Ingrid, Rey resume mission / C. Baldoria performs July 11

Ingrid Sala Santamaria, who marks her 50th year as concert pianist and Reynaldo Reyes will resume their romantic music journey – begun in 2000 – in July and August. Thus far, they have given more than 400 concerts in some of the remotest regions in Luzon and the Visayas, and in major cities in Asia and the US. As music missionaries, they deserve the country’s highest recognition and reward for having taken classic music where it is rarely heard.

Ingrid will be the soloist and Reynaldo the orchestra in Chopin’s Concerto No. 1 in E Minor and Mendelssohn’s Concerto No. 1 in G Minor.

Ingrid is the daughter of Pilar Blanco Sala, one of the first graduates of Sr. Battig who introduced Western music education in the country. Later, Ingrid attended NY’s Juillard, then earned her MM degree under Aida Sanz Gonzalez. Other mentors include Reynaldo Reyes and Ben Tupas.

In 1962, within a three-month period, Ingrid played the Schumann Concerto with the Filipino Youth Orchestra, Beethoven’s Emperor Concerto with the National Philharmonic, and Franck’s Symphonic Variations with the QC Philharmonic under British Conductor Dudley Simpson in a program that featured Margot Fonteyn. That same year, Ingrid won first prize in Jeunesse Musicale’s ‘Search for a Talent”.

In 2006, over 40 years later, she initiated the rendition of piano concertos accompanied by a string quartet, and with Jeffrey Solares’ help organized Cebu’s Youth Orchestra which metamorphosed into the Peace Philharmonic Orchestra.

Ingrid is the recipient of the French Order of National Merit, rank of Chevalier, and a doctorate degree, honoris causa, from Dela Salle. Her fabulous collection of miniature pianos reflects her passion for music.

Of all Filipino concert pianists, Reynaldo Reyes has the widest repertoire. Programming his awesome repertoire is unique: in each concert, he plays the works of a single composer, or of composers from the same country.

He won the Premiere Prix de Piano from the Paris Conservatory upon graduation, and prizes for sight-reading and solfeggio, and chamber music. With his remarkable sight-reading he served for 20 years as accompanist of the Metropolitan Opera Auditions.

In Peabody, he obtained an MA degree and an Artist’s Diploma – at 17, he had earned a Bachelor’s Degree in the UST! – and was Peabody Conservatory Orchestra soloist.

He has concertized to glowing praise in France, Germany, Brazil, Italy, Hungary, Japan, Korea, Switzerland, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Canada, Russia, England (in London’s Wigmore Hall), Holland, the US (Baltimore Music Hall, NY Town Hall, Carnegie Hall) etc.

He is a professor at Townson State U., Maryland.

The schedule of the 21st Romantic Music Journey follows: July 4, 10 a.m., La Concordia College, MM; July 15, 5:30 p.m., Santamaria residence, Merville Park, Parañaque; July 18, 4 p.m., Queen of Peace Convent, QC; July 20, 6 p.m., J. Romero and Associates, Makati; Aug. 2, 6 p.m., St. Luke’s Medical Center, Global City; Aug. 5, 5 p.m., Eissing Piano Studio, Alabang Hills; Aug. 10, 4 p.m., Pastor Art Gallery, Batangas City; and Aug. 12, 4 p.m., Lyric Piano Gallery, QC.

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US-based pianist Charice Baldoria will give a concert on July 11, 7:30 p.m. at the CCP Little Theater.

Her programs reflect her fascination with folk music and East-West cultural exchanges. Since her doctoral presentation of the folk-inspired music of Bartok, Szymanowski and Falla, she has focused on the Spanish empire, drawing relationships among Spain, Cuba, the Phl, the habanera and flamenco, performing in Spain, the US and Asia, in Japan and Myanmar.

Baldoria is a first-prize winner of NAMCYA, Yamaha Festival, the Jeffrey Ching UP, Michigan U’s concerto competitions; was one of top 12 in the Sydney International Competition.

She will play Scarlatti Sonatas, Cervantes’ Danzas Cubanas, Buencamino’s Harana, Debussy’s Pagodes, Santos’ K’lintang, Farr’s Tentang Cara Gamelan and Albeniz’s Iberia. She will give a masterclass at CCP on July 11, 1-5:20 p.m.