L-R: Lesley Martinez, Mikki Villa, Micah Pineda, and Vanessa Paolleli

Trumpets Playshop, the trusted name when it comes to honing young talents through various arts workshops, celebrates its fifteenth year this summer. Looking back at all its fruitful years, Playshop has earned the loyalty of its “regulars”–Sam, Cheska, Micah, and Mikki. What keeps them coming back every year is no longer a secret.

Sam Concepcion, now 15, started attending Playshop classes when he was just 8. He is now a Stages/Star Magic talent, has appeared in numerous commercials and shows, and made it to his first solo album under Universal Records. Sam is thankful for Playshop because it has helped him enter mainstream entertainment.

“Playshop has taught me and is still teaching me longevity as a performer whether onstage or on television.” Sam cannot forget the time he learned about the dictum “Practice makes Permanent.”

Sam claims, “Practice doesn’t make everything perfect. But I always remember that if you keep on practicing one thing, whether you have the right or wrong technique, that’s what you’d keep on doing. That’s why I value my lessons at Playshop because they show me the right techniques.”

Cheska Ortega, Stages’ and Viva’s new artist, started going to Playshop when she was just in grade school. She did not even like theater back then. She was an incurably shy kid and would not even talk in class, but not after the summer she went to Playshop. Looking back, she says, “Playshop made me realize that there’s no need to be shy at all, but instead, I should shine.”

At 15, Cheska has played Gabriella on the stage production of Disney’s High School Musical, has starred in several stage plays and music videos, and will come up with her own album very soon.

Micah Pineda, an accomplished thespian at a young age and who is taking up theater arts in UP, has much to say about Playshop’s role in her life. “It has railroaded my life. I’m in UP taking up theater arts because Playshop made me realize what I want to become–an artist.”

Mikki Villa, a pioneer of Playshop Alabang and who has graced innumerable plays and musicals, landed into Playshop by fate. “I just knew one day that my sister enrolled me. I grew to love it and enrolled every summer since then. Playshop’s schedule is so flexible that I still have time to do other stuff. I guess the key to enjoying fully is to be open-minded–being open to learn.”

All four of them admit to being “scared” during their first day of attending workshops in Playshop. “Not that the teachers are scary, but it is more like going to school for the first time–you don’t know who you’ll meet,” explains Mikki.

But the four of them agree in saying that the teachers of Playshop are amazing. “They are so willing to pass on their knowledge and they teach you how to respect the craft,” emphasizes Sam.

While all four of them claim that Playshop has been life-changing in a positive way, they are quick to note that expectations should be leveled. Playshop does not promise that everyone will hit a high note or make us cry with a dramatic interpretation. But each summer workshop participant is required to stretch his or her limits. Young as they are, since Playshop admits kids as tender as four years old, they learn to work as artists– testing ideas and techniques and finding what works and what does not. In Playshop, there is room for singers who don’t dance, actors who don’t sing, and dancers who don’t act. Practically, a room for everyone to grow.

Trumpets Playshop opens more branches this year. The summer workshops are available at the Podium, Shangri-La Plaza Mall, Alabang Town Center, Glorietta, My Study Partner in Katipunan, and Fully Booked at the Fort from April 2 to June 1.

For inquiries, call +63 2 636 2842. You may download complete list of courses and schedule at the Trumpets Website.

For queries:
Oliver Oliveros
Senior Public Relations Officer/Consultant
Stages
+63 2 818 1111 loc. 225
+63 928 772 5254
stages_pr@i-manila.com.ph
http://oliverpublicist.blogspot.com