Pianist Santamaria in
Electronic Chopin Tribute

INGRID Sala Santamaria has uploaded a four-part series, “From Chopin to the Philippines ,” -- a 200th Birthday Tribute -- on YouTube (Search: From Chopin to the Philippines).

The series traces Chopin’s and Liszt’s personal and professional association, to Liszt’s teaching of Chopin’s musical refinements to his pupils, among whom was Ludwig Deppe, teacher of Sister Baptista Battig.

Sister Battig was a German nun who came to the Philippines in 1907 and established the Music Conservatory at St. Scholastica’s College in Manila. Among her pupils was Pilar Blanco Sala who founded her own school and named it after her teacher -- the Battig Piano School, in Cebu City.

Ingrid Sala Santamaria, a daughter of Pilar B. Sala, was a graduate of her mother’s school and, thus, establishes a direct link to Chopin himself via strong pedagogical ties.
The Chopin Tribute series quotes from existing YouTube entries by Santamaria, featuring highlights from Chopin’s Ballades, Preludes, Sonata in b minor, and the Concerto No.1 in e minor with accompaniment by the Peace Philharmonic Philippines (PPP) String Quartet.

Santamaria will bring this Chopin 200th Birthday Tribute Youtube presentation electronically initially to selected, qualified schools, senior citizen and hospital groups and community organizations. For info on pre-qualification criteria, please email isschopin@yahoo.com./PN