SAN CARLOS CITY – A 20-year old teener from San Carlos City won the first prize in the piano competition of the National Music Competition of Young Artists held November 21 at the main theater of the Cultural Center of the Philippines.

Andrew Bryan Nelmida Sapigao, a third year student and a scholar at the University of the Philippines College of Music in Diliman, is the son of San Carlos City Information Officer Noemi Rachel Nelmida Sapigao.

NAMCYA is the most prestigious music competition in the country, being handled by the CCP, the National Commission for Culture and the Arts and the Department of Education.

The young Sapigao was the youngest of the contestants in the highest age category of 20 years old to 27 years old. Most of the contenders were professionals.

The second prize was won by Darren Matthias, a very popular and flamboyant pianist from the University of Sto. Tomas.
Stephanie Cruz, a certified public accountant who graduated from the De La Salle University, won third place. .

Bryan used to be a commercial model on television, broadcast and print media, for the American Company Wyeth. He has always been tapped in programs of the Philippines Association for Gifted Children, such as providing piano accompaniment for celebrity singers Regine Velasquez and Kyla in the past.

When he was eight years old, the University of the Philippines College of Music Extension Program made him a child prodigy under the tutelage of Professor Avelina Manalo.

Bryan first studied piano at age five. His first teacher was Miss Elvira Lambino of Dagupan Ctiy, a graduate of the U.P. Conservatory of Music.