Thristan Mendoza, Child Prodigy Marimba Virtuoso

Thristan Mendoza, or "Tum-Tum" as he is fondly called, is an internationally-recognized marimba virtuoso. He was diagnosed with autism at age 2 1/2. With inborn perfect pitch, he learned to play the marimba at age 5. Born in 1989 in Quezon City, Philippines, he is now a 6th grader in the regular curriculum at a traditional school, the O.B. Montessori Center. He also did excel in the Japanese Kumon method of mathematics but had to be withdrawn from Kumon to shift his concentration to other subjects as he was far ahead of his other classmates in his math abilities.

Tum-Tum has earned numerous national and international awards for his prodigious musical ability with the marimba. In 1997, the University of the Philippines, through its President's Committee on Culture and the Arts, presented him as a gifted child prodigy, the youngest ever featured so far and still the only special child. He is the only 2-time grand prize awardee of the McDonalds Philippines Makabata Award and in two different categories. In May of 2000 he received the Millennium Dreamer's Award given by the Walt Disney Company, McDonalds Corporation and the UNESCO in Orlando, Florida to honor children from 8-15 years of age from around the world who have made a positive impact in their respective communities by providing an inspiration to youth. In March 2001, Very Special Arts presented Tum-Tum with the Rosemary Kennedy International Young Soloist Award and he was invited to perform at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C.

Tum-Tum is looking forward to the release of his first CD/cassette album soon. Proceeds from the album will be donated to a special educational fund of the Autism Society of the Philippines for the benefit of indigent families who cannot afford educational intervention and other therapies for their special children. Using his remarkable musical talent, Tum-Tum, with the effort, support and encouragement of his dedicated, and grateful family, has done much to raise awareness about autism in the Philippines, and now internationally, donating countless hours to fund raising activities for the Autism Society of the Philippines and other organizations for the handicapped.

Meanwhile, Tum-Tum Mendoza shares his remarkable musical gift with the whole world, literally, around him. Additional information about Tum Tum is available through his parents, Belina and Victor Mendoza, who can be contacted at

vlm143@i-manila.com.ph.

Excerpted from the Article of

Darold A. Treffert, MD

http://www.wisconsinmedicalsociety.org/savant_syndrome/savant_profiles/thristan_mendoza

*Tum-Tum was given a special reception & performed at the residence of the Philippine Consul General & Mrs. Edwin Bael in Los Angeles after receiving the Rosemary Kennedy International Young Soloist Award & his performance at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., March 2001. He was accompanied on the piano by U.P. Conservatory of Music graduate, Juliet Posadas. His alternate performer at this affair was another 'special musical artist' polio victim, Marisa Montelibano-Apuan, keyboard-piano player & songwriter who won awards for her song "Wings To Fly". It was attended by some members of the Los Angeles Consular Corps, ASEAN Ladies Circle of LA, International Committee of the Philharmonic Asso. of LA & other music-minded mainstream & Filam friends.