Singing in Chess Club

Our mate Ignacio Dee sends in this brief report on the Philippine Artists Chess Club who recently held their annual tournament. I didn't know that such a club existed.

Trust the Philippine Artists Chess Club to hold its annual chess tournament in style. It held its 28th tournament at Heritage House in Quezon City which was won by Raul Medina. The one-day tournament was capped by a mini-recital featuring US-based pianist Professor Reynaldo Reyes and opera singer Frankie Aseniero.

Reyes, who teaches at Towson University in Maryland, accompanied Aseniero and soprano Jennifer Uy, who sang arias from Puccini's Madama Butterfly, Turandot and Tchaikovsky's Queen of Spades.

Aseniero sang Yours is My Heart Alone by Lehar in the original German. He also performed Bizet's Flower Song from Carmen and Stranger in Paradise, both in Tagalog.

Reyes, who graduated from the University of Santo Tomas Conservatory of Music at the age of 17, is one of the country's top pianists.

Medina's championship trophy was executed by famed wood sculptor Manuel Baldemor and presented by opera singer Fides Cuyugan Asensio during the awarding ceremony.

Thanks Iggy.