Child prodigy debuts at UP Balay Kalinaw

MANILA, Philippines - He could play the piano by ear at age two. When he turned four, his formal lessons started and within four years, he learned sight-reading and played his first piano concerto, with his sister  a former NAMCYA prizewinner  as his first teacher.

A home-schooled piano prodigy from Dipolog City in Zamboanga del Norte, 11-year-old Mishael Romano (photo), will be the next attraction at the Balay Kalinaw’s Intimate Concert Series on Saturday, Nov. 26, 5 p.m.

His program includes Chopin’s Waltz in B Flat Minor, Debussy’s Golliwog’s Cake Walk, Haydn’s Sonata in C Major Hob. 3 and Beethoven’s Sonatina in F Major. He will cap his recital with Haydn’s Piano Concerto in D Major with his sister, Miracle Romano, on the second piano.

He was heard by Rosario Licad (mother of classical pianist Cecile Licad) who was convinced that the young talent was worthy of encouragement and full support.

Mishael is just one of three musically-inclined and home-schooled children of Didi and Marietta Romano of Dipolog City.

Tickets are priced at P700 (with snacks at 4 p.m.), P500 (concert only at 5 p.m.) and P300 for students. For details, call 748-4152 or 0906-5104270. Balay Kalinaw is located at Guerrero cor. Dagohoy Sts. within the UP Diliman campus.