About Dave
Dave is a composer, arranger, keyboardist, and a bandurria player. He has written works for solo, chamber, choir, orchestra, wind ensemble, and rondalla. He earned his Bachelor of Music degree in Composition at the University of the Philippines where he studied under Professor Josefino “Chino” Toledo. In February 2013, he was one of the top 15 finalists from 637 entries at the International Federation for Choral Music Choral Composition Competition. In March 2015, his composition “Pulso” for Flute and Orchestra was featured in the Musik Underkonstruktion of the Metro Manila Concert Orchestra. In November 2015, the same piece was performed by the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra at the Cultural Center of the Philippines, where it won the Yoshiro Irino Composer’s Prize in the 33rd Asian Composers League Festival. In 2018 he was a finalist for the Banaue International Music Composition Competition.
In May of 2022, he earned his Master’s Degree in Composition and Graduate Certificate in Music Theory at Michigan State University. While at MSU, he was able to collaborate with ensembles such as Khemia Ensemble and Harlem String Quartet, and got to participate in MSU Wind Ensemble and MSU Symphony Orchestra readings. He studied under Alexis Bacon, Ricardo Lorenz and David Biedenbender. Dave is currently pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts in Composition at University of British Columbia in Vancouver, on a full scholarship.
Dave loves going hiking, beach, movies, playing table tennis, and eating Asian food. His favorites are pho, ramen, Korean barbecue, pad thai, and steamed dumplings.
Photos by Ronnie Yatco and Nathan Santos
