The Canberra Reporter CanRep8pgAUG2017 final | Page 4

4 | THE CANBERRA REPORTER August 2017
28th AUSTRALIAN INTERNATIONAL MUSIC FESTIVAL
Philippine entry wins two gold awards
By MARILIE
BOMEDIANO
THE Philippines’ Children’s Paradise Montessori
School (CPMS) won two Gold Awards at the 28th
Australian International Music Festival (AIMF) in
Sydney on July 9-15, 2017.
It was the first time in 28 years the Philippines had
taken part in the prestigious music festival.
Competitors came from more than 1,200 elemen-
tary, high school and college students from 39
ensembles of USA, Canada, Croatia, China, Hong
Kong, Australia, New Zealand, and the Philippines.
The Philippine delegation performed before distin-
guished audiences in concerts at Sydney’s world-
class music venues such as Verbrugghen Hall of the
Sydney Conservatorium of Music and the Sydney
Opera House.
YOUNG Filipinos and mentor find paradise in Sydney.
COMMUNITY
Quest finalists meet
the press at a gala
presentation night
The school had two entries at the festival: the
Children’s Paradise Montessori Choir under maestro
Dennis Gregory Sugarol, and the Fiesta Filipinas
Mixed Ensemble combining the school’s Rondalla
with dancing and singing under Reyden Bathan in
collaboration with dance director Nino Matillano
and creative director Rudy Aviles.
The choir and the ensemble’s performances were
adjudicated by a panel of international music educa-
tors and professionals.
Each received a Gold Award with an average
rating of 85-100.
For eight consecutive years, CPMS has been
named the Montessori School of the Year in
Metro Cebu by the Business Achievement and
Recog