Great young talents, grand concert as the Piano Teachers' Guild turns 40

The modern piano was originally called pianoforte because, at the time of its invention in the early 1700s by Bartolomeo Cristofori, it was the only keyboard instrument that can play soft (piano) and loud (forte). The instrument eventually found its way in the Philippines through piano instruction and study as part of the curricula of music departments of St. Scholastica’s College (as early as 1906), Centro Escolar University (1907), University of the Philippines (1916), St. Paul University Manila (1940), and University of Santo Tomas (1946) to name a few. This led to the launch of the Piano Teachers' Guild of the Philippines (PTGP) in 1972 as a corollary to the Philippine Society for Music Education to actively pursue the standardization of professional and pedagogical methods of piano teachers throughout the country. For 40 years, PTGP has done that through seminars and workshops on piano teaching methods, master classes with renowned pedagogues, competitions, and various performance opportunities. On these various activities, participants such as Lorenzo Medel, Ross Salvosa, Victor Asuncion, and Albert Tiu to name a few, went on to carve their names in the national and international music scene. Institutions that have generously supported goals of PTGP include Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP), Equitable/PCI Bank (now Banco de Oro), Manila Chamber Orchestra (MCO) Foundation, National Commission for Culture and the Arts, St. Scholastica’s College, St. Paul University Manila, University of Santo Tomas, University of the Philippines, Philippine Women’s University, Greenhills Music Studio, Philamlife Insurance Company, Concert at the Park, Paco Park Presents, and LYRIC Piano. Currently under the leadership of Anthony Say, PTGP opens its 2012 Ruby Jubilee with forte through its annual Festival which will showcase 303 young pianists at the Philamlife Auditorium, U.N. Avenue, Ermita, Manila on 19 & 26 February. Each date will have 4 program schedules (8 and 10 am & 1 and 4 pm) and admission is free. Other jubilee highlights include the mall-recital tours at Trinoma (15 April) and Rockwell (22 April) as well as performances at Paco Park Presents (13 & 20 April) to name a few. Seminars will also be given by composer-pianist Agot Espino, Austrian-based pianist Aima Labra-Makk, George Ong, and Najib Ismail on various piano-related topics. The centerpiece of the PTGP Ruby Jubilee is a grand concert in partnership with LYRIC Pianos and CCP. This auspicious moment, a first in Philippine music history, will take place on 18 November at the Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo of CCP where 40 pianos will be set-up on stage and as many as 80 pianists will play together. The program will include the popular Symphony No. 40 in G minor by Mozart and a commissioned work for 40 pianos by Agot Espino among others. Being one of the earliest music organizations in the Philippines, PTGP fervently hopes that the prism of its Ruby Jubilee will go on to draw inspiration through committed musicianship and scholarly pedagogy as well as continue to inspire and produce pianists par excellence. For more information on the various jubilee events or how to continue supporting PTGP, please visit their blog or Facebook page, or send an email to askptgp@yahoo.com. Press release from Piano Teachers' Guild of the Philippines