Asian Journal- The Filipino-American Community Newspaper

Gelo Francisco

Anthony Angelo "Gelo" Francisco, Director of the Philippine Chamber Singers – Los Angeles, is a graduate of the University of the Philippines - College of Music, who majored in Voice. As a student, he joined the world-renowned UP Madrigal Singers and toured extensively with the group on international concert tours, festivals and competitions. In 1995 he formed the pop vocal group, 3 of a Kind, which stylishly and successfully merged mass appeal and formal vocal training, thus winning critics’ praises at the A Cappella Harmony Sweepstakes, becoming the Bay Area Champions of 2002.

Gelo’s uncanny ability to bring out the best in a person’s voice even in the most challenging situations has made him a sought-after choral conductor. He has handled numerous singing groups ranging from small amateur ensembles to college choirs, even the 100-voice Grand Festival Choir of the Cultural Center of the Philippines. Presently, he conducts for the Cherubim Choir of St. Genevieve Church in Panorama City. His most recent foray is forming the Harana Men’s Chorus, a choral group made of highly talented individuals, including former members of the critically acclaimed UP Madrigal Singers.

As a tenor, Christopher P. Avendaño has a lot to celebrate under his name. A graduate of Bachelor of Music in Music Education, major in Voice from the University of Santo Tomas (UST) in the Philippines, Avendaño started to exhibit exemplary singing at an early age. At the age of 11, he became a member of the Tiples de Santo Domingo (oldest boy’s choir in the Philippines) where he was a boy soprano-soloist.

In college, Avendaño became part of the internationally-acclaimed University of Santo Tomas Singers and has toured extensively with the group during its 1998, 1999, 2000, and 2001 international concert tours in Europe, North America, and South America. In 2000, he was a finalist in the National Music Competition for Young Artists (NAMCYA) held at the Cultural Center of the Philippines. He was also a prize winner in the Kundiman Fiesta competition in 1994. As a student of the UST Conservatory, Avendaño auditioned and became part of the Singapore Lyric Opera productions of Il Pagliacci, Cavalleria Rusticana, Il Trovatore, and Macbeth held in Singapore.

Avendaño portrayed the lead role Karim in the Filipino Opera Karim at Jasmin held at the La Mirada Theater in Los Angeles. He also performed in a concert at St. Louis Missouri for the benefit of Gawad Kalinga. As one of the founding members of the UST Singers Alumni in America and the Philippine Chamber Singers of Los Angeles, this seasoned tenor is currently a faculty at the Our Lady of Loretto Elementary School in Los Angeles in which he also handles the children’s choir. He was instrumental in having the children’s choir nominated for the Music Achievement Awards in Arts 2006 by the Music Center Bravo Awards.

Avendaño is presently the music director of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Los Angeles. He has recently finished his recording project – a collection of Philippine Art Songs dubbed as Kundiman.

A graduate of the University of the Philippines and former resident composer of the Cultural Center of the Philippines before he immigrated to California 15 years ago, Deypalan took up another bachelor’s degree in Chapman University. He is currently taking up his Master’s and Doctorate Degrees on Choral Conducting at the University of South California. He has been teaching music to elementary school students and is also the music director of 2 churches - St. Martin of Tours Parish and St. Raymond Church.

Nove has had the prestigious honor of conducting different choirs at the famous Carnegie Hall in New York and before Pope John Paul II at the Vatican. One of those who greatly influenced his music is his professor at USC, Don Brinegar, a world-renowned choral activity director for 30

years now. After graduating from Don Bosco in Bacolod, Nove got a scholarship in Music at UP. He also became a scholar of Imelda Marcos and attended the National Arts Center in Mt. Makiling.

" I love the Philippine culture and I am proud that my heritage is Filipino. I decided to go to the States because my heart is into classical music. I knew America could give me better opportunities in this area. But, my future plans include going back home to our homeland to share my talents to our kababayans after I finish my doctorate here," said Nove. (AJPress)

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( Published December 12, 2009 in Asian Journal Los Angeles p. B1 )