La Torre, grandkid to sing with only Filipino symphony abroad

Sylvia La Torre and granddaughter Anna Maria Perez de Tagle will be performing with the Filipino American Symphony Orchestra on August 13. CONTRIBUTED

LOS ANGELES — Legendary veteran entertainer Sylvia La Torre and her granddaughter, Broadway performer and TV-film actress Anna Maria Perez de Tagle, will be the special guests in the August 13 concert of the Filipino American Symphony Orchestra (FASO) in a landmark Filipino American musical event.

La Torre and Perez de Tagle will perform a duet and solo numbers with FASO, the only Filipino symphony orchestra outside of the Philippines.

Under the baton of musical director and conductor Robert “Bob” Shroder, FASO will also play “Peter & the Wolf,” Sergei Prokofiev’s well-loved children’s classic (to be narrated by Joan Almedilla), cherished movie and television tunes, including themes from “Stars Wars” and “Harry Potter” films, Broadway favorites and Filipino music gems.

Titled “FASO Plays Prokofiev’s ‘Peter & the Wolf,’” the exciting concert for children and adults will be staged on Saturday, August 13, at the John Wayne Performing Arts Center at 1440 E. Broadway, Glendale, California 91205.

It will be La Torre and Perez de Tagle’s first time to collaborate musically with FASO. La Torre, a Philippine national music treasure who joined a singing contest at the age of five in 1938 in Manila, is acknowledged as the first Filipino artist to enjoy a hugely successful career in all major entertainment fields in the Philippines: radio, television, record, stage and film.

Now based in California, La Torre, known as the Queen of Kundiman and also for her fondly remembered “Ibyang” character in the pioneering days of Philippine entertainment, continues to be a dynamic performer.

Perez de Tagle debuted on Broadway in the acclaimed 2011 revival of “Godspell” where she earned good reviews. The singer-actress’ credits include the film version of “Fame” and the TV shows, “Hannah Montana,” “Camp Rock” and “Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam.” With several records under her name, Perez de Tagle, whose early singing coach was her famous grandmother, has toured with Demi Lovato and the Jonas Brothers.

The FASO Children’s Ensemble will also be spotlighted in the latest concert of FASO, which is noted for its entertaining and quality concerts. The trailblazing orchestra is comprised of volunteer musicians from various sectors of the Fil-Am community.

Festivities on August 13 begin at 4:00 p.m. with an “orchestra instrument petting zoo” and face painting in the theater lobby and food trucks in front of the theater on Broadway Street. Bring your “Star Wars” lightsabers and “Harry Potter” wands. The concert starts at 6:00 p.m.

For tickets, call Andy Tecson (323) 467-5096; Bob Shroder (818) 395-8936; and Arlene Ferrolino (213) 248-9850. Tickets are at $30, $40, $60, $75 and $100. More information at www.fasofoundation.org.

A non-profit organization, FASO is led by a board of directors dedicated to keeping FASO as a Fil-Am cultural institution for many generations to appreciate. The board is made up of Arlene Ferrolino (president), Luis Ramos (vice president), Susan Legaspi, (treasurer), John Mina (secretary) and directors Charina Carrera, Claire Espina, Jose Luis Garcia, Wendy Mazon, Ruben Nepales, Rocio Nuyda, Asuncion Ojeda, Carmelita O’Neil and Edwin Raquel.

Multiple Grammy nominee David Benoit is an honorary member.