinagracia Montalban-Lagua is a truly outstanding teacher. She has excellent musical & instrumental concepts. Her teaching is always constructive, thorough, & with great insights."

The Youth Pops String Ensemble and its music director-arranger gave its New York City debut at the Carnegie Recital Hall in 1984 where they were given a heartwarming standing ovation. This spawned other numerous invitations and performance highlights which include the UNICEF's 1st Children's Worlds Fair in Asphalt Green, NYC, a full length concert for the Statue of Liberty's Centennial Celebration in 1986 and a "Musical Soiree" for select audience of Ambassador's wives and members of the UN Mission Wives Club and National Council of Women in the U.S.

The YPSE has likewise been invited to perform for the opening ceremonies of the Philippine-NY Art Exchange Exhibit sponsored by the Children's Art Exchange International Inc. As part of NYC's Phil. Dept. of Tourism's promotion of Philippine culture in the North Americas, the YPSE was requested to perform for the Philippine Fiesta Islands '89 Concert which was co-sponsored by the Philippine Air Lines. Following their guest performances in a series of recitals at the Montclair State College in NJ, appearances at the Fashion Center of Lord & Taylor in NJ, and a special invitation to a "Luncheon Musicale" tendered by Mayor John Kinder of Bloomfield, NJ, the YPSE was presented in several concerts by the Fil-Am Cultural Society of NY, Inc., the Filipino Association of Rockland, NY, & by the Delta Kappa Gamma Society in Upper Montclair, NJ. The group also celebrated its 10th founding anniversary in a concert presented at the NY Public Library-Heckscher Oval Auditorium in Lincoln Center, NY.

Currently, the revived Youth Pops String Ensemble has acquired new members who have hurdled the minimum requirements of genuine enthusiasm and committed dedication of both students and parents alike. Other members are eager returnees who were separated from Ms. Montalban-Lagua during her almost 6-year sabbatical. After a few months of intensive private lessons with their teacher, Divinagracia Montalban Lagua, and their fun filled rehearsals, the group highlighted the "Simbang Gabi" Christmas musical celebration in St. Matthews Church in Somerset, NJ where they were given a standing ovation by the capacity crowd.

Ms. Montalban-Lagua also directed the group in the TKR Cable TV show, "Joe Brower Half-Hour" program which was aired 18 times in summer '97. Under Ms. Montalban-Lagua's dedicated and structured guidance in line with her Juilliard School training, her students have been thought of to be seasoned performers. They are not only well honed in coordination as ensemble players but are also individually potential solo performers.

As in any outstanding accomplishment, the underlying factor is the imperative dimension of parental commitment & loving enthusiasm in the development of its child's potential.