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St.
Scholastica’s College (SSC) in Manila
announced last week the culminating activities
marking the 100th anniversary of its School of
Music founded by Sister Baptista Battig, a
German sister. The celebrations, which had begun
in January this year, featured outreach programs
such as the first-ever concerts presented at the
LRT and MRT stations for the general public; the
founding of a tree museum in Tanay, Rizal where
species of Philippine trees in danger of
extinction were planted to ensure their
survival; and the publication of a centennial
book entitled “A Dream Fulfilled.”
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Musical Soiree |
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Capping the centennial is a revival of the late
19th century musical soiree called “Tertulia.”
In those times, Filipinos who lived in big
houses with large “salas” or living rooms
regularly held cultural gatherings in the
afternoon where artists, art aficionados and
other visitors would entertain one another with
songs, instrumental selections and poetry
recitations. There would also be discussions on
a variety of topics accompanied by “merienda” or
snacks.
The SSC “tertulia”, dubbed as The Gala for the
centennial, presents active professional
performers – pianists and violinists – educated
in the system established by Sister Battig, who
was also the pioneer in musical education in the |
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Philippines. The featured artists include
pianists Mary Ann Armovit, Della Besa, Cristina
Bichara, Mary Anne Espina, Marianne Fajardo,
Anamaria de Guzman, Leonor Kilayco, Zanas Lozada,
Carmen Padilla and Rose Marie de la Paz.
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Vivaldi, Lizt, Ravel, Bizet,Gershwin et
al |
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Violinists Sara Gonzales, Denise Huang, Gina
Medina and DJ Salonga perform an all-ensemble
program of compositions by Vivaldi,
Bizet-Wilberg, Lizt, George Gershwin, and
Philippine composers N. Gallardo and Ryan
Cayabyab.
The compositions of Schumann and Schubert are
also played in another part of the program.
Sister Angelica Leviste, president of St.
Scholastica’s College, is narrator of the
“tertulia” assisted by student Gabrielle Joy
Tatco Balincos. Other performers include soprano
Camille Lopez Molina, pianists Greg Zuniega,
Marguerite Echaus and Grace Gatchalian; cellist
Gerry Graham Gonzales.
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Finale: Handel’s Hallelujah Chorus |
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Folk songs are rendered by Ramona T.
Balingcos. , Renee Camu, Gloria Austria,
Liza Supat, Rea Jimenez, Ingrid
Chua-Lao, Gretchen Arnaldo, Lourdes
Guevarra, |
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Simonette
Feria and Jaclene Palanca. The finale is
Handel’s Hallelujah Chorus rendered by 100
voices and played by the schools’s SSC Chamber
Orchestra conducted by Ma. Lourdes Hermo.
Sister Mary Placid, OSB is dean of the College of Music. Priscilla
Sison is president of the college’s Music
Alumnae Association. The celebration takes place
on November 25 (Sunday) starting at 5:30 pm at
St. Cecilia”s Hall of SSC located on Leon Guinto
coner P. Ocampo (formerly Vito Cruz), Malate,
Manila. For ticket reservations or further
inquiries, call (02) 524-7686 local 288.
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Sister Angelica
Leviste, SSC president, is
narrator
of the musical soiree, assisted
by Gabrielle Joy
Balinco |
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