FORMER Conservatory of Music faculty member Lourdes Gregorio passed away on Thursday, Jan. 22. She was 91.
Gregorio was the first Filipino to obtain an artist diploma in solo courses for Harp and Piano from the Vienna Academy for Music and Dramatic Arts.
Known as “The Quiet Force,” she was recognized for her behind-the-scenes contributions to Filipino music, rather than being a spotlighted performer.
Gregorio was a member of the Cultural Center of the Philippines’s Philharmonic Orchestra when it was first founded in 1973.
She was named principal harpist when it was reorganized as the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra in 1982.
Gregorio also developed the Harp program at the UP College of Music in 2007.
On Oct. 9, 2013, she was awarded Best Instrumentalist at the 26th Aliw Awards.
The UST Conservatory of Music honored Gregorio in a Facebook post: “We remain profoundly grateful for her years of dedicated service to the Conservatory of Music. Her influence remains an integral part of our musical community.”
Gregorio’s wake was held at St. Peter Chapels in Parañaque City from Jan. 24 to 26. Cremation was held on Jan. 27.
