Peace Philharmonic Reunion Concert A Huge Success

CEBU, Philippines - The Asian Academy of Music, Peace Philharmonic Philippines Foundation, Inc., Salvador and Pilar Sala Foundation, Inc. successfully staged a reunion concert last April 10 at SM Theater One. Considered to be the musical event of the year, the concert Cebu: Symphony in Motion proved to be a big success as it paid tribute to the contributions of the Salvador and Pilar Sala Foundation to the development of young musical talents in Cebu by bringing in highly-acclaimed mentors and establishing the Cebu Youth Symphony Orchestra, which was later renamed to Peace Philharmonic Philippines.

As former members of the Peace Philharmonic Philippines joined present members, the concert delivered an unforgettable evening of classical music. Among its roster of distinguished alumni are Dennis Gregory Sugarol, conductor and founder of the multi-awarded choral groups Mandaue Children’s Choir and Cebu Chamber Singers;

Gerry Varona who is a violinist on scholarship with the Louisiana State University; Giovanni Tabada, a double bass player now connected with the Royal Conservatory in Holland; sisters Hazel Magdadaro-Sanchez, now president of the Asian Academy of Music, and her sister Louella Magdadaro-Go, who had played with the Manila Philharmonic Orchestra. There are also several alumni who are actively teaching music in such foreign countries as Singapore, Indonesia and Brunei.

Piano soloist and PPP founder Ingrid Sala-Santamaria performed with the PPP Orchestra, which was alternately conducted by some of the country’s top-caliber musical mentors and musicians, namely Prof. Ariel Perez, Prof. Roberto del Rosario, and Prof. Jeffrey Solares, who all have had lent their expertise, time and skills to the foundation through the years.

Santamaria is of course Cebu’s music icon, who has been tirelessly working on fostering awareness and appreciation of classical music among Cebu’s younger set through training and education. She received her Bachelor of Music degree from the Battig Piano School in Cebu under the tutelage of her mother Pilar, who founded the school. She also studied in New York. The De La Salle University Manila also conferred her the Doctor of Music degree in Music Education, honoris causa in 2006.

She now chairs the Salvador and Pilar Sala Foundation and spearheaded a Ten-Year Development program that produced the Cebu Youth Symphony Orchestra in 1995, which then evolved to PPP in 2000. She also received the Hall of Fame award from the Performing Arts League in Florida, and One of the 100 Most Notable Cebuanos of the Century award, among many awards.