The San Miguel Master Chorale (SMMC), now non-existent, was the first professional choir in the

Philippines The Philippines (; fil, Pilipinas, links=no), officially the Republic of the Philippines ( fil, Republika ng Pilipinas, links=no), * bik, Republika kan Filipinas * ceb, Republika sa Pilipinas * cbk, República de Filipinas * hil, Republ ...

. It was composed of an all-Filipino roster ranging from faculty members and honor graduates of music conservatories, alumni of various choirs, choral conductors, composers, arrangers, and soloists. The SMMC, together with the

San Miguel Philharmonic Orchestra The San Miguel Philharmonic Orchestra (SMPO) was one of the two major performing arts groups (along with the San Miguel Master Chorale) under the San Miguel Foundation for the Performing Arts. As a young ensemble, its wide selection of works enc ...

, was disbanded in January 2007 by the

San Miguel Corporation San Miguel Corporation, abbreviated as SMC, is a Philippine Multinational corporation, multinational Conglomerate (company), conglomerate headquartered in Mandaluyong, Metro Manila. The company is one of the largest and most diversified congl ...

Beginnings

The SMMC was established in 2001 by The

San Miguel Foundation for the Performing Arts The San Miguel Foundation for the Performing Arts was a multi-awarded performing arts group of the Philippines. It was founded in May 2001 by Eduardo "Danding" Cojuangco and musician Ryan Cayabyab and aims to be a staunch advocate in the preserva ...

, an organization owned by the

and committed to the enrichment of arts and culture in the

. Since the SMMC is backed by the largest food and beverage company in the

, many singers from other music groups were lured into joining the SMMC. In 2000, close to 400 people underwent a rigorous series of auditions before an international panel of experts, but only the top 40 made it to the final roster.

Performances

In 2002, the SMMC participated in the 4th Taipei International Choral Festival in

Taipei Taipei (), officially Taipei City, is the capital and a special municipality of the Republic of China (Taiwan). Located in Northern Taiwan, Taipei City is an enclave of the municipality of New Taipei City that sits about southwest of the n ...

Taiwan Taiwan, officially the Republic of China (ROC), is a country in East Asia, at the junction of the East and South China Seas in the northwestern Pacific Ocean, with the People's Republic of China (PRC) to the northwest, Japan to the nort ...

, and the Jeonju Sound Festival in

Jeonju Jeonju () is the 16th largest city in South Korea and the capital of North Jeolla Province. It is both urban and rural due to the closeness of Wanju County which almost entirely surrounds Jeonju (Wanju County has many residents who work in Jeonju) ...

South Korea South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea (ROK), is a country in East Asia, constituting the southern part of the Korea, Korean Peninsula and sharing a Korean Demilitarized Zone, land border with North Korea. Its western border is formed ...

. In 2004, the SMMC performed an all-Filipino repertoire in "Kayumanggi" and "Klasik Kayumanggi" at the

Cultural Center of the Philippines The Cultural Center of the Philippines ( fil, Sentrong Pangkultura ng Pilipinas, or CCP) is a government-owned and controlled corporation established to preserve, develop and promote arts and culture in the Philippines.Presidential Decree No. ...

. In 2005 the SMMC was asked to perform at

Kyoto Kyoto (; Japanese: , ''Kyōto'' ), officially , is the capital city of Kyoto Prefecture in Japan. Located in the Kansai region on the island of Honshu, Kyoto forms a part of the Keihanshin metropolitan area along with Osaka and Kobe. , the ci ...

Japan Japan ( ja, 日本, or , and formally , ''Nihonkoku'') is an island country in East Asia. It is situated in the northwest Pacific Ocean, and is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan, while extending from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north ...

in the prestigious 7th World Symposium on Choral Music. Brian Newhouse, an American music critic who watched the performances in

, has this to say about the SMMC: Also, the SMMC regularly performs with the SMPO in selected malls across Metro Manila. What the top guns of the SMFPA have to say about the SMMC:

Disbandment

The executives of the SMC had already disbanded the SMMC and the SMPO. Late January 2007, instrumentalists of the SMPO and SMMC were summoned one by one by the executives who informed them of the non-renewal of their contracts. Many of the musicians did not get any separation pay. Insider reports say that the SMC was "more inclined" to support its four professional basketball teams. No word yet on what happened to

Ryan Cayabyab Raymundo Cipriano Pujante Cayabyab (born ; May 4, 1954), known professionally as Ryan Cayabyab, is a Filipino musician, composer and conductor. He was the Executive and Artistic Director for several years for the defunct San Miguel Foundation ...

, the SMFPA Executive and artistic director.

Discography

''Great Original Pilipino Music'' by Ryan Cayabyab

All songs in the album composed and arranged by Ryan Cayabyab. All songs recorded in 2001, except tracks 5, 8, and 9, which are

SMMC The San Miguel Master Chorale (SMMC), now non-existent, was the first professional choir in the Philippines. It was composed of an all-Filipino roster ranging from faculty members and honor graduates of music conservatories, alumni of various cho ...

a capella tracks and were recorded in 2004. This album received three nominations in the 18th Awit Awards aside from winning Best Musical Arrangement for ''Tuwing Umuulan at Kapiling Ka''. * Tuwing Umuulan at Kapiling Ka (winner, 18th Awit Awards, Best Musical Arrangement) * Iduyan Mo * Kahit Ika'y Panaginip Lang * Paraisong Parisukat * Tunay na Ligaya * Nais Ko * Limandipang Tao * Tsismis * Da Coconut Nut * Iniibig Kita * Paraiso * Awit ng Pagsinta (Epithalamium) – from Ryan Cayabyab and Bienvenido Lumbera's pop-ballet ''Rama Hari''; lyrics by Lumbera * Hibang sa Awit – lyrics by Jose Javier Reyes

''PASKO I''

Festive Filipino Christmas classics, all songs arranged & conducted by Ryan Cayabyab and performed by the SMPO and the SMMC. Certified Gold Record. * Kampana ng Simbahan * Heto na Naman – music and lyrics by Ryan Cayabyab * Namamasko * Tuloy na Tuloy pa rin ang Pasko * Sa Paskong Darating * Maligayang Pasko at Manigong Bagong Taon (Ang Pasko ay Sumapit) * Kumukutikutitap* * Mano Po Ninong, Mano Po Ninang * Noche Buena * Heto na Naman ang Pasko** * Maligayang Pasko** * Pasko na Naman from Ryan Cayabyab and Jose Javier Reyes's musical ''Bituin''; lyrics by Reyes
from Ryan Cayabyab and Jose Javier Reyes's musical teleplay ''Pasko sa Amin''; lyrics by Reyes

''PASKO II''

Mellow Filipino Christmas classics, all songs arranged & conducted by Ryan Cayabyab and performed by the

SMPO The San Miguel Philharmonic Orchestra (SMPO) was one of the two major performing arts groups (along with the San Miguel Master Chorale) under the San Miguel Foundation for the Performing Arts. As a young ensemble, its wide selection of works enc ...

and the

. Certified Gold Record. ''Isang Taong Lumipas'' won as Best Christmas Song during the 19th Awit Awards. * Ngayong Pasko* * Pasko Na Sinta Ko * Paskong Walang Hanggan* * Himig Pasko * Miss Kita Kung Christmas * Isang Taong Lumipas* * Ang Aking Pamasko * Ang Mahalin Ka** * Anong Gagawin Mo Ngayong Pasko – music and lyrics by Ryan Cayabyab * Ang Naaalala Ko** * Munting Sanggol – music and lyrics by Ryan Cayabyab * Payapang Daigdig Music by Ryan Cayabyab, lyrics by Jose Javier Reyes
From Ryan Cayabyab and Jose Javier Reyes's musical teleplay ''Pasko sa Amin''; lyrics by Reyes

''Spoliarium: The Opera''

A neo-opera in three acts based on the life of renowned Filipino painter

Juan Luna Juan Luna de San Pedro y Novicio Ancheta (, ; October 23, 1857 – December 7, 1899) was a Filipino painter, sculptor and a political activist of the Philippine Revolution during the late 19th century. He became one of the first recogniz ...

. Music by Ryan Cayabyab, libretto by Fides Cuyugan-Asensio.

''The Sacred Works Of Ryan Cayabyab''

Religious compositions of Cayabyab. ''Misa'' was his thesis composition for his graduation at the University of the Philippines College of Music. ''Misa 2000'' was composed for and won as Original Music Composition for Dance in the 2000 Onassis International Cultural Competition in Greece. This album won as Best Religious Album in the 2004 Catholic Mass Media Awards.

Disc 1

* Misa 2000 ** Kyrie ** Gloria ** Credo ** Sanctus ** Agnus Dei * Te Deum

Disc 2

* Misa ** Kyrie ** Gloria ** Credo ** Sanctus ** Agnus Dei * Aquesta Me Guiaba * Aba Po, Santa Mariang Reyna * Anima Christi

''Beauty and the Beast''

Songs from the Philippine run of the musical ''Beauty and the Beast'', arranged and conducted by Ryan Cayabyab, performed by the musical's main cast with the

and the

. * Home (KC Concepcion) * Beauty and the Beast (show version by Pinky Marquez) * A Change in Me (KC Concepcion) * If I Can't Love Her (Jett Pangan) * Beauty and the Beast (pop version by Luke Mijares)

''Great Original Filipino Music from the Movies''

Well-known and well-loved theme songs from Filipino movies from 1977 to 2002. Recorded live in July 2006 and released December of that year. Mainly featuring the

, accompanied by the

. Choral arrangements by Ryan Cayabyab, Jesus Carlo Merino, Ed Nepomuceno and Nathanael Arnel de Pano (the latter 2 being section leaders of the

Tenors and Basses, respectively), and

Eudenice Palaruan Eudenice V. Palaruan is a Filipino conductor, composer, music educator. Palaruan is one of the Philippines' most esteemed church musician in the area of choral music. As a choral artist, he has worked with the Philippines' top groups. His composi ...

(SMMC Principal Conductor). All orchestrations by Ryan Cayabyab. * Sana'y Wala Nang Wakas * Kahit Isang Saglit * Pangako * Pangarap Na Bituin * Pagdating Ng Panahon * Kailangan Kita * Hanggang Sa Dulo Ng Walang Hanggan * Kailangan Ko'y Ikaw * Iduyan Mo – music and lyrics by Ryan Cayabyab, from the movie "Agila" (1980) * Hanggang Ngayon * Tanging Yaman * Sinasamba Kita * Ikaw Lang Ang Mamahalin * Gaano Kadalas Ang Minsan * Paraisong Parisukat – music and lyrics by Ryan Cayabyab, from the movie "Masikip, Maluwang...Paraisong Parisukat" (1977)

''Dancing In The Rain''

An album featuring Ryan Cayabyab's talent as a pianist in his own right, accompanied by the SMPO & SMMC. Recorded live in August 2006 and released December of that year. Entire tracklist composed, arranged, and produced by Ryan Cayabyab. * First Glance * Feels Like This Love Affair Is Gonna Last Forever * Frap For Two On A Beach In Cebu * Photographs Of You And Me, Together * Like Children Dancing In The Rain With Nothing On * Alone, Drenched In The Red, Orange and Gold Of A Manila Sunset * Grey Clouds! Grey Clouds! Its Beginning To Drizzle * Its Getting More Difficult To Explain Why I Do Things The Way That I Do * Almost Sunup And I Haven't Slept * Last Drip To Boracay * This Is Beginning To Sound Like An Old Song * It Isn't The First Time Someone Left Me * Letting Go * Last Look

Future Albums

Other music albums are said to be in the pipeline, such as: * A compilation of popular folk songs representative of different regions in the Philippines; e.g., "Atin Cu Pung Singsing," "Usahay, "Ay, Kalisud," and "Sarungbanggi." * A compilation of popular novelty songs including "Ocho-ocho," "Pito-pito," and possibly "Boom Tarat-Tarat," all to be performed in symphonic style.

References

External links

The SMFPA Official Website
as archived from

Wayback Machine The Wayback Machine is a digital archive of the World Wide Web founded by the Internet Archive, a nonprofit based in San Francisco, California. Created in 1996 and launched to the public in 2001, it allows the user to go "back in time" and see ...

{{authority control Filipino choirs Musical groups established in 2001 Musical groups disestablished in 2007 San Miguel Corporation people 2001 establishments in the Philippines 2007 disestablishments in the Philippines