Ramon Santos

Full biography Ramon Santos

Ramon Santos is a prolific and celebrated Filipino composer, ethnomusicologist, and educator. Born on February 25, 1941, he is regarded as one of the foremost living composers in the Philippines.

Santos obtained his Bachelor of Music degree in Composition from the University of the Philippines (UP) in 1964, and his Master of Music degree in Ethnomusicology from Wesleyan University in Connecticut, USA in 1969. He later earned his Ph.D. from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) in Ethnomusicology in 1982.

Santos is widely recognized for his contributions to the field of music, especially in the areas of composition, ethnomusicology, and music education. He was the founding director of the UP Composers New Music Group from 1975 to 1977 , and has served as a cultural visitor to the US State Department in 1979.

Santos has also received numerous awards and accolades for his work. In 2014, he was named a National Artist of the Philippines by President Benigno Aquino III for his contributions to Philippine music and culture. He was also awarded the Gawad CCP Para sa Sining award by the Cultural Center of the Philippines in 1994, and the Ramon Magsaysay Award for Journalism, Literature, and Creative Communication Arts in 1991.

Santos' works range from chamber and orchestral music to music for theater and dance. He is also known for utilizing "unorthodox" musical instruments in his compositions, such as bean-pod rattles, leaves, and iron-nail chimes. Some of his notable works include "Seasons" for chamber ensemble, "Kroong-Tinambulan" for orchestra, and "Diliman Ostinato" for guitar.

Aside from composing, Santos has also made significant contributions to the field of ethnomusicology, particularly in the study of Southeast Asian music and culture. Throughout his career, he has conducted extensive fieldwork in different parts of the Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia, and other Southeast Asian countries.

Overall, Ramon Santos is a highly respected figure in the Philippines' music and cultural scene. His works and contributions have had a significant impact on Philippine music and have helped raise its profile both locally and internationally.