CORO TOMASINO
German trained conductor and Philippine choral music icon Prof. Ricardo Mazo Jr. founded Coro Tomasino in 1987, under the auspices of the late USTCM Dean Alejandra Atabug. Composed of students from the University of Santo Tomas Conservatory of Music, the group’s aim is to develop high standards in singing and musicianship among its members. Further encouraged by an official sanction and full support from the University, Coro Tomasino has left its imprint in music circles.
The group has received numerous awards from their participation in various competitions and festivals in the Philippines, Indonesia and South Korea, such as the Concurso Canciones Espanolas Regionales ( 1987 and 1990 First Prize), National Music Competitions for Young Artist Choral Competitions (1991 1st Prize Regional Finals and 3rd Prize National Finals, 2009 1st Prize Regional Finals), Cultural Center of The Philippines Choral Competition ( 2009 Silver Awards in Folk, Sacred and mixed Categories), and Institut Teknika Bandung International Choral Competition (2010 Gold Medal in Folk and Free Program and Silver Medal in Historical Categories). At the Musica FEUropa Choral Competition sponsored by the European Union last May 24 and 25, 2013, Coro Tomasino won the 1st runner-up prize. The group also won 3rd prize in the Pop/Jazz Category at the 1st Yeosu International Choral Competition held last June 10-19, 2013 in Yeosu, South Korea. In December of 2013, the group participated in the 3rd Maior Caritas Festival held in Baguio City (University of Baguio, University of the Cordilleras and Baguio Convention Center) where the group was awarded the Jurors Prize. In 2014, the group was invited to participate in the 10th Karuizawa International Choral Festival held in Karuizawa, Nagano Prefecture, Japan where local television and radio stations hailed them as "The Super Choir". Coro Tomasino has received the the Pope Leo XIII Award in 1991 for outstanding musical achievement given by the University of Sto. Tomas and the Sto. Domingo Award for Music 2011 (Outstanding Thomasian Scholar Awards) given by the Becarios de Santo Tomas.
Coro Tomasino is most especially distinguished in their performances of major works by the masters: G.F. Handel’s Messiah, W.A. Mozart’s Requiem Mass, Organ Solo Mass, Coronation Mass and Sparrow Mass, L. van Beethoven’s Fantasia in C Minor for Piano, Chorus and Orchestra, F. Mendelssohn’s Elijah and St. Paul Oratorio, Brahms’ Requiem Mass, G. Verdi’s Manzoni Requiem, C. Saint-Saens’ Christmas Oratorio, Puccini’s Messa di Gloria, J. Rutter’s Gloria, and C. Orff’s Carmina Burana. The group was one of the featured choirs in the " Tribute to the Thomasians 2014" where they sang in Beethoven's Symphony no. 9.
They have collaborated with the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra, Philippine Pops Orchestra, Manila Philharmonic Orchestra, Manila Symphony Orchestra, UST Symphony and Wind Orchestras, UST Guitar Ensemble, Pundaquit Virtuosi, Symphony by the Bay, UST Liturgikon Vocal Ensemble, UST Singers, UP Manila Chorale, and Musica Iuvenalis Slovakian String Orchestra, and and has been conducted by eminent conductors such as Dr. Herbert Zipper (1989), Leif Bjaland (1992), Pierro Gamba (1993 and 1994), Ruggiero Barbieri (1998 and 2001, 2013), Yasuo Shinozaki (2006), David Woodsworth (2007), Prof.Jae Joon Lee (2008, 2012, 2014), Dr. Ernest Hoetzl (2008 and 2009),Gerry Samonte (2006), Prof. Rodel Colmenar (2006),Prof. Josefino Toledo Jr. (2007), Agripino Diestro (2009), Igor Dohovic (2014) and Prof. Herminigildo Ranera (1990-present).
The group's current conductor and musical director is Assistant Professor Ronan H. Ferrer.
Conductor's Profile:
Ronan Ferrer, tenor, is one of the Philippines’ best tenors, eliciting rave reviews and ovations from critics and audiences alike. Ferrer obtained his Bachelor of Music in Voice degree from the UST Conservatory of Music under the tutelage of renowned Philippine soprano and pedagogue Prof. Irma P.E. Potenciano, and his Master of Music in Voice Performance degree from the Elisabeth University of Music in Hiroshima, Japan under Kyoko Hirata, Marcella Reale and Uwe Heilmann. He has also attended the International School for Singers in West Sussex, United Kingdom. He is the appointed Coordinator of the Vocal Performance Department of the UST Conservatory of Music from 2010-present.
He has performed as soloist, opera singer, dancer, choir conductor and chorister for various orchestras, instrumental ensembles and opera and drama companies in the Philippines, Japan, Korea, Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore, Hongkong, the USA, the UK, Austria, Australia, Switzerland, France, Spain and Italy.
A founding member of the SAmahan ng mga GUro sa PAg-awit (Philippine National Association of Teachers of Singing) and a delegate to the the International Conference of Voice Teachers, Ferrer teaches applied voice (major, minor and emphasis), opera, chorus and voice literature at St. Paul University Manila College of Music and Performing Arts and the UST Conservatory of Music. He is music director of two church choirs, adjudicates in music competitions in solo vocal and choral divisions, and is presently the music director and conductor of the Coro Tomasino. His voice students have won in the UST Voice Competition, the Kundiman (Philippine Art Song) Singing Competition held at Miriam College, the Jovita Funetes Singing Competition at Sta. Isabel College, and the National Music Competition for Young Artists Solo Voice Category.
He was recently elected Assistant Secretary of the National Music Committee of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, (2014-2016) and was also appointed as Chairman of the National Music Competitions for Young Artist Vocal Competition Category C 2014. Ferrer was the official cantor in the concluding mass of the recent papal visit of Pope Francis held last January 18, 2015 at the Quirino Grandstand. He is the conductor and musical director of the UST Coro Tomasino since 2006.
In 2006, Ferrer was appointed music director/conductor of the Coro Tomasino He led the group in the following performances: 100th Founding anniversary of St. Rita Parish in Paranaque, UST Summer Music Camps and Festivals(from 2006-present), Opera Now:An Evening of Puccini (CCP Main Theater with PPO and Maestro Yasuo Shinozaki), Coro Tomasino in Concert (UST Chapel), Paco park Presents Coro Tomasino (Malate, Manila), Eugene Onegin (pit chorus, at CCP Main Theater with USTSO and Prof. Herminigildo Ranera), Karim at Jasmin (world premiere at CCP Little Theater, stage chorus with PPO and Jerry Samonte), A Christmas Prayer (at UST Chapel with other performing groups of USTCM), Adeste Fideles (with other choirs, MPO and Prof. Rodel Colmenar at Santuario de San Antonio, Forbes Park), Alay Himig kay Maria (Alfonso, Cavite), Pamaskong Handog ni San Roque (Tarlac), Coro @ 20 (20thanniversary concert at Philamlife Auditorium), 2007 UST Summer Music Camp and Festival (Laguna), Opening, Awarding and Closing ceremonies of the UAAP (Araneta Coliseum and UST Plaza Mayor), Die Fledermaus (pit and stage chorus, CCP Main Theater with USTSO and Profs. H. Ranera and Jae Joon Lee), Rhythm in Motion (Trinoma Mall with pop diva Rachel Alejandro), Christmas Carols (Shangrila Plaza Mall), Christmas at MOA (Mall of Asia, Pasay City), Handel’s Messiah (with PPO and David Woodsworth at Folk Arts Theater), Puccini’s Messa di Gloria (33rd International Bamboo Organ Festival with Festival orchestra and Prof. Josefino Toledo Jr. ), 30th Anniversary of Concert at the Park (Luneta), In Communion ( with three other Thomasian choirs performing Frank Martin’s Mass for Double Choir), the 23rd Sampung Daliri Atbp Concert at the CCP Main Theater, Gloria Dei (Coro Tomasino at the Shrine of Mary, Queen of peace), F. Mendelssohn’s St. Paul Oratorio, and Christmas Heritage at the UST Chapel, with other Thomasian performing ensembles.
For 2010, he conducted the group in their solo concerts at the USTCM Recital Hall II IN CONCERT, UST Museum CORO TOMASINO IN CONCERT, UST Chapel THANKSGIVING CONCERT and Shrine of Mary, Queen of Peace (Edsa Shrine)DEO GRATIAS.
He led the CoroTomasino in the 1st ITB International Choral Competition and Festival 2010 at the Institut Teknika Bandung in Bandung, Indonesia. The group won 2 Gold Medals (Free Program and Folklore) and a Silver Medal (Historical Program). He also sang and conducted the group in their first overseas performance at the London School of Public Relations in Jakarta, Indonesia.
In June of 2013, he led the Coro Tomasino to a 3rd place finish in the Pop/Jazz Category in the 1st Yeosu International Choral Competition held in Yeosu, South Korea. He was also the conductor of the group when they won 1st runner-up in the Open Category of the 5th Musica FEUropa 2013, the only European Union-sponsored choral competition in the Philippines, held at the historic FEU Auditorium. In December of 2013, the group participated in the 3rd Maior Caritas Festival held in Baguio City (University of Baguio, University of the Cordilleras and Baguio Convention Center) where the group was awarded the Jurors Prize. In 2014, the group was invited to participate in the 10th Karuizawa International Choral Festival held in Karuizawa, Nagano Prefecture, Japan where local television and radio stations hailed them as "The Super Choir". Coro Tomasino has received the the Pope Leo XIII Award in 1991 for outstanding musical achievement given by the University of Sto. Tomas and the Sto. Domingo Award for Music 2011 (Outstanding Thomasian Scholar Awards) given by the Becarios de Santo Tomas.
Conductor's Photos: