Awards/Competitions
Honorable Mention, 2015 Philippine National Music Competition for Young Artists; Best Interpretation of Contest Piece, 2015 Philippine National Music Competition for Young Artists; 2nd Prize, 2005 Philippine National Music Competition for Young Artists
Appearances
The Florida Orchestra, substitute, 2024–25; New World Symphony, substitute, 2024–25; Civic Orchestra of Chicago, 2022–25; Peoria Symphony Orchestra, substitute, 2025; Ocala Symphony Orchestra, substitute, 2024–25; Southwest Florida Symphony, substitute, 2024–25; Illinois Symphony Orchestra, substitute, 2024–25; The Lira Ensemble, Chicago, 2023–25; Oistrakh Symphony of Chicago, 2023–25; North Shore Chamber Orchestra, substitute, 2023; Northbrook Symphony, 2023–25; Lincolnwood Chamber Orchestra, 2022–25; Chicago Summer Opera, 2023; University of South Florida Symphony Orchestra, 2021–22; Imperial Symphony Orchestra, Tampa, 2020; Cultural Players of the Philippines, 2019; Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra, 2019; University of the Philippines Symphony Orchestra, 2012–17, 2019; DePaul Symphony Orchestra, 2017–19; Manila Youth Symphony Orchestra, 2013; Manila Symphony Orchestra, substitute, 2011; Philippine Research for Developing Instrumental Soloists (PREDIS), 2011–13
What is your earliest memory of classical music?
I learned to play the piano at age two because my mother is a pianist.
Was there a teacher who was particularly impactful/helpful? What made this instructor stand out?
All of my teachers are equally impactful to me, even if the times I spent with them differed. I owe everything I know now to all of them: Dr. Carolyn Stuart from the University of South Florida, Dr. Olga Kaler and Prof. I-hao Lee from DePaul University, and Prof. Antonio Molina from the University of the Philippines.
What made you decide to become a musician? Was there a particular performance or person that influenced your decision?
My parents have always been unconditionally supportive of my dream to pursue violin. My mother is a pianist and my siblings and I were all raised learning the piano. But when I heard a recording of an orchestra and decided I want to try the violin, they took me to lessons and have been supportive since.
How did you hear about TŌN? What inspired you to apply?
Individual research while looking for options for OPT when I was still doing my M.M. in chamber music
How would you like to see orchestra concerts evolve in the future?
People should be allowed to clap after movements without judgement. Musicians should be allowed to wear whatever they want. I think we should play less of Wagner and Beethoven and more of living composers. I think we should be critical of who we are performing and being mindful of the messaging of certain pieces, no matter how prominently they feature in the canon.
What is the most memorable performance you ever had?
The FilAm Music Foundation with Timothy Chooi. It was the first time the FilAm Foundation was able to put together a chamber orchestra of all-Filipino musicians and I both managed the ensemble and led as concertmaster. We played Vivaldi’s Four Seasons with Timothy Chooi, but what made it stand out was that my collaborators were great friends I helped bring over from the Philippines to the U.S. to study at the University of South Florida.
What is your proudest achievement as a musician?
Bringing my Manila-based quartet over to the U.S. During Covid, I went back home and introduced them to my teacher, Dr. Carolyn Stuart. She gave us lessons over Zoom, and at the end of the season she offered all of them graduate assistantship positions with a full-tuition waiver at the University of South Florida. One year later, we were reunited.
Is there a person or people you most respect in your field and why?
My teacher, Carolyn Stuart. She is not only a great teacher, but a kind and genuine person who always goes out of her way to make things as easy as possible for her students, especially the international students.
Tell us about a time you almost gave up but didn’t.
I suffered from depression last year. Medicine and going back home helped me get back.
Can you share any memorable onstage mishaps?
Timothy Chooi’s string broke during the above concert and he was pretty chill about it, left the stage and came back soon with a sense of humor. It was the first time I saw it live while I was one of the performers. He was very gracious and inspiring.
Do you have a favorite non-classical musician or band?
I almost never listen to classical music for leisure. My favorite artists are Kenshi Yonezu, King Gnu, Maki, IV of Spades, Charlie Burg, ONE OK ROCK, and Survive Said the Prophet.
If you weren’t a musician, what would you be doing?
Visual artist. I used to draw more than practice.
What is a surprising part of playing your instrument that you think most people don’t know?
You need to think like a scientist to be successful in it. Science and music aren’t opposing fields.
What is the biggest challenge and/or surprise about playing in an orchestra?
Playing with inexperienced people. No matter how skilled a musician is, I feel a massive difference between someone who has specifically played in an orchestra context for years versus someone who can play all the notes but never has their antennas up. More than knowing your own part, you must always be listening, watching, adjusting, and responding.
What advice would you give your younger self or anyone starting out?
Keep going!
What do you wish you knew starting out that you know now?
It’s gonna take a very long time, but keep going!