Johann Strauss Society holds Wiener Ball

Grand Waltz dancers. Front row: Marissa Fenton, Oscar del Rosario, Olga Martel, Roger Chua, Fortune Aleta-Ledesma, Louie Archangel, Agnes Huibonhoa, Chris Badiola, Lilibeth Campos, Paqui Campos. Back: Beging Soriano, Mars Lambino, Amy Mendoza, Bobby Mendoza, Gella Cornelissen, Frank Evaristo, Anabelle Adriano, Frank Adriano

The Wiener Ball is a grand social event in Vienna, which was replicated by the Johann Strauss Society of the Philippines (JSSP) recently at the Rizal Ballroom of the Makati Shangri-La.

 

JSSP presents annual musical events to fulfill its mission to develop love of music, dance and the arts, as well as to perpetuate the close cultural ties between the Philippines and the Republic of Austria, while extending financial assistance to cultural, charitable and religious organizations.

 

It was a grand gathering of prominent personalities and the crème de la crème of high society. Present were several ambassadors and their spouses, which added to the international ambience.

 

The program started with a Grand Waltz danced by officers and members of JSSP headed by this writer as chair, president Olga Severino Martel, event chair and JSSP vice president Agnes Huibonhoa, together with dance co-chairs Marissa Fenton and Lilibeth Campos.

 

A program of well-loved works of Mozart, Brahms, Lehar, Johann Strauss I and Johann Strauss II were performed by the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra (PPO) under the baton of maestro Peter Ritzen, a Belgian conductor who studied at the Mozarteum in Salzburg, Austria, and at the École Normale de Musique de Paris.

 

Beneficiaries of the event are  Cultural Center of the Philippines, PPO,  Psychological Center at Marillac for the rehabilitation of abused children and girls,  Virlanie Foundation, the Shrine of Our Lady of Manaoag in Sampaloc and  Philippine General Hospital Foundation Hematology and Oncology Pediatric ward for indigent patients. –CONTRIBUTED

Argentina Ambassador Jose Nestor Ureta, Thailand Deputy Head of Mission Urawadee Sriphiromya, Johnny Litton
Monia and Morocco Ambassador Mohammed Rida El Fassi

 

JSSP Wiener ball co-chairpersons Tanzania Consul Betty Chua and Virgie Lane, JSSP chair Monaco Consul General Fortune Aleta-Ledesma, JSSP Wiener Ball chair Gambia Consul Agnes Huibonhoa, JSSP president Olga Martel

 

 

 

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