Concert series brings classical music to new ears
Pianist and educator Mariel Ilusorio will launch the highly anticipated “Classics in Sunshine International Series for 2025.” A program at the Sunshine Place, it blends classical music with diverse artistic expressions. The series, known for its annotated performances, will feature Ilusorio collaborating with international and local musicians.
Ilusorio’s musical education includes the Juilliard Pre-College, Oberlin College of Music, and the State Academy of Music in Hanover, Germany. She spent 26 years performing and teaching in the United States, Germany, and South Africa before returning to the Philippines in 2014. She has a strong background in chamber music and extensive performance experience.
The 2025 season opens on March 22 with guest Italian violinist Alessio Benvenuti, concertmaster of the Manila Symphony Orchestra. The duo will present a diverse program, “Musica Sine Tempore,” which translates to “Music Without Time” or “Timeless Music.”
“We’re doing Locatelli’s ‘Sonata,’ then Dvorak’s ‘Sonatina,’ and the Franck’s ‘Violin Sonata.’ It’s a very varied program, from Baroque to late Romantic,” Ilusorio explains.
Flowers and music
Adding a twist, the March concert will feature an Ikebana group that will create floral arrangements inspired by the music, bridging the gap between auditory and visual art.
“I want to connect the arts with music,” Ilusorio says. “It’s experimental, and for the next concerts, we can have different kinds of art being involved.”
On June 21, Ilusorio will join forces with Abelardo Galang II, a pianist who was based in Germany for over 30 years. They will do a program of four-hand works. The performance will feature Schubert’s beloved “Fantasie,” along with works by Schubert, Arensky and others.
“Four hands mean two pianists on one piano,” Ilusorio clarifies. “It’s very challenging because you only have half the space. You have to be so close with your partner, and sometimes our hands will hit each other. We have to choreograph the hands.”
Underscoring the intimacy of the format, she notes, “It’s very intimate music-making. You have to make the piano sound like it’s one person playing.”
Aug. 16 marks a sentimental reunion with Korean cellist Park Si-won, Ilusorio’s high school chamber music partner from New York. It will be the first time in the concert series for Ilusorio to play with a cellist. The program will feature Beethoven and Brahms, a standard Germanic repertoire for cello and piano.
“She’s based in Hong Kong now, and I wanted her to play what is close to her,” Ilusorio explains. “I want the audience to hear music playing at a very high level. She’s very experienced in performing abroad where the standards are high.”
Park will also conduct master classes, enriching the local music scene.
The series culminates on Nov. 22 with “The Grand Duet,” featuring 13-year-old harpist Vien Ignacio. The duo will perform works by Debussy, Dvorak, Dussek, and Thomas, showcasing the harp, a new instrument for the series. “Vien is quite a performer who has been performing everywhere now,” Ilusorio says. Ignacio, born in Singapore and now based in the Philippines, has garnered international recognition. She currently studies online with a teacher in Germany and is raising funds to meet her instructor face-to-face.
Nontraditional venues
Ilusorio is known for her informative talks before each piece, enhancing the audience’s understanding of the music. She also underscores the importance of music education and audience-building.
Galang, upon his return to the Philippines, has also been conducting music appreciation classes, aiming to deepen the audience’s connection to classical music. “The idea is promoting music and how to build an audience and develop their understanding so that we can have a bigger audience,” she says.
The “Classics in Sunshine” series, which began before the pandemic, has built an audience, starting with members of Sunshine Place and their friends—mostly the social set. Ilusorio’s dedication to reaching diverse audiences led her to perform in unconventional venues such as the Batangas City Jail and the Museo Pambata.
“The reception at the Batangas City Jail was very moving. We performed the same repertoire as in the Sunshine Series,” she recalls. “I want others to have the chance to listen to real classical music.”
Looking ahead, Ilusorio plans to expand the series to new venues, including a private hall in Sta. Elena, Laguna, and philanthropist Tony Pastor’s ancestral home in Batangas.
“There’s always room to expand,” she says. “Connections to build between people, different groups of people.”
She emphasizes the power of music to comfort, heal, and stimulate the mind, particularly for seniors at Sunshine Place. “But I think another idea is how to win the youth, because that’s our future audience,” she adds.
Ilusorio is committed to nurturing young musicians and expanding the audience for classical music. “The aim has been to improve the level of musicianship, of music as a profession here, and how to widen the audience, because we need them in order to be able to live as musicians,” she says.
This drive to expand the audience stems from her deep belief in the transformative power of classical music. Classical music offers profound benefits to both individuals and the community.
Says Ilusorio, “Music cultivates the mind, develops intellect, and stirs emotions, enhancing one’s appreciation for beauty and fostering peace and unity. All of this can be found in music, providing inspiration and highlighting the beauty of life. Especially with the current global chaos and anxiety, music offers a source of comfort and tranquility.”
“Musica Sine Tempore” will be held 5 p.m. on March 22 at Sunshine Place, 56 Jupiter St., Makati. Contact 0917-7092255.
