THERE is a small music school on the second floor of Banilad Town Centre (BTC). Owned by Hannah Magdadaro Go, it is called the Virtuoso School of Music. In an interview with Hannah, this is what we learned about this music school:
Jenara Regis Newman (JRN): Why did you put up a music school when you’re already helping out in your family’s school, Asian Learning Center?
Hannah Magdadaro Go (HMG): I missed being in the music industry. Since I became a mom, I dedicated myself to motherhood for about 10 years. Last year, when I saw this empty space in BTC, I prayed about it. With my husband Delwyn’s support, I decided to put up this music school. Another reason is that since I became a mom, I realized that I need to pass on everything I learned from Madame Ingrid’s (Sala Santamaria) foundation (Salvador and Pilar Sala Foundation). It is like paying forward. A last reason is that one of my dreams in life is to be able to help churches in their music ministry so I believe that by opening a music school I can reach out to help other churches. I am already helping the music ministry of Citichurch in Lahug, Cebu City. We are also helping out barangay Lorega through training selected children in their singing and they will have their culminating event on April 30 to showcase everything they learned in one training.
JRN: You talk about Madame Ingrid. What did you learn from her and what was your experience?
HMG: I was part of her 10-year music development program. Basically, everything I learned about music and my violin playing came from the training I got from the Salvador and Pilar Sala Foundation. And this includes even the discipline and focus which I carry out even in motherhood and being a wife.
While I was with Madame Ingrid, we played in different places. We even played in Tarlac and in Malacanang Palace three times and also at the Cultural Center of the Philippines—I think also three times. I also played in Japan and Finland for a music festival in Oulunsalu on invitation from Japanese pianist Izumi Tateno. After we graduated, I would go to Manila occasionally to play with the Manila Philharmonic Orchestra, that is why I was able to play with the Andrea Bocelli concert tour in Manila, Hong Kong and Singapore. Since motherhood, I have not been able to play with the Manila Philharmonic.
JRN: What does your music school offer and how many students do you have?
HMG: We offer voice, violin, guitar, ukulele, keyboard, drums, Baby Beethoven, piano and music arranging and composing. Voice is under teachers Roger Suycano, Jeanine Maningo and Faye Calamita. Baby Beethoven is under teacher Marie Villamor and Le May Nudalo. For violin, it’s me and Keith Ybanez. And piano is under teachers Christine Funa, Wayne Licera and Jasmine Cerna. Teacher Marie Villamor also handles ukelele classes while Suzette Melliza and Raymond Pros handle guitar. Drums is by fellow Sala program graduate Simon Cereno. Keyboard is handled by teachers Christine Funa and Suzette Melliza. No one has enrolled for music arranging and composing but our teachers there are Roger Suycano and Nendel Endrino. We also offer viola.
JRN: The school is barely a year old but you already had a recital. And you are coming out again with one. Why is letting the students appear in a recital important?
HMG: We target significant occasions, like the Christmas recital we had. For summer, as a culminating event, we will have a recital on April 24. Another one is slated sometime in May. The recitals are meant to showcase the talents of our students and also the teachers. It is also an avenue for the students to develop their self-confidence and for them to experience how it is to be on stage as a performer.
JRN: What is Baby Beethoven?
HMG: Baby Beethoven is a music program designed for toddlers two and a half to four years old. It introduces them to basic music theory and also introduces them to piano playing It is a program that will prepare them for the regular instrument training.
JRN: How many students do you have?
HMG: I don’t have the exact number as practically all the violin students are abroad on vacation. But it is around 60.
During Sun.Star’s visit, the music school’s small receiving area was full with parents or yayas waiting for their wards to finish their lessons. Occasionally, when a door opened in one of the music rooms, the sound of music filtered out, a sound signifying that the growth of music players in Cebu is alive and well.