Cebuana concert pianist, orchestra builder and cultural icon Ingrid Sala Santamaria continues to engage in unprecedented artistic achievements. Her recording of six major piano concertos with the Manila Symphony Orchestra is an expression of her extraordinary musical talent and infinite passion to make the best of her God-given gift to reach out to the most number of eager listeners.
Over a decade ago she founded the first successful orchestra development program outside Metro Manila through the Cebu Youth Symphony Orchestra that later evolved into the Peace Philharmonic Philippines. She has performed in hundreds of educational concerts with professor Reynaldo Reyes in various parts of the country through her “Romantic Piano Concerto Journey” making her a leading advocate of music education.
Now, in what she describes as her “twilight years,” she has been collating documents of her abundantly varied and meaningful career. With the help of her dedicated friend Dr. Amor Hernando, Ingrid mounted a “Memorabilia Exhibit” in her Makati home. She then brought this exhibit to Cebu to complement her Golden Pianistic Anniversary Concert amiably hosted by Hans Hauri, area manager of Marco Polo Plaza Hotel.
Ingrid recently launched her book My Four Seasons. With 200 pages and some 600 photographs, Ingrid has managed to compile highlights of her musical and personal journey through over a hundred special feature articles written over six decades in Cebu and Manila by dozens of writers and authors.
Ingrid has put together a kaleidoscope of facets of her life. In the foreword, she explained certain life-defining moments, which have influenced the division of her years, hence the title of the book.
The editorial page. as well as the outer back cover, carry a Quick Response code so if one scans this with a cellphone, one is led directly to Ingrid’s website.
In the Epilogue she wrote: “Ingrid expresses her gratitude to Imelda Romualdez Marcos who has been her life time inspiration.”
With the help of generous friends and family, Ingrid initiated a book donation program to five schools, namely University of Cebu, Cebu Institute of Technology, St. Theresa’s College, University of San Carlos and University of Southern Philippines.
She likewise personally gave autographed books to the Cebu media who helped create a positive atmosphere for the flourishing of the arts and culture in the city. Writer Pablo Tariman also received his personal copy of the book.
Together with seven alumni namely, Reynaldo Abellana, Nicole Badar, Arthur Yap, Roger Ylaya, Jerome Rezaba, Geraldine Abellana and Christopher Tero from the Cebu Youth Symphony Orchestra, Ingrid played the Third Movement of Mendelssohn’s Concerto in G minor Molto Allegro e Vivace, which means very happy, lively and fast, totally reflective of the memorable event.