Arnold Zamora
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| Arnold Zamora | |
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 Arnold Zamora during the December, 2006 Concert: "Priestly Hands and Voices" where he wrote the theme song with the same title
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| Background information | |
| Born | February 10, 1961 |
| Origin | Tagbilaran City, Bohol, Philippines |
| Genre(s) | pop, jazz, religious |
| Occupation(s) | musician, singer, composer, arranger, conductor, songwriter |
| Years active | 1998–present |
| Label(s) | Franz Music Production DartPro, LLC |
| Associated acts | Philippine Madrigal Singers or MADZ Singing Priests of Tagbilaran or SPOT Chorus Paulinus or CHOPA |
Arnold Escobilla Zamora (born February 10, 1961) is a Filipino musician known in the national music industry as a singer, composer, arranger and conductor. As a seminarian at the UST Central seminary, he founded the Psalterion Choir. At the University of the Philippines, he joined the Philippine Madrigal Singers (MADZ) and is the founder of the Chorus Paulinus.[1] He is also the founder and music director of the Singing Priests of Tagbilaran.[2]
Zamora has also conducted the Philippine Consulate Choir of the Philippine Consulate in San Francisco, California, [3] the Filipino Priests Concert in San Francisco, California, and FilAmusika, a group of Filipino and American young adults formed by Zamora. He is the music director of the Star of the Sea Parish and conducts the Stella Maris Choir of the parish.[4]
Zamora currently works for the Archdiocese of San Francisco.[5]
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[edit] Biography
[edit] Early life
Arnold Zamora was born on February 10, 1961, in Tagbilaran City, Bohol, Philippines, to Andres Zamora and Ricarda Escobilla. He and his two sisters grew up in the outskirts district of Taloto.
He went to the then-College of the Holy Spirit (now the Holy Spirit School of Tagbilaran) for his elementary education from 1966 to 1973. From 1973 to 1981, he attended the close-to-home Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary for both secondary school and college, and earned a Bachelor's Degree in Arts, majoring in Classical Philosophy and minoring in English. Zamora attended the University of Santo Tomas from 1981 to 1984, where he earned a Bachelor's Degree in Sacred Theology.[6] From 1989 to 1994, he attended the University of the Philippines and earned a Bachelor's Degree in Choral Conducting.
[edit] Breakout roles
Arnold Zamora's first concert as music director and the first time to direct a musical concert as a third year Philosophy student of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary was in 1979. His classmates were the performers and then Fr. Zacharias Jimenez (now Bishop) was music adviser. Zamora was the concert's music director even as a student and was the accompanist during the concert. He was largely instrumental in transforming his own classmates as a powerful male choir.
Also in 1979, he was the choir director of the UB College of Commerce which bagged the first prize during the University of Bohol Choral Competition. In 1980, he was given the Award as Musician of the Year at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary.
For the 1981 University of Santo Tomas or UST Christmas Song-Writing Competition, Zamora's entry entitled "Be My Santa Claus", interpreted by Carlos Las Piñas, won second place. In 1982, he got the "Neophyte of the Year" Award at the University of Santo Tomas (UST).
In 1983, he was the arranger and conductor of the LOGOS Choir which he trained as the university's official representative to the 4th Spanish Chorale Competition. The LOGOS Choir bagged the Grand Prize at the 4th Spanish Chorale Competition at the Spanish Embassy. In 1984, he composed the theme song for the Musical dubbed Martin: Ang Santong Negro. In 1985, he was elected Senate President of the UST Central Seminary UST Student Body Council. In 1985, his composition, "Psalm 73", landed second place at the UST inter-collegiate song writing contest.
On the same year, he was ordained to the Diaconate at the UST Main Chapel by the late Jaime Cardinal Sin. He wrote the song "Yes, My Lord" which was sung by all the candidates during the ordination ceremony.
During his stay at the UST, he founded the Psalterion Choir, the premier choir of the UST Central Seminary (1985) and served as its Music director. The choir had its first concert in the same year.
Arnold Zamora was ordained to the priesthood on the feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary on June 7, 1986 at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish Church in Taloto, Tagbilaran City. The ordaining bishop was Most. Rev. Onesimo Gordoncillo, then Bishop of Tagbilaran, now the Archbishop of Capiz.
During his Ordination to the Priesthood, Zamora wrote all the songs for the mass parts of his first or so-called thanksgiving mass. Youth choirs in the five barros in the parish were joined together or combined to sing the songs he composed for his thanksgiving mass and was directed by TQ Solis, Jr. The Most Rev. Juan de dios Pueblos was the homilist for his first mass (thanksgiving) that followed right after the ordination.
[edit] Career
Arnold Zamora's first appointment or new assignment after graduation and subsequent ordination in 1986 was as the Music Director and Formator of his alma mater, the Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary with Msgr. Alfredo Baquial (now deceased) as rector. In addition, he was appointed as the head of the Commission on Music of the Diocese of Tagbilaran.
In 1987 was the concert dubbed The New Generation of Jeduthun in commemoration of the first year Anniversary of the EDSA Revolution. Arnold Zamora was the music director, arranger, and accompanist of the IHMS Seminarians. In 1988, IHMS Seminarians' Jeduthun Ensemble embarked on the Concert Tour Jeduthun Ensemble in Concert, a town-to-town concert tour in Bohol province and including one in Davao City.
In 1988, he conducted the UB Commerce choir which was adjudged the Grand Prize Winner in the UB Inter-collegiate Choral Competition.
He enrolled at the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City in 1989 and joined the world-renowned Philippine Madrigal Singers or MADZ in 1990 where he also served as the group's resident arranger.
In 1991, he composed the song "Salamat Ama" in collaboration with lyricist Grace Reyes. "Salamat, Ama", ("Thank You, Father") was recorded by singer Basil Valdez and was arranged by Ryan Cayabyab. It is featured in Valdez' album Sundin ang Loob Mo ("Thy Will Be Done").[7]
Also in 1991, he joined MADZ in the U.S. and Canada Concerts in Vancouver, Toronto, Edmonton, Montreal, Seattle, Michigan, Chicago, St. Louis, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Hawaii with Andrea Veneracion, the founder and choirmaster of MADZ.
On February 10, 1992, he founded the Chorus Paulinus which gained recognition as one the best choirs in the country, having won in numerous choir competitions. [1] The name Chorus Paulinus was coined from the St. Paul the Apostle Parish in Timog, Quezon City where Arnold Zamora was stationed and where he started the group. It was registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Also in 1992, he joined MADZ in its 6th European Concert Tour with performances in Italy, Spain, Germany and France. From 1992 - 1994, MADZ made national and Asian Concerts in places like Taiwan, Bangkok, Korea (11 cities), Brunei, and Japan.
In 1995, during his graduation at the University of the Philippines, he conducted the MADZ as they performed Ryan Cayabyab’s "Ethnic Mass". In addition, he also conducted the UP Singing Ambassadors who performed "Mozart’s Requiem".
In 1996, the Chorus Paulinus or CHOPA under the directorship of Zamora, embarked on a Bohol Tour Concert held in the churches of Loboc, Bohol, Sevilla, Bohol, Holy Spirit School of Tagbilaran auditorium, and Ideal Theater in Tagbilaran City.
In 1996, he spearheaded the formation of the Singing Priests of Tagbilaran. In February, 1997, SPOT had a Valentine's Concert at the Bohol Tropics Resort Club, Tagbilaran City. It was dubbed SPOTlight.
In 1996, he was music director of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary's Everlasting Light Concert held at the Divine Word College of Tagbilaran Gymnasium.
In April-May, 1997, the Chorus Paulinus or CHOPA conducted a Visayas Tour Concert, specifically in Cebu, Iloilo, Samar and Leyte under Zamora's directorship.
In November of 1997, he directed the Hiusatlo (meaning unity of the three - clergy, lay, and religious), a concert resulting from the First Diocesan synod held at the Divine Word College of Tagbilaran Gymnasium.
In May, 1998, CHOPA did the Mindanao Tour Concert, specifically in the cities of Cagayan de Oro City, Pagadian City, Dapitan City, and Dipolog City.
In July, 1998, SPOT did a U.S. Tour Concert, a series of benefit concerts in the United States [2] , the proceeds of which was used for the seed money of the priest’s standard living allowance, a monthly standard salary for priests in Bohol, Philippines. SPOT also released their self-titled CD, Singing Priests of Tagbilaran[2] [8] Arnold Zamora serves the music director of the Singing Priests of Tagbilaran or SPOT.
In 2000, he directed the Jubilaeum 2000 Concert for the IHMS Golden Jubilee Celebration and on that same celebration he received an IHMS Golden Jubilee Outstanding Alumni Award.
In 2001, Zamora's arrangement of "My Heart Will Go On", from the movie Titanic, was featured in a live recording of one of the Philippine Madrigal Singers' concert, entitled The Philippine Madrigal Singers: Around the World released by BMG Records (Philippines).
In 2003, Arnold Zamora and the Singing Priests of Tagbilaran also did U.S. Concerts,[2] the proceeds of which was used for the health plan of the clergy.
Zamora also conducted the Philippine Consulate Choir of the Philippine Consulate in San Francisco, California, U.S.. [3] The group rendered a musical presentation with its interpretation of "Ako Ay Pilipino", "Bayan Ko" and "Isang Dugo, Isang Lahi" during the 109th anniversary of the death of Dr. Jose Rizal, the Philippines’ national hero, in simple rites held at the Consulate on December 30, 2005. [3]
In 2006, three of his arrangements, namely "Anima Christi", "One More Gift" and "The Light of a Million Mornings", were included in the 2006 MADZ-released album entitled Acclamation which was released by Sony Music Philippines. "Light In A Million", popularized by Sandi Patti, was also sung by Philippine divas Regine Velasquez and Sarah Geronimo. His arrangement of "Wind Beneath My Wings" (also in another album by MADZ entitled MADZ in Love, 1999) is also in the album. Both of these albums were released by Sony Music Philippines.
In December of the same year, a group of mostly Filipino priests of the Archdiocese of San Francisco presented a series of concerts which was directed by Arnold Zamora dubbed "Priestly Hands and Voices". He also composed an arranged the theme song entitled "Priestly Hands, Priestly Voice".
The early part of 2007 saw the release of another album entitled Let Me Follow arranged for Bob Fabing of the Society of Jesus. This was produced by the OCP Publications in Portland, Oregon. The songs that Arnold Zamora arranged in the album are : "Let Me Follow", "Come My Friends", "Return to God", and "Mass for Teresa of Calcutta". The "Mass of Calcutta" includes: Lord Have Mercy, Gloria, Alleluia, Holy, Holy, Memorial Acclamation A, Memorial Acclamation B, Memorial Acclamation C, Memorial Acclamation D, Great Amen, Our Father and Lamb of God.
Arnold Zamora's official website was launched on February 10, 2007, making available to the public access to a catalogue of his works and arrangements, as well as downloads of selected compositions and music sheets. [9]
[edit] Musical influences
Zamora considers Fr. Zacharias Jimenez (now Bishop) as his "Ryan Cayabyab in Bohol" - being his first music teacher at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary and to whom he eventually became the assistant.
Zamora comes from a family of musicians. His father was a great banjo/bandurria player as well as a script writer and director. He also played the trumpet for the DWCT (now the Holy Name University) Band when he was in college. The late former city Mayor Honorio Grupo, also a composer, was Zamora’s grandmother's brother.
Also, Zamora looks to his two aunts as also being influential in his pursuit for the music and priestly life. His aunt, Aniana “Naning" Zamora taught him how to read the notes on the piano, particularly the bass clef. His other aunt Francisca "Cacay" Zamora was the one who bought him a piano at home which made the difference. As such, he has dedicated his studio and production name to his two aunts as "Franz Music Production" for Francisca and Aniana, hence Franz, not Fr. Arnold Zamora as somebody mistakenly thought and at one time gave him a plaque with Arnold N. Zamora.
Arnold Zamora considers himself influenced by the choral style of Professor Andrea Veneracion, his voice teacher who is the founder and conductor of the Philippine Madrigal Singers or MADZ. He is also influenced by the choral techniques of Professor Joel Navarro, his choral adviser, and by the musicality of Prof. Ryan Cayabyab, with whom he served as personal assistant (PA) for more than four years.[citation needed]
[edit] Discography
[edit] Albums
- Let Me Follow - arranged by Arnold Zamora for Bob Fabing, S.J., OCP Publications, Portland, Oregon, 2007
- Chorus Paulinus (SLO) - Performing Arts Center, San Luis Obispo, California, May 21, 2001
- Singing Priests of Tagbilaran (album), DartPro, LLC, San Francisco, California, 1998
- Blessed Be God, A Cappella, 9 choral arrangements of popular religious songs, arranged by Arnold Zamora, Chorus Paulinus, 1999
- Joy of Christmas, Chorus Paulinus, DartPro, San Francisco, California, 1999
- Kantada sa Semana Santa, a compilation of songs in Cebuano for the Holy Week celebration, from Palm Sunday to Easter Vigil
| Album information |
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Let Me Follow (2007) - arranged by Arnold Zamora for Bob Fabing, S.J.
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Chorus Paulinus (SLO) (2001)
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Singing Priests of Tagbilaran (2003) (SPOT)
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Singing Priests of Tagbilaran (1998) (SPOT)
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Blessed Be God, A Cappella
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Joy of Christmas
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Kantada sa Semana Santa
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[edit] Singles
- 1981: "Be My Santa Claus", 2nd Place, UST Christmas song-writing contest (1981), words and music: Arnold Zamora, recorded and published by Fro’s Music, and SPOT, DartPro, LLC, 1998. [10]
- 1988: "Molungtad Ba?", from the Sandugo Musical, published and recorded by the SPOT, 1998
- 1989: "Si Papa ug Si Mama", words and music: Arnold Zamora, AD & AD Studio
- 1990: "Salamat Ama", words by Grace Reyes, music by Arnold Zamora, recorded by Basil Valdez, Album, Sundin Ang Loob Mo. [11]
- 1994: "Nanay at Tatay", words and music: Arnold Zamora, Sampaguita Records
- 1996: "On Angel’s Wings", words by Marianito Luspo, music by Arnold Zamora, sang by the Loboc Children’s Choir
- 1997: "O Langitnon Namong Amahan", first Diocesan synod hymn, Diocese of Tagbilaran
- 1997: "If We Have Come This Far", with words by Marianito Luspo, theme Song, Holy Name University or HNU, Golden Jubilee Alumni Song
- 1998: "Unsa Ba Kining Gibati Ko", from the Carlos P. Garcia (C.P.G.) Musical Sursum Corda, Franz Music Production
- 2000: Kinabuhi Mo, Kinabuhi Ko Performed by Koro Viannista, St. John Vianney Seminary, Cagayan de Oro City, Philippines Koro Viannista
- 2000: "IHMS We love you" – winner in the Alma Mater Song Contest during the IHMS Golden Jubilee Celebration (2000), sound arrangement and interpreter [12]
- 2000: "Diamond Jubilee Song" of the Holy Spirit School of Tagbilaran Sung by Damaris Taldo; Music and Words by Arnold Zamora [13]
- 2005: Cebuano Medley/Bohol performed by the Singing Priests of Tagbilaran
- 2005: He Looked Beyond Sang by Fr. Joseph Skelton and the Singing Priests of Tagbilaran
[edit] Publications and music engraving
- Songs of Ryan Cayabyab Volume 1, Ryan Cayabyab and Smokey Mountain Foundation, 1996
- Blessed Be God, Chorus Paulinus, 1999
- Kantada Sa Semana Santa, Diocese of Tagbilaran
- Imprimatur: Most. Rev. Leopoldo Tumulak
- Compilation and music engraving: Arnold Zamora
- Cover Design. JoeMari Polo
- Printed by: Vibal Publishing House, Inc., Quezon City, Philippines
- "Twenty-Four Masses"'in the Popular Style, Music by Fr. Rudy Villanueva, Jubilee Publications, Cebu City, Philippines, 1999
- Robert Fabing, S.J., Shadow of Your Wings, Oregon Catholic Publications (OCP), Portland, Oregon.
[edit] Wedding songs
- 2002: "I'll Be With You", Words and Music: Arnold Zamora, for Mike-Myla Soliman Wedding, San Luis Obispo, California, U.S.
- 2003: "Music of My Heart", Words and Music: Arnold Zamora, Erwin Gatchalian Wedding, San Francisco, California, U.S.
- 2004: "Be With Me", Words and Music: Arnold Zamora, Chito-Michee Tapnio Wedding, Chicago, Illinois, U.S., sung by Chorus Paulinus; also their first international reunion, with attendance from the Philippines, France, and from all over U.S.
[edit] Choral (a cappella) arrangements
- "Minsan Lang Kitang Iibigin", Aaron Paul, first performed by Chorus Paulinus (CHOPA)
- "Ikaw", George Canseco and Louie Ocampo, first performed by Chorus Paulinus (CHOPA)
- "Ikaw Lang Ang Mamahalin", first performed by Chorus Paulinus (CHOPA)
- "Ang Maya", first performed by UP Singing Ambassadors (UPSA)
- "No Other Love", first performed by Philippine Madrigal Singers (MADZ)
- "Wind Beneath My Wings", first performed by Philippine Madrigal Singers (MADZ)
- "What Matters Most", K. Rankin, first performed by Chorus Paulinus, (CHOPA)
- "The Promise (Say Goodbye)", first performed by Philippine Madrigal Singers MADZ
- "80’s Medley", first performed by Chorus Paulinus (CHOPA)
- "Written In The Sand", first performed by Chorus Paulinus (CHOPA)
- "Heal Our Land", first performed by Chorus Paulinus (CHOPA)
- "Broken Vow", first performed by Chorus Paulinus (CHOPA)
- "Without You Mom", first performed by UP Singing Ambassadors (UPSA)
- "Love of My Life", first performed by UP Singing Ambassadors (UPSA)
- "My Heart Will Go On" (theme song of the movie "Titanic"), first performed by Chorus Paulinus, then by Philippine Madrigal Singers or MADZ
- "Tatak Ng Filipino" (Dodjie Simon), first performed by Chorus Paulinus
- "I Will" (Beatles), first performed by Chorus Paulinus
- "Can This Be Love" (Ryan Cayabyab), first performed by Chorus Paulinus (CHOPA)
[edit] Music samples
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"Music of My Heart" composed, arranged and performed by Arnold Zamora for Erwin Gatchalian's Wedding, San Francisco, California, U.S., 2003 "I.H.M.S. We love you" Music by Fr. Roland D. Pacudan, Lyrics by Fr. Jonathan D. Pacudan, Musical arrangement and sound recording by Fr. Arnold Zamora "On Wings of the Spirit" Music and lyrics by Arnold Zamora with vocals by Damaris Taldo - Problems playing the files? See media help.
Click I.H.M.S., We Love You (Piano) to download musical notation courtesy of Fr. J. Roel Lungay, Piano arrangement by TQ Solis, Jr.
Click Image:HSS (Diamond)-1-.pdf for the Music Notation of On Wings of the Spirit
Or click here to download musical notation.
[edit] See also
- Chorus Paulinus
- Singing Priests of Tagbilaran
- Diocese of Tagbilaran
- Paring Bol-anon
- Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary
[edit] References
- ^ a b Chorus Paulinus at www.weddingpals.com Retrieved 21 January 2007.
- ^ a b c d Singing Priests of Tagbilaran www.soundclick.com Retrieved 25 January 2007.
- ^ a b c SF Consulate Commemorates Dr. Jose Rizal's 109th Death Anniversary Philippine Consulate News Retrieved 21 January 2007.
- ^ Star of the Sea Website Archdiocese of San Francisco Retrieved 8 February 2007.
- ^ Office of Religious Education & Youth Ministry San Francisco Parishes
- ^ UST Alumni - Priests UST-ALPA DIRECTORY Retrieved 31 January 2007.
- ^ Sundin ang Loob Mo Titik Pilipino Retrieved 21 January 2007/
- ^ Singing Priests of Tagbilaran www.soundclick.com Retrieved 21 January 2007.
- ^ Arnold Zamora Official website www.arnoldzamora.org Retrieved 10 February 2007.
- ^ "Be My Santa Claus" www.esnips.com Retrieved 21 January 2007.
- ^ Salamat Amawww.titikpilipino.com Retrieved 21 January 2007.
- ^ "IHMS, We love you" www.esnips.com Retrieved 21 January 2007.
- ^ Musical Notation of the HSS Diamond Jubilee Song www.esnips.com Retrieved 21 January 2007.
[edit] Additional readings
- University of Santo Tomas Alumni Priests Association
- Catholic San Francisco, June 25, 2004
- The Great Jubilee Christmas Concert 2000 Songs. www.usfca.edu.Retrieved 24 January 2007.
- An Affair to Remember Bukaspalad Message Board.
- Beting Laygo Dolor/Cristina DC Pastor and Mary Ann R. Mand. Philippines completes Iraq pullout Philippine News. 21 July 2004.
- Salamat Ama On-line Registry of Filipino Musical Artists. Retrieved 26 January 2007.
- One More Gift (Manuel Francisco / arr: Arnold Zamora) (2:32) IMUSICAPELLA One More Gift. Retrieved 26 January 2007.
- Around the world
- Ferdie S. Villar. Tagbilaran Singing Priests perform at Star of the Sea Church on September 17 Asian Journal Publications, September 3 - 9, 2004. Retrieved 28 January 2007.
[edit] External links
[edit] Official link
[edit] Various external links
- Singing Priests of Tagbilaran
- Arnold Zamora at esnips.com
- arnold_zamora at esnips.com
- Paring Bol-anon Music
- Paring Bol-anon Music Station
- Musikang Bol-anon Station
- Arnold Zamora in IHMS
- Fros Music
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