The SJAM Founder & Director, Piano Instructor

Ophelia started her piano lessons at the age of 6 and began performing at the age of 7. She received her Teacher’s Diploma in Piano and B.M. in Piano Performance at the University of the Philippines. She further advanced her studies in the United States under Russian and American teachers, namely Dimitri Rogan and Barbara Wilkins. As a concert pianist and accompanist (piano and organ), Ophelia performed with the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra, world renown UP Cherubim and Seraphim, The Japanese Chorale, and The Saringhimig Singers. Ophelia was a former faculty member at the Philippine Christian University.

In 1978, she won first prize in the prestigious Regional Yamaha Organ Competition, and in the following year, became a finalist at the 4th National Yamaha Senior Electone Concourse Competition where she performed her own composition “Fantasia in G Minorî for organ.

Ophelia conducted the Little Singers (Founder), Grace Methodist Church Choir (San Francisco), Cosmopolitan Evangelical Church Family Choir (San Jose) and was Director of the musical concert entitled, “Once Upon A Time Shop” by Ed Kee staged in 2003 at the Sunnyvale Performing Arts Center. In 1988, 1994 and 2004, she performed and toured with Saringhimig Singers in Europe, United States and Mexico where the group participated numerous international music festivals.

With 38 years of teaching experience, Ophelia’s students are winners of the prestigious The American Protege International Piano and Strings Competition,  United States Open Music Competition in Oakland, the Bach Festival at the University of California, Berkeley, and winners of the Bach Award and Sonatina Award from American College of Musicians. In addition, she enrolls her students in the National Piano Guild Audition, Royal Conservatory of Music, and the Certificate of Merit Program of The Music and Teachers’ Association of California (MTAC). Ophelia’s students are chosen to perform at the Branch Honors Recitals and State Conventions sponsored by MTAC in Los Angeles, Long Beach, San Diego, Monterey, Sacramento, San Francisco and San Jose.

Furthermore, Ophelia presents her students to the California Association of Professional Music Teacher (CAPMT) Piano Audition where her students have earned the Superior Rating Award. Her students have also been invited to perform at the State Honors Recital at Santa Clara University and San Francisco Conservatory of Music. Ophelia holds piano recitals for her students four times a year at Sunnyvale Performing Arts Center, Le Petit Trianon Concert Hall and the Recital Hall of Santa Clara University.

She is a member of Mu Phi Epsilon (Beta Xi Chapter) – an International Honor Society, California Association of Professional Music Teacher (CAPMT), the Music Teacher National Association (MTNA), The Music Teachers’ Association of California (MTAC), and The National Guild of Piano Teachers.

Past and Present Membership Positions: Present Chairman: American College of Musicians National Piano Guild Audition. Past Chairman: Certificate of Merit Program of The Music Teachers’ Association of California. Past Historian: The Music Teachers Association of California -Santa Clara Branch. Past Treasurer: California Association of Professional Music Teachers. Past Financial Secretary: Music Teachers Association of California.