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Charles AbingShort Profile:
- graduated Master in Music Elisabeth University of Music, Hirohima, Japan - graduated Bachelor of Music, Silliman University, Dumaguete, Philippines. - former dean, College of Music, Liceo de Cagayan University, Philippines. - composer, organist, pianist, teacher and plays a little flute. - hobbies: photography, travel, yoga and making friends |
started studying the piano at 9 years old under Mrs. Armenia Jalalon-Nerida and he learned how to play the harmonion organ (see picture on the right) by himself when he was 13 at the Philippine Independent Church in Tangub City and became the regular organist during special Masses of this church and at Tangub City National High School.
In 1984, he was awarded the William Masterson Foundation Scholarship to study Agricultural Engineering at Xavier University (Ateneo de Cagayan) in Cagayan de Oro City. He joined the Campus Chapel Aides (XUCCA). During noon breaks, he learned to play the Yamaha electone (1.5 octave pedal) by himself and became the regular organist and the music ministry chairperson of XUCCA. The Chaplain, Fr. Mariano Y. Varela, SJ was instrumental in discovering his talent in music. Fr. Varela bought for him the latest sophisticated Yamaha organ and encouraged him to compose music for the church use especially the Responsorial Psalms. It was then that the tradition of singing of RP even on ordinary Masses was revived. It was Lenten season of 1984 that he started to compose music for the Responsorial Psalms. These psalms are still being sang in the churches until today. Some of these psalms are in the book Psalms to Sing. In 1988, he left XU to enroll in the School of Music and Fine Arts (now College of Performing and Visual Arts) in Silliman University, Dumaguete City and was awarded the Ruth Palmer Scholarship after gaining good grades for a semester. He studied Piano with Albert Faurot, Elisabeth Susan Vista-Suarez and Danford Byrens, and composition with Joseph Basa, Eric Yuzon and Ronald Walcott. He was the accompanist of the Silliman University Church's (protestant) children's choir and on Saturday he helped with the Seventh Day Adventists Church. But during Lent he still got invited to direct the Holy Week's music at XU Chapel. He was consistent honor but he did not quality the "cum laude" honor upon graduation because his last semester load was less than the required units. However, he was awarded the first ever "Talent Award" in 1992 by the university. After graduation in 1992, he went back to XU and worked as a Music Director of the Campus Chapel and taught music in Xavier University High School and College of Education. He was also the musical director of UCCP Lapasan Church and taught piano, voice and flute at Charles Abing Music Studio. In Sept, 1997, he was awarded the Loyola Foundation Scholarship and Kumahira Scholarship to study Masters in Music at Elisabeth _University of Music, Hiroshima, Japan. This school is the only music school in the world run by the Jesuits. He studied composition with Jo Kondo and Koji Tomotani, pipe organ with Tsugoto Hirosawa, voice with Yoichiro Uchida and orchestral conducting with Tomoki Wada. After graduation, he moved to Fukuoka and became the regular organist of the English Mass at the Fukuoka Cathedral. He has performed in Japan, the USA and India as arranger, accompanist and soloist.
He has recently released internationally a CD album entitled “Resting in God” an improvisation of Catholic Songs in Khmer, produced by the Diocese of Battambang in Cambodia. He moves back to the Philippines in June 2013 to served as the Associate. Dean, and a year later as Dean of the newly opened College of Music of Liceo de Cagayan University until March 2015. In 2014, he was the Artist of the Year awardee in the Musician category of the first event local Lifestyle Awards in Cagayan de Oro, the UrbanLife Awards of Gold Star Daily. Now he's back in Japan. He teaches in a private international high school and he plays regularly the organ at Kasai Catholic church in Edogawa, Tokyo. He has been elected as the first president of the newly organised Silliman University Alumni Association Japan Chapter. |
The HarmonionIs a type of organ. The sound is produced by pumping air into the pipes using the two pedals. The more keys you press the harder you have to pump. It was the most common keyboard in churches before the electronic organs.
Xavier University Chapel: Campus Chapel AidesThe Annual Liturgical Concert of the Xavier University Campus Chapel Aides in December 1985.
Silliman UniveristyThe Last Batch of Piano Students of Dr. Albert Faurot: from left, Clair Silorio, Casmelyn Quicoy, Dr. Faurot and Charles Abing
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