He became the first Filipino Director of the UP Conservatory of Music.

He studied music at the Chicago Music College and was influenced by the musical styles of the Serialist/Second Viennese School and Post-Romantic European composers.

His best-known compositions include the Mutya ng Pasig

He is the first National Artist for Music

He was fascinated by the dynamics and harmonies of Debussy but retained much of the Romantic style in his melody.

He studied the banjo which inspired him to become a serious musician. He later pursued his music degree at the University of the Philippines and at the Juilliard School in New York, USA.

He became a professor of theory and composition at the University of the Philippines’ College of Music up until his retirement in 1978.

known as a “romantic nationalist.” He incorporated Philippine folk elements in his compositions with Western forms and harmony.

Arguably, his most popular work is the well-loved “Sa Ugoy ng Duyan”, a lullaby melody sung by his mother. He composed “Sa Ugoy ng Duyan” together with his friend Levi Celerio as the lyricist.

know as Mr. C, is a popular contemporary composer who also has classical compositions to his credit, such as “Misa” and “Misa 2000”, “Four Poems for Soprano and Piano”, and “Te Deum”.

His compositional style makes much use of a variety of influences – from Moroccan musical cultures, Jazz, African-American Spirituals and Gospel music, European Neo-Classicism, Music for Films, American Broadway musicales, to Philippine indigenous chants.