A Piano Concert You Can, in Any Way Not Miss

Abelardo Galang II is a world-renowned Filipino piano artist. And he is my uncle.

In Butuan, where my dad and his siblings, including Tito Abel (how I call him) grew up, it is a common knowledge that a kid bearing the Galang surname is well-adept in playing the piano. My grandmom is a directress of the Galang Piano, Organ and Voice Studio for crying out loud! So you get the picture AND the pressure?

I recall befriending a kid in one of the resorts there, and when he learned that I am a Galang too, it seemed to him that it was natural to ask, “So magaling kang mag-piano?”. OMG. How wrong he was! The only piece I know how to play is “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” and “Mary Had a Little Lamb”. And no others.

I never had the interest as a child, or I was too afraid to learn. However, if I can turn back time, I would definitely want to acquire the skill, or rather develop the talent my Tito was able to nurture throughout the years.

(Circa 2011 *No smartphones yet and makeup skills)

Every Christmas, or in any time of the year that we get to be as complete as we can, my grandma or Mommy Two Carmen, (Mommy One is my real mom.) and Tito Abel would serenade us with their classic tunes from the grand piano. It’s such a wonder to hear them play every time, not to mention for FREE! Haha Thank God I’m family! Considering that they perform at concerts every once in a while.

To give you a background, you may read his bio below:

Abelardo Galang II,PhD.

Berlin-based Filipino Pianist Abelardo Galang II learned his early piano skills from his mother, Carmen. Later, he obtained his Bachelor’s degree in Piano Performance (1992) from the University of the Philippines. In the first and only piano competition Galang participated, he was awarded the Grand Prix in the 1992 Philippine Piano Competition along with a scholarship from Japan Solidarity Committee for Asian Alumni (JASCAA). Through this grant, he obtained two Master’s degrees in Music (Piano Solo Performance and Chamber Music) from Musashino Academia Musicae, Tokyo, Japan (1996) and the Hochschule fuer Musik “Hanns Eisler” Berlin, Germany (2000) where he trained with the German Pedagogue, Klaus Bäßler, a former jury and chairman of the Robert Schumann International Piano Competition. He was also a recipient of the Alfonso T. Yuchengco Foundation scholarship. Galang obtained his Doctorate degree in Music with honours from the Technische Universität Berlin, Germany (2010).

Photo Source: Jun De Ocampo

Galang performs regularly in solo recitals, chamber concerts and as Lied pianist in Europe and Asia. He was featured in the All Nation’s Festival in Rome (Italy), the International Piano Concert Series in Oberkirchen (Germany), the Artists’ Festival in Berlin (Germany). He has worked with the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra (Philippines), Manila Symphony Orchestra (Philippines), and the Otto Symphoniker (Germany) and collaborated with international artists including Jonathan Kelly (Solo Oboist, Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra), Juan Pechuan, (Solo Oboist, London Symphony Orchestra), Arthur Hornig (Cellist, Rundfunk Symphonic Orchestra Berlin), among others.

His pedagogic accomplishments at the Berlin Piano School include his student Mr. Kon-Ui Pak, who won at the Ettlingen International Piano Competition in 2010 and was awarded the Baerenreiter Urtext Prize. Galang teaches at the Berlin Piano School since 2010 and is currently the Director of Music Performance and Chairman of the Piano Department of Philippine Women’s University. He is also a senior lecturer at the University of the Philippines College of Music.

Speaking of concerts, I bring you very good news! I’d like to share to you the chance to listen to the music that has played in the majestic walls of the Galang home.

After his Berlin performance, he’ll be flying to Manila to conduct one next month! Yay!

October 22, 2016, 6:00 PM
“A Night of Passion”

Works of Frederic Chopin & Franz Lizst
Venue: Francisco Santiago Hall
BDO Corporate Center, South Tower, Makati Ave, H.V. De La Costa St.,Makati City, Philippines

MMCO 15th Crystal Thanksgiving Anniversary Concert to benefit the street children of Payatas with Soroptimist International of Makati

Tickets are available at MMCO tels.216-6487 / 0917-533-5747 / 727-1657

Features:

Ace pianists Galang and Panganiban in duo concert at the CCP – See more at: http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/211926/cbb/ace-pianists-galang-and-panganiban-in-duo-concert-at-the-ccp#sthash.zDNwnHTa.dpuf

Pinoy pianist stars in Germany’s festival of artists – See more at: http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/232554/news/pinoyabroad/pinoy-pianist-stars-in-germany-s-festival-of-artists#sthash.NPJspG1X.dpuf

Download his music on iTunes, follow him in Facebook.

You can also reach Abelardo Galang II, PhD. via:

http://www.abelardogalangii.com/
Address: Erich-Weinert-Str. 17 , 10439 Berlin, Germany
Email: abelardoII@t-online.de
Tel: +49 (30) 44678442

Just to share to you also this goofy photo of our family, taken last July 2016. 🙂 Hope to see you on October 22, 6PM at Francisco Santiago Hall BDO Corporate Center, South Tower, Makati. 😀