6 December 2013 — Philippine Ambassador to South Africa Constancio R. Vingno, Jr. reported to the Department of Foreign Affairs that the Embassy presented a performance by South Africa-based Filipino pianist Mariel Ilusorio and her partner, Chilean-born violinist Juan Luis Muñoz, at the Musaion Theatre of the University of Pretoria on November 14 to commemorate the 20th Anniversary of the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between the Philippines and South Africa. It was also dedicated the victims of typhoon Yolanda in the Philippines.

Born in the Philippines, Ms. Ilusorio studied at the Juilliard School of Music in New York and Oberlin Conservatory in Ohio, and completed her studies under the famed classical pianist and piano pedagogue Arie Vardi in Hanover, Germany in 1998, working as a performer, accompanist and teacher before coming to Grahamstown, South Africa in 2005.

Her partner Mr. Muñoz was born in Chile and studied under Professor Fernando Ansaldi and Professor Sergio Prieto at the Catholic University of Santiago.  He toured Chile, Argentina and Peru as a soloist and concert master of the MINEDUC orchestra and performed as concert master of the Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra.  He founded the Cape Town Baroque Ensemble of which he is the conductor.

At the event, Ms. Ilusorio and Mr. Muñoz performed classical pieces as well as Filipino works.

Guests attending the performance included representatives of the South African government, members of the Diplomatic Corps in Pretoria and members of the Filipino communities in Johannesburg and Pretoria.  Aside from listening to the performance, they were provided the opportunity to sign the condolence book for the victims of the typhoon as well as give cash donations.

In his remarks before the performance, Ambassador Vingno thanked the members of the audience for their solidarity with the victims of typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) and hailed the strengthening relationship between the Philippines and South Africa.  END