An Award for Sr. Cecilia!

St. Scholastica's College (Manila, Philippines) and the St. Scholastica's Music Alumnae Association presented the Sister Baptista Battig Centennial Award for Performance as Solo Artist to our very own Sr. Cecilia Agustina Hervas, RA last October 7th, 2007. The Award was given on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the foundation of St. Scholastica's School of Music and the birth of formal music education in the Philippines. Three other alumnae were honored with the same award: Marguerite Echaus, Angelina Gutierrez and Zenas Reyes Lozada.

Born in Iloilo City, Philippines, Sr. Cecilia learned to play the piano at an early age with her mother as her first teacher. Over the years, her musical studies led her to a Bachelor of Music degree from St. Scholastica's College in Manila and a Master of Music degree from the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York where she was awarded the Performer's Certificate. After her graduation from Eastman, and, contrary to expectations, she felt called to take 'another road' and began the journey toward becoming a Religious of the Assumption at Ravenhill Academy in Philadelphia, PA.

Sr. Cecilia has played in concerts in Philadelphia, Lansdale, New York, Worcester and Los Angeles in the United States. She has also performed at the Religious of the Assumption Motherhouse in Paris, France and at Assumption College in the Philippines. In September 2008 she will perform in a Marie Eugenie concert in Denmark to celebrate the 100th jubilee of the presence of the Assumption Sisters in that country.

At present Sr. Cecilia is in the Lansdale community and is a Pastoral Minister at St. Stanislaus Parish. Her musical gift is intimately linked with her work in the RCIA Program (Rite of Christian Initiation), spiritual direction, retreats, Scripture reflection and as cantor/accompanist at weekday parish Masses.

Congratulations, Sr. Cecilia!

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To send a note of congratulations to Sr. Cecilia, please write her at [email protected]