THE UST Conservatory of Music opened an exhibit tracing its eight-decade history on Aug. 26 at the UST Museum.
Titled “Legacy in Harmony,” the heritage exhibit features materials documenting the Conservatory’s history and an image of St. Cecilia, its patron saint. Student performances accompanied the exhibit opening.
Conservatory Dean Prof. Maria Alexandra Chua described the anniversary as a milestone, noting that the Conservatory was unable to hold a full celebration for its 75th anniversary during the Covid-19 pandemic.
“This is really the first opportunity for us to properly celebrate such a milestone,” Chua said.
The Conservatory has lined up a series of activities for its 80th anniversary, including the restaging of the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical “South Pacific” in September, first presented in February.
Chua said the exhibit was mounted to acquaint students and faculty members with the history of the Conservatory, which she said had been the subject of few published historical studies.
“When you think about it, it is actually difficult to find information about the Conservatory because there are not yet many published historical studies specifically about it,” she said. “I felt that through an exhibit, we would be able to communicate our story and our history.”
Chua and Assoc. Prof. Mary Ann Bulanadi, a research fellow at the UST Research Center for Culture, Arts, and Humanities, began pursuing the project ahead of the Conservatory’s 80th year.
Students were tapped to join the research team that gathered materials for the exhibit.
During the research, the team uncovered what is believed to be a playbill from “Suor Angelica,” an opera that Chua described as the Conservatory’s first musical production.
The production was staged in partnership with the old College of Architecture and Fine Arts, revealing an early link between the disciplines that Chua said continues in present-day collaborations.
“After 80 years, we are once again collaborating with Fine Arts and Music. That connection and continuity are also very meaningful,” Chua said.
Beyond the anniversary, Chua said the Conservatory would seek to further establish itself as a world-class music institution, pointing to its orchestra, award-winning choirs and other programs.
“Even though these are school or university productions, the quality can truly be compared with professional productions,” she said. “It is world-class.” Joshua Emmanuel Camacho
