Sep 8 2011

Could you help us in our Twitter chat?

Posted on September 8, 2011 by admin

CFCA is having another Twitter chat at noon Central time on Sept. 12.

This month’s topic will be about the upcoming “Shine a Light” benefit concert at The Theatre in the Park, Shawnee, Kan.

Barclay of Barclay Martin Ensemble, one of the performers, will be chatting with us.

We’d love to ask him reader-submitted questions about the concert.

If you want to submit a question ahead of time, simply tweet to @CFCA and use the hashtag #cfcachat.

Or if you’re not yet active on Twitter, you can also email your question to us at cfcacommunications@cfcausa.org.

Thanks so much!

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Nov 9 2009

Photos from the Zamboanga CD release concert

Posted on November 9, 2009 by admin

Wow, what a show!

At last night’s CD release concert, Barclay Martin Ensemble, joined by the talents from the Filipino Cultural Center of the Filipino Association of Greater Kansas City, moved some audience members to tears with their performances. The concert was the official release of the music from the documentary, Zamboanga: Poverty, War, Music. If you were unable to attend, please don’t despair: below are some pictures of the event, and the CD is available on the Zamboanga Web site. Enjoy!

Getting ready for the concert

Concert-goers waiting for the doors to open

The Sampaguita Choir performed with Barclay Martin Ensemble

Barclay Martin Ensemble

A special performance by the Sinag-Tala Dance Troupe

Barclay Martin

Barclay Martin

Want to learn about upcoming events and news from the documentary film crew? Sign up for the eNews delivered once a month.

This review captures the feeling of the concert.

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Feb 3 2009

Zamboanga documentary trailer: You are invited!

Posted on February 3, 2009 by admin

We invite you to see our trailer of “Zamboanga: Poverty, War, Music,” the first CFCA-produced feature-length documentary. Cinematographer John Nosack has created an initial trailer that gives a beautiful overview of the story.

The film chronicles the journey of 13 teenagers who learn to play traditional Filipino musical instruments and end up as the headlining act at a five-hour concert at the edge of the jungle. The triumph of the teensí performance is inspiring. But the triumph of the teens and their families in their everyday life will change your view of people living in poverty.

The five-minute trailer is on the film Web site at www.zamboangathemovie.com. Please take a look, let us know what you think and, while youíre there, sign up for Zamboanga e-news to receive film updates and alerts.

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Jun 23 2008

Scholars rehearsing for concert in Zamboanga

Posted on June 23, 2008 by admin

Barclay, left and Xarina playing the kulintangan, a traditional Philippines instrument.

Xarina (foreground) and other CFCA scholar students learned and performed on traditional Filipino instruments for a concert in the jungle surrounding Zamboanga City, Philippines, in January 2008. The concert will be featured in ZAMBOANGA, a documentary film. Visit www.zamboangathemovie.com for more information.

Scholarship students from the Philippines formed a special bond while studying traditional Filipino instruments such as the kulintangan, the dabakan and the agong. The students rehearsed throughout the year for a CFCA concert on Jan. 30 in Zamboanga on the island of Mindanao.

The experience awakened an interest in composing and writing for scholar Xarina, 16. Xarina is featured in the Spring/Summer issue of The Scholar, a CFCA publication that highlights the accomplishments and challenges of students in the CFCA Scholarship Program.

ìI am used to composing in English and Tagalog,î Xarina said. ìNow I am writing in Chavacano [a Filipino dialect]. I am experimenting.î

Hours of rehearsal put a strain on Xarinaís studies, but the hard work paid off.

ìThey did brilliantly,î said Kansas City-based musician Barclay Martin. Martin arranged the concert music and wrote original songs combining traditional Filipino and modern music.

The day after the concert was bittersweet for the students, Martin said.

ìWe played music for each other as a gesture of thanks and to mark a significant life experience for all involved,î he said. ìAs it neared time to leave, members from all of the groups began to laugh, sing and cry out of gratitude for what we had shared.î

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