Introduction
Ronnie Villaruel Abarquez is an esteemed Choirmaster, Conductor, Singer and Arranger. He earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Music – Major in Voice at the University of Santo Tomas, Conservatory of Music. He is the founder and choir master of Quorista, a resident church choir of Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish in Alabang Hills, Muntinlupa City who won the Top Prizes for Sacred and Folkloric Categories, Gold Medal for the Open Category and Finalist for the Grand Prix Round at the recently concluded 4th Cantata Macau International Choir Festival and Competition last November 8-10, 2019 in Macau, China.
Biography
He handled choirs of different organizations, corporations, and government agencies, among those are:
- Nestle Philippines,
- Philip Morris Philippines Manufacturing, Inc. (PMPMI),
- Bank of the Philippine Island Music Matrix (BPI),
- Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR),
- National Power Corporation (NPC) or NAPOCOR Chorale,
- Globe telecom’s Globe Voices @ Work.
Under his baton, he led the Kammerchor Manila and claimed the major awards in the 2nd International Anton Bruckner Choir Competition in Linz, Austria. They brought home the Category Winner in the Mixed Chamber Choir Category, Silver Diploma in the Sacred Category, and a special prize for an Outstanding Interpretation of the competition’s chorale piece, Pamugun.
Achievements
2019 – Gold Medal for the Open Category and Finalist for the Grand Prix Round at the recently concluded 4th Cantata Macau International Choir Festival and Competition last November 8-10, 2019 in Macau, China.
2017 – Chorus member of Donizetti’s L’Elisir d’Amore in May 2017 under the productions of Singapore Lyric Opera. He was invited to be a chorus member for Music Viva LTD in Hong Kong for their opera production of Donizetti’s L’Elisir d’Amore and performed in Xinghai Concert Hall in Guangzhou, China with the world renowned Guangzhou Symphony Orchestra in June 2017.
Last September 12-28, 2014 He got to sing the role of Kapitan Tiago of the opera “Noli Me Tangere” a production of J&S Production Inc. staged at the Newport Performing Arts Theare at Resorts World Manila and had it’s re-run last January 2017 at the Cultural Centre of the Philippines (CCP).
2016 – Chorus member of Puccini’s in August 2016.
2014 – Chorus member of Mozart’s Cosi Fan Tutte in Febuary-March 2014.
2012 – Chorus member of Mozart’s Don Giovanni in Febuary 2012, Sergeant of Royal Archers of Puccini’s Manon Lescaut in August-September 2012.
2010 – Costom House Sergeant of Giacomo Puccini’s La Bohéme in January-Febuary 2010, Second Man in Armor of Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte in July 2010.
2009 – His debut performance as an international soloist was in Les Contes D’ Hoffmann where he sang the role of Hermann and it happened in March 13-17, 2009 at the Esplanade, Singapore.
2008 – His recent list of opera performances include playing the character of Ben in Menotti’s ‘The Telephone’ opposite the Philippines’ premier Soprano, Rachel Gerodias at the Insular Life Theatre in October 2008. Shortly following this stint was his performance as Paul in Mendelssohn’s Paulus Oratorio with the Manila Philharmonic Orchestra under the Austrian conductor Dr. Ernest Hoetzl at the Santuario de San Antonio Parish in Forbes Park, Makati City in November of the same year.
2007 – In July 2007 Ronnie was a Chorus member of Gioacchino Rossini’s Il Barbiere di Siviglia. In the local scene, Ronnie was the bass soloist in Oratorios of Hayden, ‘The Creation’ in 1998 and Handel, ‘The Messiah’ in December 2007 where he performed with the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra at the Folk Arts Theatre.
2001 – Selected to be a member of the San Miguel Master Chorale, the first professional choir in the Philippines founded by the San Miguel Foundation for the Performing Arts headed by Philippine national music artist, Ryan Cayabyab. Ronnie has several other local and international credentials to his name.
1994 – He was chosen to be one of the pioneer member of the Asian Youth Choir (AYC) in Nigata, Japan.
QUORISTA Official Website 