FILE — Prof. Ma. Alexandra Chua, the new dean of the UST Conservatory of Music.

THE CONSERVATORY of Music will welcome Prof. Ma. Alexandra Chua as its new dean starting 2025, succeeding Assoc. Prof. Antonio Africa, whose eight-year tenure concludes this year. 

Chua, who has served as the director of the UST Research Center for Culture, Arts, and Humanities (RCCAH) since 2020, confirmed her appointment to the Varsitarian. Anton Heinrich Rennesland, a philosophy faculty member, will take over as RCCAH director. 

Africa, who began his deanship in 2017, announced his departure via the official Conservatory of Music Facebook page on Monday. 

“While my term as dean ends today, my commitment to the Thomasian ideals remains steadfast. I will continue to support its mission and cheer on its continued growth and success,” he wrote. 

“I also would like to express my support and well wishes to Dr. Sandy Iñigo Chua, our incoming dean, all the best!” he added.

A distinguished academic and musician, Chua obtained her music degree in piano from UST in 1991. She completed her master’s in musicology at the University of the Philippines Diliman in 2007 and her doctorate in music in 2017. 

She was a research fellow at the Departamento de Musicología of Universidad Complutense in Madrid from 2015 to 2016 and participated at the Institute of Asia Studies Macau Winter School in 2013. 

She had delivered lectures for the Sociedad para Estudio de Música de Isabelina in Madrid and the Macau Ricci Institute.

Appointed RCCAH director in 2020, Chua spearheaded several research projects such as the “Julio Nakpil @150 Music Project,” a five-year multidisciplinary study of the Filipino composer’s life and works. 

She was also honored with back-to-back Alfonso T. Ongpin Prizes for Best Book in Art at the National Book Awards in 2023 and 2024 for her works, “Julio Nakpil (1867–1969) Collected Works Volume I: Piano, Vocal and Chamber Music” and “Julio Nakpil (1867–1960) Collected Works Volume II: Band Orchestral Music.”

UST has recognized Chua’s scholarly contributions with the Silver Series for Research Award in 2010 and the Gold Series for Research Award from 2020 to 2022. 

Chua’s research interests include Hispanic sacred music in early 19th century Bohol, music transculturation and hybridity in 19th century urban colonial Manila, and the beginnings of music printing and publishing in 19th century Manila.

Apart from research, she teaches musicology and piano courses at the UST Conservatory.

In 2024, Chua was among the honorees of the 9th Distinguished Thomasian Alumni Awards Night organized by the UST Alumni Association Inc.

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