( ANG BITUIN : FIRST MOVEMENT - Lucino Sacramento ) Raul Sunico has gained international recognition as concert pianist, orchestral soloist, and composer- arranger of Philippine music. After earning degrees in Music, Mathematics and Statistics at the University of the Philippines, he went on to earn his Masters and Doctoral degree in the US on scholarships. He excelled in a number of International Competitions, winning the silver medal in the Viotti International Piano Competition in Italy, the Henry Cowell prize in the University of Maryland International Competition in the U.S. and was a finalist in the Buson International Piano Competition in Bolzano. For his accomplishments, he was chosen TOYM awardee for music in 1966, was conferred the 1996 PAMANA Presidential award for Overseas Filipinos, the 1998, UP Professional Award, the Patnubay ng Sining at Kalinangan award from the City of Manila in 1998, a Katha Award for Best Solo International Recording in 1999. 2005 Aliw Award as best male classical instrumentalist. 2006 Awit Award for best instrumental recording and 2008 UST Dangal Outstanding Artist. Sunico's performances have taken him all over the world including Kosovo, and the United Arab Emirates, in the US alone, he has given concerts in about 20 states. He has been soloist for all Philippine Orchestras, plus some in Romania, Poland, Moscow, and Taiwam; under a variety of conductors including Enrique Batz, Pierro Gamba, Garyth Nair, Helen Quach, and most of the Philippine conductors from Luis Valencia to Eugene Castillo. He has recorded more than 40CDs and cassettes, including 15 volumes of Filipino folk songs and Kundimans that he himself arranged for classical piano. He has also embarked on projects on music education in collaboration with Tawid Publications, his Musika at Sining series was approved for use for public schools in 1999. LUCINO SACRAMENTO Ang Bituin, 1st Movement Piano Concerto A shimmering light, now glittering, now dazzling, a blazing star streaks through the southern horizon, as Ang Bituin is born in the tremulous opening of the maestoso. Gently at first, theme weaves through the piano and orchedtral exposition in the allegro moderato, slowly gathering intensity as it breaks forth into an endearing song of that pink-cheecked child, with the black unfurled, then cascading hair, whose passage though the pathos-filled years of childhood has brought a radiant and an unmistakable aura in the woman- now a fully lit Star. The ensuing development contains vernal, fresh, gaiety, glowing hues and flowing melodic patterns- a pianistic portrayal of the star's trek to greater heights, the complete and accomplished woman of beauty, charm, talent, wit, poise and intelligence- that lead to the deeply lyrical second second theme. Here are the Man and the Woman, in love and in wedlock, inextricably one, together radiating a brilliance that lights the way to the fullfilment of their dreams. Grandioso, with its sweep and majesty, is an eloquent testimony to Ang Bituin's rightful place in life's galaxy. The Concerto was commissioned by His Excellency, Ferdinand E. Marcos. and dedicated to the First Lady, Imelda Romualdez Marcos. The " Ang Bituin, " composed by Luciano T. Sacramento, was first performed on July 1, 1974 at the Heroe's Hall, Malacanang, on the occasion of the birthday of the First Lady by Raul Sunico, pianist,assisted by the Cultural Center of the Philippines Philharmonic Orchestra, with Luis C. Valencia, conductor. The world premiere of the Concerto was held at the Cultural center of the Philippines on December 20, 1977, with the First lady in attendance and performed by Marites Castelo Fernandez, pianist, assisted by the CCP Philharmonic Orchestra, with Prof. Valencia conducting. Cultural Center of the Philippines 40th Anniversary Festival Seven Arts... one imelda program brochure September 11,2009

Public, coeducational institution of higher learning in Monroe, Louisiana, U.S. It comprises a graduate school and colleges of business administration, education, liberal arts, pharmacy and health sciences, and pure and applied sciences and schools of music and communications. The university offers more than 100 degree programs, including a range of undergraduate and master’s degree programs and doctoral programs in pharmacy, education, and philosophy. Research facilities include an agricultural farm laboratory, an educational media centre, and a herbarium. Total enrollment is approximately 11,500.