A harvest of cheers

Exactly a year ago, the high school students of the two campuses of the Sisters of Mary of Banneux Schools in Minglanilla and Talisay, Cebu, crossed paths with two Filipino international pianists Madame Ingrid Sala Santamaria - chairman Salvador and Pilar Sala Foundation, Inc. (SPSFI) and Maestro Reynaldo Reyes - professor of Towson University of Baltimore, Maryland. Both have been involved in the messianic mission of bringing classical music to as many people as possible through their Romantic Piano Concerto Journey since 2001. They are at present on their Tenth Concert Tour.

The two musicians have been traveling to remote parts of the country, as well as to several cities in Asia and the U.S.A., hoping to make an imprint on people about how beautiful classical music is and to make them realize the fact that everyone is naturally susceptible to such beauty if properly exposed to it, making special allusion to melodies composed during the Romantic Period (1800-1900). Playing the other weekend (July 9 - Minglanilla, July 10 - Talisay) revived the pleasure of watching students listen with full attention, their faces scrunched up in delight. The atmosphere unpinned the best from both artists and thus, the audience was very supportive of the creative momentum.

Since the concerto journey is truly meant to be educational, Maestro Reyes first explained to the audience the meaning of a concerto and the value of listening to classical music. Then he explained the usual moods associated with each of the three movements in a concerto and gave an example by playing the romantic pieces afterwards.

Just as the students were awed by the generous gestures of the musicians' sharing of their musical strokes of genius, the latter were also awed about the kind of dedication the Sisters of Mary have (with their motto "Preparing the Youth for a Better Tomorrow") in churning fine young men and women out of teenage boys and girls bursting with energy by giving them the best education possible through instilling in them a sense of discipline, a good work attitude and love for virtue. The sisters also join hands with the industry sector by providing them with responsible workers in the near future. In being enthusiastic about their project, the international musicians were able to put their message through: "Work is actually love made visible." They have also played for the Sisters of Mary schools located in the north - in Adlas and in Biga, Silang, Cavite.

The gymnasiums doubled as concert halls. The bewildering silence set the tone for the youngsters to concentrate on the musical rendition. Once the treat was over, they were at once ready to ask question - mostly about how classical music can make people more intelligent and how significant music is in a man's life. At the concluding portion of the concert, both the Boystown (led by Superior and Principal Sr. Nory B. Espulgar, SM) and the Girlstown youngsters (led by Superior and Principal Sr. Lucila C. Magtoto, SM) gave their response through songs and numbers from the rondalla groups.