Tribute to Aida S. Gonzalez/ Lola Grande Foundation enriches culture of youths

Western classic music education began when Sr. Baptista Battig came here in 1908 from Germany. She was a brilliant concert pianist, a student of Ludwig Deppe, a former pupil of Liszt.

To attract students to her school at St. Scholastica’s College, she gave two concerts which were such a tremendous success, students came in great numbers. With incomparable dedication, devotion and determination, Sr. Battig taught the music of Bach, Handel, Beethoven, Mozart, Schumann, Mendelssohn, etc. she often said: “Great is my desire to see the dear children of the East rise in the musical world to the same level as those of the West.”

Her wish has been fulfilled through her graduates. Among the first of these were Barbara Cuaycong, Marcela Agoncillo, Blanca Castillo-Dinglasan — I studied under all three — Eugenia Agoncillo, Dolores Heras, and Aida Sanz-Gonzalez who inevitably traced their roots to Sr. Battig.

Former students of Mrs. Gonzalez will render a special tribute to her on Sept. 28, 4 p.m. at the Cory Aquino Hall, St. Scholastica College. They sent the following:

The eminent pedagogue, Aida Sanz Gonzalez, passed away on June 24, 2011 at 98. Former students will honor the memory and contribution of one who has shared her expertise and dedicated service in teaching hundreds of piano students and teachers throughout her life. At the UST Conservatory of Music alone, Mrs. Gonzalez taught 76 piano students towards a Bachelor’s Degree in Music within a period of 47 years. Along with her private students and those from Santa Isabel College, she taught more than 240 students.

Without having studied abroad after earning a Bachelor’s Degree, Major in Piano, under Prof. Julio Esteban Anguita, Mrs. Gonzalez was practically self-taught in acquiring new piano techniques and fresh approaches to style and interpretation. She observed how visiting international pianists play, imitating their sounds, listening to recordings and watching videos to observe how particular technical difficulties could be solved and mastered. She was never too proud to learn from others, even from her own students. Her final objective in learning more was so she could teach her students more knowledge, and who, in turn, would know how and what to teach their own students.

Mrs. Gonzalez’s selflessness is well known. She had so much to teach and every lesson was always highly charged. Discipline was impressed on the very first day of lesson. Absences were discouraged. However, she was very generous in giving free lessons or extended lessons in preparation for recitals, piano exams or competitions. It was bruited about that a Gonzalez student was a sure winner in competitions. The mark of her discipline and excellent teaching is evident in her students’ reliable piano technique, rounded and robust tone, depth, keen musicianship and artistic maturity which she meticulously honed in them.

Many of her students who pursued postgraduate studies in prestigious US schools have become concert artists and respected piano teachers here and in other countries, among them Rene Dalandan, Ingrid Santamaria, Corazon Pineda Kabayao, Maritess Fernandez Pellicer, Linda Montesa Pio Roda, Beverly Shangkuan, Elizabeth “Piccolo” Barretto dela Cruz, Augusto Borromeo, Dorothy Uybuco Uytengso, Mila Briones Asprer. Others went to different directions but openly acknowledged Mrs. Gonzalez’s influence, among them Rodel Colmenares, Martin Lopez, Josie Cruz Natori, Dawn Shangkuan Ong, Sr. Theresa Asencio, SPC, Louella de la Cuesta Santos.

Here is useful advice from Mrs. Gonzalez:

Teaching is touching a life forever. How do you play a Sarabande? A Gavotte? A Gigue? DANCE IT! Do not relax until you play the final note or the last chord. Never sacrifice clarity for speed. Think about what sound you want to produce before playing and your fingers will follow. When practicing, it is 100% objective, 0% subjective. When performing, it is 20% objective, 80% subjective. Put words on every phrase and it will be easier to play it. That is why it is important to read books, poetry, history, even romance so that you can express the music with more feelings. Piano (soft) or Forte (loud) is not about volume. It is about color-tonal color. Think pink! Think green! Think blue! On the last ten years of her life, Mrs. Gonzalez started losing her eyesight because of glaucoma. She continued teaching up to the age of 94. She took her blindness not as a curse but a blessing, for she believed that with her blindness, she became more sensitive to sound and thus, a better teacher!

Last Sept. 14, the Lola Grande Foundation for Women and Children headed by president Sylvia Lichauco, enriched the lives of students of ten schools from Santa Ana and Paco by having them see “Dreams of Dance” consisting of ballet, tap and flamenco performed by young artists from various dance companies.

Many performers, like the Santa Ana wards of the Foundation, are now lead dancers of the Philippine Ballet Theater.

For five years, the Foundation has provided hundreds of Santa Ana children the chance to watch presentations at the CCP, PETA and Resorts World.

Donations to the Foundation can be sent to Sylvia Lichauco. Call her at tel. 5659239, 2175355, or 0917/8555652 for pick-up of checks.

A final call to young writers

The two-day workshop for young writers will be on September 28-29 at The Columns Tower 2 Function Room B, Ayala Avenue. Two course offerings are for Aspiring Writers and Illustrators Scheme for 5-9 years old, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. and Young Author’s Scheme for 10-14 years old, 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m.

Facilitators will be Neni Sta. Romana Cruz, chair, National Book Development Board, and Catherine Khoo, visiting writer-author from Singapore’s Janus Education Institute. Both have mentored young writers towards their first printed books.

For more info and registration, contact [email protected]/0917-6240196