MANILA, Philippines—The Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra ushers the New Year with a concert at the Meralco Theater featuring pianist Ariel Dechosa as guest soloist under the baton of Maestro Olivier Ochanine on January 23 at 8pm.

Program includes Haydn’s “Symphony No. 100,” Ravel’s “Piano Concerto in G major” and Stravinsky’s “Petrushka.”

Born in Manila, Ariel Dechosa began his piano studies at age ten. Three years later, after winning the National Music Competition for Young Artists in Manila, he entered as a full scholar at the Manhattan School of Music in New York City, where he subsequently earned his Bachelor and Master of Music degrees under the tutelage of Prof. Arkady Aronov.

Upon graduation, he was given the prestigious Harold Sauer-Award, the highest prize bestowed to a graduating pianist.

He continued his studies at the Peabody Institute in Baltimore where he earned a Graduate Performing Diploma as a student of Boris Slutsky. He has taken regular master classes with Leon Fleisher, Paul Badura-Skoda, Vladimir Feltsman, and Ruth Laredo.

Mr. Dechosa won Third Prize in the 1996 Frinna Awerbuch International Piano Competition, Third Prize in the 1994 Santa Barbara Symphony International Piano Competition, First

Prize in the 1993 Five Towns Competition, and First Prize in the 1991 Great Neck Symphony Young Artists Competition.

An active soloist and chamber musician, he has performed in Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, Merkin Hall, and Corcoran Gallery of Art, among others. He has played with the Northwest Sinfonietta in Seattle and the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra performing Beethoven’s “Emperor” Concerto.

He has also been invited to perform at music festivals in the La Schola Cantorum Piano Series in Paris, Merano Festival in Italy, and the Lasker Music Festival in North Carolina.

Ariel resides in Inwood, West Virginia with his wife Vivian, and teaches at Gilman School in Baltimore, Maryland. He is currently the Music Director of Inter-Atlantic Music Foundation based in the USA and Bulgaria.

Tickets are Php1545, Php1236, Php515.

For inquiries and subscriptions, please call the CCP Marketing Department (832-1125 loc. 1804), the CCP Box Office (832-3704) or Ticketworld (891-9999).