If you have watched the movie Pitch Perfect 2, you will not fail to notice the singing group who played the role of Manila Envy. The band is supposed to be representing the Philippines in a singing championship competition, where the Barden Bellas, the all-girl a cappella singing group we have all known to love in the original hit movie, is also competing. The fact that they sang a Journey song in Tagalog speaks much of their pride in their heritage regardless of whether or not the choice of song was dictated on them for their role. This band in real life choose to honor their Filipino heritage through their music and aptly call themselves The Filharmonic.

filharmonic

The Filharmonic Beginnings

Six young men make up The Filharmonic, bounded by their Filipino heritage in an American setting based in Los Angeles. They are  VJ Rosales, Joe Caigoy, Trace Gaynor, Barry Fortgang, all vocalists, plus Vocal Bass Jules Cruz, and Beat boxer Niko Del Rey. Their initial encounters happened in college singing competitions. Eventually, they became one group with a melodic vocal style that perfectly captures the sound of the 90’s – a true-blue Filipino-American boy band.

The public had their first glimpse of The Filharmonic and their singing capabilities via NBC’s popular song competition The Sing-Off wherein they made it to the semi-finals. Then, they went off to join the “Sing-Off” National Tour where they got to share center stage with the likes of Linkin Park, Black Eyed Peas and Pentatonix. The cameo role they had in the movie is but a step for greater things to come for this group who clearly possesses the talent and the determination to make it big in the music scene. Their stint at the Late Late Show with James Corden together with Anna Kendrick certainly shows the group’s potential.

Solid Foundation

If you think that The Filharmonic is a band that happened by accident, think again. All the members of the group have solid foundation in terms of formal learning or experience in music. VJ has a music degree  from Cal State, Joe was studying Music Education at Michigan State University prior to competing at The Sing-Off, Troy was the musical director of his own a cappella group, Barry studied at The American Musical Dramatic Academy, Jules has a double major in Music and Biology, and Niko who has a degree in Political Science beatboxes, sings, and dances. They all love to perform and they show it in their every song and video shown in their website. The Filharmonic has the great advantage of having combined talents from a wide variety of backgrounds in the performing arts industry, including pop, a cappella, jazz, opera, theater, and classical, among others.

My Say

I have said this many times before and I say it again. The gift of music, particularly singing, is the greatest talent we can share with others. The human voice on its own can entertain, lift spirits, and can make all our lives more beautiful, without the need for any instrument or grand production numbers. Those who have been given this gift can do so much and I’m glad to note that The Filharmonic is doing its part in spreading not only love for music but pride for the Filipino heritage as well.

If you want to hear the music of Pitch Perfect 2, Get it on iTunes