FASO's 10th Year Anniversary 2018 Program Book

P R O G R A M 

FASO@10: A Decade of Music, Harmony and Community 


Presents 

Ave verum corpus, K. 618 

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart 

Arranged by Eberhard Kraus 

Orchestration by Louie Ramos 

Combined Choir 

Overture to Il barbiere di Siviglia 

Gioachino Rossini 

Duo des fleurs / Sous le dôme épais from Lakmé 

Léo Delibes 

Ms. Joan Cano and Ms. Maria Cristina Navarro 

Frühlingsstimmen, Op. 410 

Johann Strauss Jr. 

Ms. Maria Cristina Navarro 

Excerpts from Karim at Jasmine 

Composed by Dr. Ramon Sison Geluz 

Arranged and Orchestrated by Naldy Rodriguez 

Mr. Erwin Andaya, Mr. Cristopher Avendaño, Ms. Joan Cano and Ms. Kit Navarro 

Granada 

Agustín Lara 

Mr. Cristopher Avendaño 

Preludio and Libiamo ne’ lieti calici from La traviata 

Giuseppe Verdi 

Mr. Erwin Andaya, Mr. Cristopher Avendaño, Ms. Joan Cano 

and Ms. Maria Cristina Navarro 


INTERMISSION 

Philippine Scenes – III. Festival 

Lucresia Kasilag 

Program and artist subject to change

P R O G R A M 


Ang Pipit (An Orchestral Variation) 

Composed by Rush Garcia and Patrick Owen-Leary 


Presents 

Ha Imo La (For You Alone) Suite 

Composed by Melvin Corpin 

Additional Orchestration by Louie Ramos 


WIN Choir & Orchestra, guest performers 

Patriotic Fil-Am Medley 

Arranged by Louie Ramos 

Mr. Erwin Andaya, Ms. Mikaela Bautista, Ms. Nayah Damasen and Mr. Gelo 

Francisco 


Selections from Phantom of the Opera 

Music by Andrew Lloyd Webber 

Arranged by Calvin Custer 

“Tomorrow” from Annie 

Music by Charles Strouse with Lyrics by Martin Charnin 

Ms. Malea Emma Tjandrawidjaja 

“Sun and Moon” from Miss Saigon 

Music by Claude-Michel Schönberg with Lyrics by Alain Boublil and Richard 

Maltby, Jr. 

Orchestration by William D. Brohn 

Ms. Deedee Magno Hall and Mr. Cliffton Hall 

“So Long, Farewell” from The Sound of Music 

Music by Richard Rodgers with Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II 

Orchestrated by Robert Russell Bennett 

FASO Broadway Children’s Ensemble 

Bridge Over Troubled Water 

Composed by Paul Simon 

Arranged by Louie Ramos 

FASO Children’s Ensemble 

Combined Choir Sopranos and Altos 


P R O G R A M 



Isang Lahi 

Composed by Vehnee Saturno and Freddie Saturno 

Arranged by Naldy Rodriguez 

Ms. Christina Blay 

Kahit Isang Saglit 

Composed by Louie Ocampo 

Arranged by Resty de la Cruz 

Maestro Robert Shroder 

We Need A Little Christmas 

Arranged by Resty de la Cruz 

Ms. Joey Albert 

Tell Me 

Composed by Louie Ocampo 

Arranged by Archie Castillo 

Ms. Joey Albert 

Mission: Impossible (Main Theme) 

Lalo Schifrin 

Arranged by Calvin Custer 

Presents 


FEATURED ARTISTS 


Deedee Magno Hall 


Deedee Magno Hall is currently the voice of Pearl on Cartoon Network’s Emmy nominated Steven Universe. 

She recently played “Diana” in Next to Normal with the East West Players and won the Ovation Award for 

Leading Actress in a Musical. Her other credits include: the Broadway and US National Tour of If/Then, Kim 

from Miss Saigon in its Broadway, 2nd US National Tour, and Asian Tour, Nessarose from Wicked in its 1st 

US National Tour), and Mrs. Walker from The Who’s Tommy with the East West Players. Film and TV credits 

include: a member of the original cast of Disney Channel’s New Mickey Mouse Club, Third Watch, 

Dellaventura, Rear Window, Face, and Sister Act 2. Deedee’s recordings include: an original member of the 

Hollywood Records’ pop group, The Party and as a co-founder of the mommy singing group, Mama Bares. 

Deedee gives many thanks to God for a loving and supportive family and for the opportunity to do what she 

loves. She can be found on Twitter, @DeedeeMagnoHall & @Mama_Bares, and on Instagram, 

@deedeemagnohallofficial. 

Cliffton Hall 

Cliffton Hall recently played Dan in the East West Players’ production of Next to Normal, which won the LA 

Ovation’s award for Best Musical. His other roles on Broadway/Equity National Tours include: Chris in Miss 

Saigon, Marius in Les Misérables, and Fiyero in the 1st National Tour and San Francisco productions of 

Wicked. He toured with the Broadway production of If/Then starring Idina Menzel and played Chris opposite 

his wife, Deedee Magno Hall, in an international tour of Miss Saigon. Cliffton’s regional credits include: Tony in 

Master Class, Grease’s Danny, Will from Oklahoma, Flower Drum Song’s Ta, and Prince Harry at the Kirk 

Douglas Theatre in Lythgoe’s Panto Princesses and Pirates Live. He thanks his family for their love and 

support and of course the One Up Above, especially for the three wonderful blessings in his life, Kaeden, 

Brycen, and Deedee! Cliffton can be found on Twitter, @ClifftonHall, and on Instagram, @seahaul. 

Maria Cristina “Kit” Navarro 

Maria Cristina “Kit” Navarro has given recitals, orchestral appearances and opera performances in 

Switzerland, the United States, the Philippines and Austria. She has performed with the Biel, Basel and Baden 

Theaters in Switzerland, San Diego Opera, Los Angeles Opera, El Paso Opera, Long Beach Opera and 

Opera Pacific. Notable roles include the Queen of the Night, Olympia, Adina, Nerina, Najade and Pedro, the 

Matchmaker in LA Opera’s commissioned work On Gold Mountain by Nathan Wang, Jasmin in the Filipino 

opera Karim at Jasmin by Dr. Ramon Geluz, Sisa in Felipe de Leon’s opera Noli Me Tangere and Maria Clara 

in Ryan Cayabyab’s Noli Me Tangere the Musicale. Kit has sung in the music recordings of the films Click and 

Lady in the Water with the LA Master Chorale, John Alexander Singers’ American Voices and Jake Heggie’s 

Choral Opera Radio Hour. She has been a part of Andrea Bocelli’s Christmas concerts in California, the West 

Coast tour of Lord of the Rings with the Munich Symphony Orchestra and back-up vocals for Reba McEntire 

at the Hollywood Bowl. As soprano soloist for Pacific Chorale in its tours of Spain, Paris, Budapest and 

Vienna, she also sang with the group at Carnegie Hall in New York in celebration of Phillip Glass’ 80th 

birthday. t received her bachelor’s degree in Voice at the University of the Philippines and her diploma in 

Music Theater Studies at the Biel Conservatory in Switzerland. A first prize winner in the National Music 

Competition for Young Artists, she was a recipient of the Migros-Genossenschafts-Bund study grant and a first 

prize winner in the Elvira Luthi Wegmann Vocal Competition in Switzerland. She was presented the 

Excellence in Music Award by FASO for her artistic achievements and community contributions. Amid her 

busy schedule, Kit also finds joy being a staff singer for Christ Cathedral, a vocal teacher/coach for Northwood 

High School and her private studio in Irvine, California. 

Presents 

JOAN CANO 

Prize-winning soprano JOAN CANO has conquered the Dr. Marjorie Peatee Art Song Competition (Bowling 

Green State University, Ohio), the NATS Buckeye Chapter Competition (Ohio), the National Music 

Competition for Young Artists (NAMCYA) and the Corfu International Music Festival in Greece. She has had 

featured roles in “Dialogue of the Carmelites”, The Magic Flute”, “Carmen”, “La Canterina”, and “Karim at 

Jasmin”. Joan has been invited as a guest soloist by conductor Lim Yau in Singapore, to perform in Respighi’s 

“Laud to Nativity” and “A Christmas Carol” at the nation’s famous Esplanade. Joan made her debut 

performance with FASO in 2009 at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium. 

Joan’s twelve years of vocal training culminated with a Master’s Degree in Vocal Performance from the 

Bowling Green State University in Ohio in 2007. Her music roots are from the University of Santo Tomas 

where she first earned her bachelor’s degree, and where she was a chorister and soloist with the acclaimed 

University of Santo Tomas Singers with whom she toured internationally. 




Cristopher “Pete” Avendaño 


Cristopher “Pete” Avendaño graduated from the University of Santo Tomas (UST) with a Bachelor of Music in 

Music Education and Voice. He exhibited exemplary singing from an early age and at eleven, became a 

member of the Tiples de Santo Domingo, the oldest boy’s choir in the Philippines, where he was a boy 

soprano soloist. At university, Avendaño joined the internationally acclaimed UST Singers and toured 

extensively with them during their 1998-2001 international concert tours in Europe and the Americas. As a 

UST Conservatory student, he auditioned and became part of the Singapore Lyric Opera productions 

Pagliacci, Cavalleria Rusticana, Il trovatore, and Macbeth In 2009, he was a featured artist for the inaugural 

concert of the Filipino American Symphony Orchestra (FASO) at Beverly Hills’ Saban Theatre. He is a 

member of the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) and the Kodaly Association of Southern 

California (KASC). Avendaño is also a member of the Philippine Chamber Music Society, a group that has 

been giving concerts around California raising funds for different organisations. He is director of the children’s 

choir music programs at Precious Blood School and Immaculate Heart of Mary (IHM). Previously, he was a 

faculty member of Los Angeles’ Our Lady of Loretto Elementary School, where he was instrumental in 

nominating the children’s choir for the 2006 Music Achievement Awards in Arts at the Music Center Bravo 

Awards. He led the IHM Children’s choir at the 2012 World Choir Games in Cincinnati, Ohio where they won 

two silver medals and in 2013 at the Pacific International Children’s Choir Festival in Eugene Oregon; in 2014, 

the choir debuted at Walt Disney Concert Hall. In 2015, they participated at the Natinal Children’s Chorus 

Festival at New York’s Carnegie Hall and at the Pueri Cantores International Children’s Choir Festival held at 

Vatican City and Rome, Italy. In 2016, they performed at San Francisco’s Golden Gate International Children’s 

Choir Competition and. 2017 saw them perform at the Kodaly Children’s Choir Festival, FASO’s Christmas 

Concert, and at the Music Center’s LA County Holiday Celebration; they performed again at Disney Hall in 

2018. Future performances include their participation at the Canterbury and London International Children’s 

Choir Festival in July 2019 and at the Vatican and Rome International Festival in December 2021. 

GELO FRANCISCO 

The founding member of then octet and later (formally) the Philippine Chamber Singers — Los Angeles (PCS- 

LA) in 2007, Anthony “Gelo” Francisco has grown and nurtured this small singing group from performing at 

Christmas parties and weddings to Carnegie Hall under his baton. PCS-LA has flourished and slowly carved 

its place in the Filipino and American choral scene ever since. Gelo’s talents are brought to concert halls, 

churches, and stages alike both locally and abroad. He serves as the Music Director at St. John Baptist de la 

Salle Catholic Church in Granada Hills, CA. A former voice major at the University of the Philippines College of 

Music under the tutelage of Professor Andrea O. Veneracion and an accomplished stage actor/solo vocal 

performer, Gelo has performed in musicals such as Grease, Rama at Sita, and the stage play The Romance of 

Magno Rubio (Los Angeles and Singapore) to name a few. 

ERWIN ANDAYA 

Erwin Andaya has been a featured soloist in not one but two world-renowned choral groups: the University of 

Santo Tomas Singers and the University of the Philippine Madrigal Singers. A graduate of the University of 

Santo Tomas Conservatory of Music with a Bachelor's Degree in Voice, Andaya has performed to growing 

acclaim. 

Well-travelled and well-respected, the pop tenor is a prominent performer in the Filipino American community 

performing classical and pop music at prestigious venues including Walt Disney Concert Hall, Pasadena Civic 

Auditorium, Alex Theatre, El Segundo Performing Arts Center, Herbert Zipper Concert Hall, Hemmens 

Cultural Center, Aratani Theatre, John Anson Ford Amphitheatre. He has performed alongside Asia's 

Songbird Regine Velasquez in her Timeless and "Mr. and Mrs. A" US Concert tours in Las Vegas, New York, 

Pittsburg, San Diego, and Los Angeles. 

Erwin was just recently been featured as one of the guest artists for Starmedia Entertainment and GMA Pinoy 

TV's Paskuhan at Kantawanan sa Anaheim, held at the City National Grove of Anaheim. Erwin has performed 

at several FASO concerts including Handog ng FASO sa Pasko, FASO Goes to the Cathedral, FASO Goes 

Pops and FASO is Bach to Rock. 

Nayah Damasen 

Presents 

Nayah Damasen is a 13-year-old rising star who loves making people smile through her incredible talent. 

Originally from the Bay Area, she now resides in Burbank, CA, pursuing her dreams as a singer, dancer, and 

actress. Singing since the age of 2, Nayah performed in her first musical at age 4 through "Starting Arts 

Productions”. She played leading roles in Flat Stanley (Mrs Lambchop), The Little Mermaid (Ariel), and The 

Wiz (Dorothy). Nayah is renowned for singing the National Anthem for major sporting events and charities 

including the NFL (The Raiders, The 49ers), MLB (SF Giants, Oakland A’s), The America’s Cup, and Roc 

Nation’s Boxing. Nayah opened for international singers Charice, Jed Madela, One Kapamilya Go, and The 

Adobo Festival. Her most prestigious performance was singing the National Anthem before Game 1 of the 

2018 NBA Finals. Touted as the Golden State Warriors’ lucky charm, Nayah’s performance was televised 

worldwide. As an actor, Nayah appeared on Modern Family, Grey’s Anatomy as Kimmie, Disney’s 

Bizaardvark, Nickelodeon's Henry Danger, ABC’s To Tell the Truth with Anthony Anderson, Little Big Shot – 

Germany, and feature film How To Be A Latin Lover (starring Kristen Bell, Rob Lowe, Salma Hayek and 

Raquel Welch). Represented by Treadwell Entertainment Group, Nayah is working on her first LP with Multi- 

Platinum Grammy & Emmy Award winning Producer/Musician/Recording Artist, Narada Michael Walden (who 

produced some of the greatest hits for Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, Aretha Franklin and others). Nayah’s 

wish is to touch people’s hearts with her music and motivate young children to pursue their dreams. 




Christina Blay 


Malea Emma Tjandrawidjaja 

Christina Blay is a 14-year-old freshman at Glendale Adventist Academy, where she is a consistent honour 

student. Besides singing, she enjoys playing clarinet in her school band. Christina has been doing competitive 

gymnastics for over 5 years and has been a state champion in the vault, bars, beam and floor events, as well 

as in the All-Around division. She has performed at FASO Goes Broadway and in FASO’s Peter and the Wolf. 

She is thankful for the opportunities and wonderful learning experiences she has had in this journey, 

especially with meeting all the talented musicians and performers of FASO. 

MIKAELA BAUTISTA 

Mikaela Bautista is a 17 year old from Rancho Cucamonga, who has been on Chamber Singers, at her school 

since she was a freshman. She has received awards from Gawad Amerika and garnered 2nd place in metro 

LA during the Singing Champ championship. She has been performing with FASO since 2014. Through 

FASO, she was able to sing for the VP of the Philippines, Leni Robredo. Mikaela is thrilled to sing alongside 

such talented singers. 

Malea Emma Tjandrawidjaja is a 7 year old singer and actor. She is very excited to make 

her debut with FASO. 

She lives in Los Angeles with her parents and big brother. She has shown her interest in 

singing since she was 1 years old, even before she could speak. These past few years, she 

has won several singing competitions. Her singing experiences include performing in L.A. 

Live at the age of 3 and in Carnegie Hall, New York at the age of 5 after winning an 

international singing competition. She is also a National Anthem singer in sport events. 

Her acting credits include commercials (Amazon, Jeep, Lenovo, Kiehl’s, Progressive, etc.), 

web videos, a co-star role in the TV show Tim and Eric’s Bedtime Stories, and a role in the 

short film, Mother of Three, which will be released later this year. 

Malea speaks 3 languages: English, Indonesian, and Chinese and also plays piano and 

violin. In her spare time, she loves making song cover videos for her YouTube channel. 

She can be found on Instagram and her website, www.maleaemma.com. She is currently 

represented by DBA Talent and Coast to Coast Talent Agency. 

SPECIAL GUESTS PERFORMERS 

Presents 

JOEY ALBERT 

Joey Albert is a pop and jazz singer, musician, lyricist and songwriter. Joey began her professional 

singing career in 1982, right after winning the Dream Girl Filipina contest in The Party, a television 

program over ABS-CBN Channel 2. 

As a solo performer, Joey signed up with OctoArts International (now PolyEast Records) in 1984. 

Immediately after OctoArts released Louie Ocampo and Allan Ayque's Tell Me, the song became a 

major hit. She received a Gold Record Award from the Philippine Association of the Recording Industry, 

and then received the Best Female Vocalist trophy during the 1985 Cecil Awards. The same song also 

established Joey as a major Filipino musical artist. 

In 1990, Joey moved to Dyna Inc. During the 1990 Awit Awards, Albert won Best Female Vocalist of the 

Year for Only a Mem'ry. Her song Iisa pa lamang reached gold and platinum status and became the 

theme song of a movie produced by Regal Films, directed by Jose Javier Reyes in 1992. 

Joey Albert's meteoric rise as a gifted musical artist was interrupted by serious illnesses. After surviving 

cervical cancer in 1995, she was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2003 but has recovered after a series 

of chemotherapy treatment. By October 2003, she was besieged with offers to sing again, however, 

Joey had to complete rounds of chemotherapy until March 2004. She currently lives in Vancouver with 

her husband and two daughters since migrating in 1994. 


FEATURED COMPOSERS 


LOUIE RAMOS, PH.D. 


Dr. Louie Ramos is an arranger of orchestral, chorale, and big band music. His works have been performed by 

the Filipino American Symphony Orchestra (FASO), Pasadena Symphony, Asia America Symphony 

Orchestra, Colburn Chamber Orchestra, Philippine Chamber Singers Los Angeles, Los Angeles Children’s 

Chorus and many more orchestras. Over FASO's 10 years of existence, Louie has written close to 60 

orchestral arrangemnts and orchestrations for the orchestra. 

Louie is a founding member of the FASO Board of Directors where he has been serving as the Board's Vice- 

President. He is also the Orchestra's Arranger-in-Residence. He advocates the enrichment of Filipino music 

and the development and promotion of Filipino American performing artists. He developed FASO's Education 

and Outreach Program from scratch and currently runs it. FASO's Education program includes workshops in 

vocal and instrument performance and songwriting, an International Composition Competition promoting 

Philippine Folk Music, and a Scholarship program for College students. FASO's Outreach program includes a 

Youth String Ensemble in an underserved community where the program provides string classes and free 

access to string instruments. 

Louie earned a Ph.D. degree in Computer Science with a minor in Music Theory and Composition from the 

University of Southern California. He completed a Professional Certificate in Arranging and Production from 

Berklee College of Music, where he was awarded the Michel Camilo Scholarship. Louie has a Master of 

Science degree in Computer Sciences from Ateneo de Manila University and a Bachelor of Science degree in 

Applied Mathematics (Magna Cum Laude), which he completed in three years. Louie enjoys a dual career in 

computer science and music, as a software architect and music teacher at the Los Angeles Children’s Chorus. 

Dr. Ramon Sison Geluz 

Although Dr. Ramon Sison Geluz is a medical doctor and an educator by profession, his real passion has 

always been in the arts, especially music and poetry. Dr. Geluz is the multi awarded composer and librettist of 

the first ever original major Filipino opera Karim at Jasmin performed at the Cultural Center of the Philippines, 

Terrace Theater of the Long Beach Convention Center; La Mirada Performing Arts Center, Spreckels Theater 

in San Diego, and the Horn Theater at the North Las Vegas Theater for the Performing Arts. Karim at Jasmin 

was also performed at the Grand Hall of the Opera Theater of the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion for the Consular 

Corps for the benefit of the International Committee of the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra. 

His more recent creations, A Voice in the Wilderness, the Life and Martyrdom of St. John the Baptist, Song the 

of the Sparrow, Blessed Mother Teresa, and The Martyrdom of St. Lorenzo Ruiz, The Opera are currently on 

tour in different church communities in California and Nevada. His current projects include Ang Biag ni Lam- 

Ang, The Adventures of Lam-Ang, the Igorot Folk Hero, and the sequel to Karim at Jasmin, Karim at Mei. His 

newly completed book of classical Filipino prose and poetry, Karim at Jasmin, Ang Unang Aklat will be 

available towards the end of this year. 

Dr. Ramon Sison Geluz is also the Dean of Education at Healthcare Career College in 

Paramount CA and a Cantor in different churches in LA County. 

Adriel “Rush” Garcia 

Adriel “Rush” Garcia is all of 21 years. 

He is a senior at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music majoring in Trombone Performance. He is also a product 

of the Chicago High School for the Arts and the Merit School of Music. While at Merit, Rush was a member of 

the Yumpudump Brass Trio that was featured on NPR’s “From The Top” and won in the Fischoff National 

Chamber Music Competition. 

Rush is passionate about mentoring young people and eventually hopes to teach music in a high school 

setting. He is also an avid digital musician and orchestral arranger and has a popular YouTube channel that 

features his original works and re-imaginings. He is also half of the musical team Simon and Rush. 

Rush is an only child and claims to be the favorite. 

PATRICK OWEN-LEARY 

Presents 

Hailing from Chicago’s North Side, Patrick Owen-Leary is a young composer/performer who pushes the 

boundaries of classical music. A product of the Old Town School of Folk Music and the Chicago High School 

for the Arts, he is a well versed guitarist in the styles of bluegrass, jazz, rock and roll, and concert/classical 

music. On several occasions, Owen-Leary has performed with Baldwin Wallace University’s highly acclaimed 

Musical Theatre department, including the 2016 production of Leonard Bernstein’s West Side Story under 

David Pepin. His most recent production with the department was his role playing banjo in Cabaret. Owen- 

Leary has also demonstrated his proficiency on various other string instruments, including playing mandolin 

with the BW Symphony Orchestra in Respighi’s Feste Romane. 

Owen-Leary is a music composition and guitar performance double-major set to graduate rom Baldwin 

Wallace University in 2019. His compositions take from early music and minimalism and combine those styles 

with the soul of American folk music. Owen-Leary has met and worked with a variety of award-winning 

composers including David Lang, Caroline Shaw, Lembit Beecher, and Frank Ticheli. He has also had 

readings with professional ensembles, including Fifth House Ensemble, A Far Cry, and the Cleveland 

Orchestra. He is currently studying with Colin Davin and Clint Needham, for guitar and composition, 

respectively. 


FEATURED CHOIRS 



Presents 

Holy Family Filipino 

Chorale 

Soprano 

Jill Aspiras 

Conette Bendeicto 

Yoly Bravo 

Paullyne Capili 

Becky Connstante 

Ma. Lidia Leano 

Alexandre Legaspi 

Agnes Makiling 

Daisy Pangilinan 

Annie Rodeo 

Ellen Vasquez 

Alto 

Elvie Agoncillo 

Alicia Aventino 

Vicki Legaspi 

Margie Mortel 

Marietta Rogers 

Tenor 

Maury Agoncillo 

Edgar Labor 

Toto Mortel 

Rey Pangilinan 

Bass 

Noli Constante 

Telesforo Go 

Glen Leano 

Patrick Legaspi 

Philippine Chamber Singers 

Los Angeles 

Soprano 

Kit Buhion 

Ann Jeanette Dwight 

Marivic Francisco 

Charmaine Normandia 

Alto 

Kim Bautista 

Ana Lisa Burog 

Judith Guerrero 

Jennifer Morelos 

Apple Nazareno 

Lisa Ulanday 

Tenor 

Noel Anzures 

Aris Canlapan 

Hero Emolaga 

Drew Shroder 

Bass 

Reynan Alamis 

Novem Cabios 

Dale Francisco 

Dino Padallan 

FRIENDS OF FASO 

Soprano 

Therese Koenigseker 

Joan Cano-Vasquez 

Judy Abas 

Alto 

Zyliza Webber 

Regelin Castillo 

Venice Avendaño 

Tenor 

Michael Zuñiga 

Don Sagarbarria 

Dennis Jardiel 

Erwin Andaya 

Bass 

Allan Diona Sims 

Froilan Fulgencio 

Joaquin Anthony Labado 

Jonathan Cris Ronquillo 

Gershon Napod 

TOM MAKILING - MUSICAL DIRECTOR 

HOLY FAMILY CHORALE 

WIN Choir 

Soprano 

Mae Anido 

Carla Corpin 

Pie Ortega 

Lori Vergara 

Marites Uy 

Alto 

Tess Agner 

Dulce Caludac 

Janet Corpin 

Gina Ibarrola 

Tenor 

Peter Caludac 

Sherwin Magallanes 

Gines Uy 

Bass 

Jess Reyes 

Tom Makiling received his bachelor of music degree with a major in choral conducting and a minor in 

voice from the University of the Philippines. He was a tenor soloist, choral member, and assistant 

conductor of the University of the Philippines Concert Chorus (UPCC) in 5 world tours, traveling to major 

cities in Asia, Australia, Europe, Canada, and the USA from 1985 to 1992. During this time he also served 

as director for award-winning choral groups such as the Metro Manila Authority Chorale and the Batasang 

Pambansa Assembly Chorale. 

After settling in Los Angeles in 1993, Tom formed the Holy Family Filipino Chorale with other UPCC 

alumni and became its Musical Director and Conductor. With the music degree and choral performing 

background he brings, it is no surprise that the chorale is now a veteran of numerous concerts and 

cultural performances. After joining the faculty of the Holy Family Grade School, he subsequently 

established the school’s first Holy Family Children’s Concert Chorus. 

Currently, Tom is the Associate Music Director of the Holy Family Catholic Church, a music teacher at the 

Holy Family Grade School, both in Glendale, California, and a member of the American Choral Directors 

Association (ACDA). He is a pianist, organist, composer, choral arranger, father of 2 lovely children and 

husband to his UPCC sweetheart, Agnes. 

GINES UY - MUSICAL DIRECTOR 

WIN CHOIR 

WIN Orchestra 

Germaine Kempis - Violin 1 

Kaela Omega - Violin 2 

Meldian Corpin - Viola 

Carlvian Corpin - Cello 

Maxinne Vergara - Flute 1 

Mac Corpin - Flute 2 

Jeremy Tagpis - Oboe 

Meeko Corpin - Clarinet 

EJ Togonon - Alto Saxophone 

Brent Ponferrada - Tenor 

Saxophone 

Glen Togonon - Trumpet 

Khris Kempis - Electric Bass 

Boyen Bernadas - Percussion 

FASO Children’s Ensemble 

Maggi Avant 

Mikaela Bautista 

Christina Blay 

Tia Enroth 

Adam Enroth 

Sabrina Evangelista 

Bryce Gomez 

Andreas Makiling 

Adrianne Mangune 

Ryanne Mangune 

Rianne Martin 

Melissa McBride 

Jhanessa Equila 

Gines’ one true passion of music started in the Philippines; it took him to Seoul, Korea, and eventually to 

the United States, where he now resides with his wife, Tess, in Los Angeles. He is an accomplished 

director and arranger of various school and church choirs and secular shows for Filipino pop artists. 

The highlight of his career came when he was commissioned to create original music for the late Manuel 

Agner’s (Founding Chairman of Waraynon Initiative Network [WIN])”TOUCH AND HEAL THIS WORLD”, 

a theme song for Heal LA, a Eucharistic Healing Celebration in May 2007. Since then, the song has 

become the melodic backdrop and title for the benefit concerts of St. Vibiana Cathedral Chapel where he 

is the resident Choirs Director. 

Currently, Gines is the Assistant VP for Ensemble, Training and Development of WIN and its Chorale 

Director. 

Gines creates a unique harmonious melody in every song. Music is his natural ability. 


FEATURED CHOIRS 



Presents 

HOLY FAMILY CHORALE 

The Holy Family Filipino Chorale (HFFC) was formed in 1993 and has grown from a handful of parishioners to 25 active members. It participates in 

parish and school celebrations, locally sponsored Filipino-American cultural events, and other special occasions, including the annual Los Angeles 

County Holiday Celebration at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. In October 1999, HFFC was selected as a participating choir in the World Festival 

of Sacred Music in Los Angeles to perform in the festival’s Sacred Music in Sacred Places component. The Chorale’s repertoire of a contemporary 

setting of the traditional Roman Catholic Mass with the text in Latin and Moslem-inspired melody was regarded as a highlight of the festival. 

To commemorate the Philippine Independence Centennial celebration, the choir staged Tales of the Manuvu in February 1998. The choir’s 

versatility in singing, dancing, and acting was tested in this original Philippine pop-opera. A concert with a repertoire of Original Philippine Music 

entitled Cantata Filipiniana was also staged in the early part of 1999 as a post-centennial celebration. The Chorale is honored to receive four 

certificates of recognition from the United States House of Representative, California State Senate, California State Assembly, and the City of 

Glendale. These certificates were formally presented by the Filipino-American Business Association of Glendale on October 28, 2017, for the 

choir’s dedication to the arts and in recognition of their outstanding and invaluable service to the community. The Chorale is proud to announce 

their invitation to perform at the prestigious Carnegie Hall in New York City on March 17, 2019. They will be performing one of John Rutter’s 

famous large choral works, Magnificat, with full orchestra under acclaimed conductor, Maestro Jonathan Griffith. 

Their outreach programs include raising funds for the Mary Queen of Heaven Missionaries, feeding the homeless twice a year, and entertaining 

the sick and elderly during Christmas and Easter holidays in Glendale and nearby convalescent hospitals. HFFC sings at the 11 A.M. Mass every 

Sunday at Holy Family Church in Glendale, California 

PHILIPPINE CHAMBER SINGERS 

OF LOS ANGELES 

The Philippine Chamber Singers - Los Angeles (PCS-LA) is a dynamic, diverse 

and decorated group of Filipino music-lovers, bonded by their passion for choral 

singing. Founded in 2004, PCS-LA has grown from its humble beginnings of 

Christmas caroling and performing at local weddings. What was once a small 

circle of friends from different choirs has blossomed into a tight-knit and talented 

ensemble. PCS-LA takes pride in making waves and enriching the community 

through secular and sacred music and promoting the Filipino culture at various 

venues, cultural events, music festivals, and benefit concerts. 

In 2007, PCS-LA participated in the Choral Directors Association's (ACDA) 24th 

biennial National Convention where they delivered a successful opening night 

performance at the International Concert Session Gala held in Miami, FL. The 

choir is the very first local Filipino chorale group that has made the distinction of 

making an ACDA debut on the National level. PCS-LA also graced the stages at 

the Long Beach Convention Center, L.A. Sports Arena, the La Mirada Theater 

for the Performing Arts and the Cerritos Performing Arts Center to name a few. 

In 2008, PCS-LA performed at the 4th Word Festival of Sacred Music 

spearheaded by UCLA and at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion for the Los 

Angeles County Holiday Celebration. 

In August of 2009, PCS-LA performed at the Ford Amphitheatre and delivered 

an outstanding presentation of Ryan Cayabyab's music in "Awit ng Buhay", a 

musical revue depicting the life of a Filipino, the Filipino family dynamic, and the 

emotional struggles of overseas workers. The PCS-LA performed under the 

baton of Maestro Gustavo Dudamel and the LA Philharmonic in October 2009 

for his inaugural concert, "Bienvenido Gustavo" at the Hollywood Bowl, and 

again in 2011 for The Mahler Project's "Symphony of the Thousand" at the 

Shrine Auditorium. Most recently, July 2012, PCS-LA performed at the 

Hollywood Bowl once again in "Apl.d.Ap Takes You to the Philippines" with 

Apl.d.Ap and other members of the Black Eyed Peas (will.i.am. & Taboo), Nicole 

Sherzinger, Martin Nievera, Ogie Alcasid, Becca Godinez, Dessa, Martin 

Nievera, Harana Kings, Lou Diamond Phillips & Vanessa Hudgens. 

PCS-LA is also involved in community outreach and helps numerous other 

groups and organizations through benefit concerts including benefit concerts to 

assist the flood victims in the Philippines that are affected by devastating 

typhoons. 

PCS-LA continues to grow, "making waves" from one end of the Pacific to the 

next, from the Philippines to the U.S. to help sustain the Filipino culture, making 

waves in the community to support the community's initiatives, and making 

sound waves to help maintain the art of and the appreciation of choral singing. 


FEATURED MUSICIANS 


filipino american symphony orchestra 

Robert Shroder - Music Director 


Presents 

First Violins 

Justina Jones, Concertmaster 

Cecilia A. Coo 

Mel Bolosan 

Lisa Grzanka 

Bobbie Sanchez 

Christine Ho 

Cary Belling 

Rafael Nuguid 

Sarah Wallin-Huff 

Shigeru Logan 

Second Violins 

Angela Reyes, Principal 

Peter Marcos 

Royce Cacal 

Erica delos Santos 

Ebb Galindo 

Jonathan Hinckley 

Eleonora Wilkinson 

Medeon Maraon 

Andy Tecson 

Violas 

Mercede Shamlo, Principal 

Katie Boyle 

Armin Mariano 

Kyle Bague 

Si Tran 

Cellos 

Rebecca Yeh, Principal 

Michelle Byrne 

Ernie Ehrhardt 

Suji Kang 

Maestro Robert Shroder is the Principal Conductor & Music Director of the Filipino-American Symphony 

Orchestra (FASO). His previous assignments include: Founding Conductor of the Boyle Heights Youth 

Symphony in 2002; member of the Chula Vista Pops Orchestra, San Diego Community Band, the Al Bahr 

Shrine Concert Band and The Notables Big Band Jazz, all based in San Diego, before settling in Los 

Angeles. He also ran music workshops at local schools in Ohio when he moved to the US in 1991. 

Robert studied at the University of the Philippines College of Music major in Flute with Prof. Eric Barcelo, 

and later concentrated in chamber music and orchestra conducting. He was the principal flutist of the 

Philippine Youth Orchestra under Prof. Sergio Esmilla Jr., and the leader and flutist of the U.P. Woodwind 

Quintet and Flute Ensemble. An outstanding flutist, Bob is the Grand Prize winner of the 1982 National 

Music Competition for Young Artists. Right after graduation, he was hired to be the principal flutist of the 

Manila Symphony Orchestra, and the Manila Chamber Orchestra. A consistent university scholar, he was 

invited to join the Mu Phi Epsilon International Music Fraternity. He later taught at the University of the 

Philippines, giving flute and chamber music lessons to aspiring students & musicians, while doing regular 

studio recording sessions. 

Equally comfortable in both classical and pop genres, the Maestro expresses his love in performing for a 

mixed crowd, most especially to Filipino-American community events. Bob is a member of the National 

Flute Association. 

Basses 

Andrew Ullah, Principal 

Khris Kempis 

Tagumpay de Leon 

Martin Rocca 

Flutes 

Cheryl Lopez, Principal 

Asuncion Ojeda 

Mini Zabala 

Jamil Mañez Sidi 

Piccolo 

Jamil Mañez Sidi 

Oboes 

Paul Sherman, Principal 

Leonid Belinsky 

English Horn 

Leonid Belinsky 

Clarinets 

Wendy Mazon, Principal 

Brandon Samson 

Bass Clarinet 

Micah Wright 

Bassoons 

John Nuñez, Principal 

Daniel Hinckley 

Horns 

Janeen Apodaca, Principal 

Suzette Moriarty 

Laura Goodenkauf 

Trumpets 

Mike Rotman, Principal 

Richie Gonzaga 

Froilan Linco 

Trombones 

Matthew Marchand, Principal 

Karl Anguiano 

Bass Trombone 

Gabriel Roque 

Tuba 

Steve Hughes 

Timpani 

Joey Muskat 

Percussion 

Edgar Cavin Maravilla, Jr., Principal 

Christian Buado 

Judeous Fonseca 

Shota Hanai 

Drums 

Vinnie Aguas 

Guitar 

Vincent Reyes 

Piano 

Paul Concepcion 

Harp 

Emily Rostykus 

Arranger-in-Residence 

Louie Ramos 


PRODUCTION STAFF 


Production Manager 

- Padsy Padre 

Vocal Coach 

- Tess Ramos 


Presents 

Orchestra Administration 

- Mini Zabala 

Choreography 

- Clement Villavert 

Set Design 


Music Library 

- Royce Cacal 

- Louie Ramos 

Rehearsal Venue Management 

- Arlene Ferrolino 

- Don Ferrolino 

Food Management 

- Amirah Limayo 

- Andy Tecson 

Children's Ensemble Rehearsal Director 

- Alexandre Legaspi 

Rehearsal Accompanist 

- Rhonda Memmer 

Runners 

- "Tony" 

- Bella Ramos 

Photography 

- Rick Gavino 

- Marc Pijuan 

Video Production 

- Miko Santos 


Volunteers 

- Christina Hembd 

- Erica Hembd 

- Brian Tolentino 

Chapererones 

- Mimi Avant 

- Agnes Makiling 

- Teena Evangelista

FASO's 10th Year Anniversary 2018 Program Book

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