Banding together: Okada and YMDO celebrate young musicians with concert

A moving celebration of music, discipline, and youth empowerment unfolded recently at the National Arts Center’s Kasilag Theater, as 80 young musicians from across the country performed their culminating concert for the 24th Philippine Youth Symphonic Band (PYSB) Summer Youth Music Camp.

The event brought together participants aged 8 to 24 who underwent an intensive nine-day residency focused not only on sharpening their musical talents but also on instilling values such as discipline, resilience, and civic awareness. The program is a long-running initiative of the Young Musicians Development Organization (YMDO), which aims to preserve Filipino culture by nurturing the next generation of musicians.

PYSB Manager, Bombie Custodio, explained that the program focused not only on advancing musical talent but also on instilling core values to shape participants into better individuals.

The program’s alumni tell a compelling story of success beyond the podium. Many have become influential educators, performers, and conductors, while others now serve in the military, local government, and civic institutions. Each, Custodio noted, carries forward the ethos of excellence and public service nurtured within the camp’s intensive training environment.

Sixty of the most outstanding participants are selected each year to form the PYSB’s core ensemble, representing some of the best young musical talent in the Philippines.

Present at the concert were YMDO Chairwoman and Program Director Irene Marcos-Araneta and Okada Foundation Inc. President James Lorenzana, who witnessed firsthand the talent and potential of the youth musicians. Marcos-Araneta lauded the foundation’s commitment, citing its ₱25 million pledge to YMDO as a significant investment in the future of Philippine arts and youth development.

“It is a privilege to witness the transformation of these young musicians,” Marcos-Araneta said. “Their energy, their discipline — it all points to a brighter future for Filipino culture.”

For Lorenzana, whose foundation is among the country’s most active philanthropic institutions, the experience was deeply moving.

“I am amazed by the talent on display. Supporting YMDO’s mission aligns with our vision of empowering the next generation,” he said. “In uplifting these young artists, we safeguard the cultural soul of our nation,” Lorenzana concluded.

The Okada Foundation, Inc. is one of the country’s leading philanthropic organizations, focusing on education, infrastructure, the environment, health, and cultural heritage. Its support of YMDO reflects a shared commitment to fostering creativity and national pride through music.

As the curtains closed on this year’s camp, both organizations reaffirmed their dedication to ensuring that the country’s musical legacy continues to thrive — one young note at a time.