Almond See Ponge

Almond Ponge is a native from Manila, Philippines, and has recently won second prize at the 2021 Marker and Pioneer International Music Competition, and honorable mention at the 2021 American Virtuoso International Music Competition. He also won first prize in the 2016 South Carolina Music Teacher’s National Association Young Artist Competition. His orchestral debut was with the Manila Symphony Orchestra in 2013; he has participated in the South Eastern Piano Festival both as an associate and a performer, the UST Sampung Mga Daliri, as well as Philippine Teacher’s Guild for Piano (PTGP) events such as the Forte@40, Mall Tours, and Paco Park Presents.

He has participated in masterclasses with pedagogues and performers such as Anton Nel, Carol Leone, John O’Connor, Walter Hautzig, Pascal Roge, Dorian Leljak, Sofya Gulyak, Angelo Rondello, among others.

Mr. Ponge graduated from the University of South Carolina with his Graduate Certificate in Piano Performance under Dr. Marina Lomazov. He has completed his Master’s degree at Winthrop University, also in South Carolina, and his Bachelor’s degree at the University of Santo Tomas, Philippines. He is currently pursuing a DMA in Piano Performance at the University of South Carolina, where he is studying with Philip Bush and Charles Fugo.

You can find Almond’s 2021 Contemporary Music Competition piano performance here.

You can find Almond’s 2021 International Piano Competition performance here.