Clockwise from top left: YSPF members together with Ambassador Garcia, FNACO President Albert Benoit, and 1st Vice President Suzanne Gumpert; FNACO members pose for a group photo with the Ambassador; The YSPF quartet performing during the program; Mr. Benoit thanks the Ambassador for hosting the dinner; and Ambassador Garcia offers a toast.

 15 August 2018, Ottawa – The Philippine Embassy in Canada hosted “Music to Dine For,” a benefit dinner for the Friends of the National Arts Centre Orchestra (FNACO), in an evening of good music, good company, and fine fusion of Filipino and Canadian cuisine held at Tahanang Rizal (Rizal House), the official residence of the Ambassador of the Philippines to Canada.

Twenty guests from FNACO joined Philippine Ambassador Petronila P. Garcia as they were regaled by musicians from Ottawa’s Young String Performers Foundation (YSPF). The string quartet, composed of Cenrine Despax, Uyen Tran, Daniel Cheung, and Iñigo Gauthier-Mamaril, mentored by YSPF President Joan Milkson, performed renditions of Beethoven’s String Quartet Opus 95 (“Serioso” – Movement 1), Puccini’s Crisantemi, Dvorak’s String Quartet in F Major, Opus 96 (“American” – Movement IV”), and Piazzolla’s Libertango, finished off with an encore of Johann and Josef Strauss’ Pizzicato Polka.

The group then moved to a medley of cuisines as they were treated to Mandarin Salad, Crusted Atlantic Salmon with Mango Bango, and Creamy Mango Cheesecake served up by local chef Liza Sare of Tamis Café.

Ambassador Garcia thanked the guests for joining “Music to Dine For.” “It is always a pleasure to work with FNACO and meet members of the community united by their love of music. It is our hope that this evening will allow you to get to know more about the Philippines, its people, and its culture,” she noted. END.