The Romantic Pianists are back!

Over a casual but lively breakfast at the coffee shop of Marriott Hotel, Ingrid, who recently earned a Doctor of Music degree, honoris causa, from the De La Salle University, Manila, enthusiastically shared some insights on the forthcoming 12th Romantic Piano Concerto Journey, which will start on June 15 to August 10, 2006.

The two-piano performances by pianists and music pedagogues Ingrid Sala Santamaria and US-based Reynaldo G. Reyes will focus on music of the Romantic Period (1800 - 1900). Prior to each performance, a talk on the era's background, style and best-loved concertos featuring those of Beethoven, Brahms, Chopin, Grieg, Liszt, Macdowell, Mendelssohn, Rachmaninoff, Schumann, Saint Saens and Tschaikovsky will be delivered. Works by Filipino composers Buencamino and Santiago will likewise be included in the programs.

In the open forum following each concert, Reyes and Santamaria will share the importance of classical music in everyone's daily lives, as a source of listening pleasure.

The concert tour will take the pianists and their mission to the cities of Victorias, Bacolod and Silay in Negros Occidental on June 15, 16, 17, at the Don Alejandro Acuña Yap Quiña Arts and Cultural Center, Sacred Heart Seminary and Balay Negrense, respectively. On June 20 Gen. Trias, Cavite, at San Francisco de Malabon Parish Church; June 26, Lipa Adventist Academy; June 27, De la Salle Lipa (2 concerts); June 28, Manila Adventist Medical Center; June 30, Laguna State Polytechnic College in Sta. Cruz Laguna; July 3, Fuente de Artes, Makati; July 4, Philippine Women's University; July 5, Adventist University of the Philippines Finster Chapel in Silang, Cavite; July 6, Sta. Isabel College, (2 concerts); July 7, Great Redeemer Christian Fellowship; and July 9, Eissing Piano Studio.

The tour will continue in the CALABARZON on July 10, San Pablo Colleges at San Pablo, Laguna and at the University of the Philippines (2 concerts) in Los Baños; July 11 will bring them to the First Asian Institute for Technology and Health (2 concerts) in Tanauan, Batangas; July 12, De La Salle Canlubang in Biñan, Laguna; July 13, De La Salle University Dasmariñas, Auditorium and Health and Sciences Campus; and July 15, Tagaytay Highlands Golf and Country Club.

Metro Manila venues will resume on July 16, 17 and 18 at our Lady of Mt. Carmel Shrine Compound, Queen of Peace Convent and Convent of the Holy Spirit respectively, all in Quezon City, July 20, German Embassy Residence and July 21, J. Romero and Associates, both in Makati; July 22, Miriam College, Quezon City, (2 concerts); July 24, St. Paul's University, Malate; and July 25, De La Salle Greenhills, (2 concerts), New Manila.

Five concerts will be held in Cebu: July 29 at St. Theresa's College; July 30, Archdiocesan Shrine of St. Michael Archangel Parish Church in Argao, Cebu; July 31, Asilo de la Medalla Milagrosa and August 1 at the Sacred Heart School Jesuit and Sacred Heart School Hijas de Jesus.

Back in Luzon, Santamaria and Reyes will play on August 5 at the Star Mall Plaza Theater in Las Piñas City and August 7 at Ateneo de Manila Escaler Hall in Loyola Heights, Quezon City.

The tour concludes with two concerts in Batangas on August 10 at the Lyceum of Batangas and University of Batangas.

The duo will also have performances abroad. In Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on June 22 at the German Embassy Residence and June 23 at KL Hilton Ballroom-Philippine Embassy.