Solo recital tonight, June 11, 7 pm at the Philamlife Theater
by Pablo A. Tariman
Outside of music, he indulges in a few things to recharge. “I usually go to the movies with my friends, cook, walk in the park, go to the beach, or hit the gym.,” he says.
Now a holder of a Master of Music in Piano Performance degree at the Cleveland Institute of Music under Antonio Pompa-Baldi, (a silver medalist at the 2001 Van Cliburn Competition), Salonga is presently continuing his studies at the Cleveland Institute of Music as an artist diploma candidate.
He reveals a school routine crammed with programmed activities. “When I was still doing a degree program, my days are always fully booked with classes with very little time to focus on my practicing. I value any free time I can get knowing that those are just the only time I can practice for that day. My schedule now is more flexible . I start my day going to the gym, practice three hours in the afternoon and three hours at night. There is definitely more time to refresh my mind and body.”