Saint Cecilia's Hall is a concert hall in Manila, Philippines. Opened in 1932, it is attached to

St. Scholastica's College, Manila Saint Scholastica's College, also referred to by its acronym SSC or colloquially St. Scho is a private Catholic basic and higher education institution for women founded and managed by the Congregation of the Missionary Benedictine Sisters of T ...

and is a noted example of Art Deco architecture.

History

The Conservatory of Music of St. Scholastica's College was founded in 1907 by Sister Baptista Battig OSB, herself a noted concert pianist. In 1932 with the growing popularity of concert music in Manila, Philippines, St. Scholastica's College built a concert hall and named it St. Cecilia's Hall. It was built under the supervision of the renowned engineering firm Pedro Siochi and Company. The hall was named after

Saint Cecilia Saint Cecilia ( la, Sancta Caecilia), also spelled Cecelia, was a Roman virgin martyr and is venerated in Catholic, Eastern Orthodox Church, Orthodox, Anglican Communion, Anglican, and some Lutheran churches, such as the Church of Sweden. She b ...

, the patron saint of music and musicians, and soon become the venue of numerous recitals and concerts featuring pianists from St. Scholastica's College-Manila. St. Cecilia's Hall host not only their student's performance venue needs but also Manila's growing social calendar. The forerunner to the Cultural Center of the Philippines, St. Cecilia's Hall was designed by a notable Filipino architect, Andres Luna de San Pedro in the Egyptian Art Deco style. In 1945, St. Cecilia's Hall was almost completely damaged by the American forces during the Liberation of Manila. Nine years later, reconstruction started under the supervision of Architect Roberto Novenario and Engineer Ramon del Rosario. In 1955, St. Cecilia's Hall reopened and soon assumed the premier concert venue in Manila, with famous musician both Filipino and Foreign performers performing on its stage. With the emergence of performing arts on St. Scholastica's campus, it was also the setting of many concerts, plays, pageants and oratorical contests. In the latter years, with the opening of bigger performing arts venue, soon St. Cecilia's Hall become confined purely to school affairs. In 1998, St. Cecilia's Hall again underwent extensive renovation and reopened on July 16, 2000. The interior went into a complete modern restructuring and design led by Architect Joel Lopez and Architect Obi Mapua. A year into its renovation, the National Historical Institute (today

National Historical Commission of the Philippines The National Historical Commission of the Philippines ( fil, Pambansang Komisyong Pangkasaysayan ng Pilipinas, abbreviated NHCP) is a government agency of the Philippines. Its mission is "the promotion of Philippine history and cultural herita ...

) declared the St. Cecilia's Hall as a National Cultural Landmark, underscoring its importance and contributions in the cultural development of the country.

References

External links

{{commons category-inline, Saint Cecilia's Hall, St. Scholastica's College Art Deco architecture in the Philippines Educational structures in Metro Manila Theaters in Manila Buildings and structures in Malate, Manila Cultural Properties of the Philippines in Metro Manila Theatres completed in 1932