Gerard Salonga

Gerard Imutan Salonga (born October 11, 1973) is a Filipino musical conductor, composer, and arranger. From 2012 to 2020, he was the music director of the ABS-CBN Philharmonic Orchestra, assistant conductor of the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra from 2016 to 2018, and from 2019 to the present the resident conductor of the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra. Early life and education Gerard Imutan Salonga was born on October 11, 1973, in Manila, Philippines to Feliciano Genuino Salonga, a naval rear admiral and shipping company owner, and María Ligaya Alcantara, née Imutan of Pulupandan, Negros Occidental. His older sister is singer, actress, columnist, and producer Lea Salonga. Salonga began his musical education, taking piano lessons, at the age of 5. He joined his sister Lea in singing duets in her first album, Small Voice, as well as taking part in the 8th Metro Manila Popular Music Festival as interpreters for the song entry "Musika, Lata, Sipol at La La La" by Tess Concepcion in 1985, which won second place. Salonga completed his Bachelor of Arts degree at the Ateneo de Manila University in 1994, and briefly studied music theory with Filipino composer Ryan Cayabyab. He subsequently went to the United States to pursue arranging studies at the Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts, where he graduated summa cum laude and received Berklee's Contemporary Writing and Production Achievement Award. Career Salonga worked briefly at Sony Pictures as an orchestrator and music copyist before returning to the Philippines in 1999. Upon his return, he embarked on carving his own niche in the local musical landscape. He initially guest-conducted and arranged music for the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra and Manila Philharmonic Orchestra. By 2005, he had garnered his third consecutive Aliw Award for Best Musical Director. He later won his fourth in 2008.