LESTER DELGADO

This musician in blood and in heart studied at the University of Santo Tomas’ Conservatory of Music where he graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Music, major in Choral Conducting. He is currently taking up his Masters Degree in Choral Conducting at St. Paul University, Manila.
For 10 years, Lester has been the conductor and musical director of the St. John Bosco (SJB) Chorale, which is a church-based choral group that participated in numerous local competitions such as the “Paskong Himig sa Pasig Choral Competition” where they were awarded as the grand prize winner for two consecutive years last 2005 and 2006. He, together with the SJB Chorale, also performed all across the globe including Hong Kong, Europe and Canada. Last December 2009, the group spearheaded by Lester performed with the internationally-recognized Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra in their Seasoned Concert.  This event was held at the Cultural Center of the Philippines, Manila.
In 2010, Lester moves forward with his career as a professional conductor by collaborating the best musicians in the country to form the Vocalismo Choral Group (VCG). VCG is composed of professional musicians, singers and music enthusiasts who are considered veterans in their own rights. The members of VCG are well-experienced in the Music industry, be it in singing along with the best choirs in the Philippines, joining local and international competitions, and participating in concert tours. Presently, Vocalismo Choral Group showcases their singing talents through performances in special events all across the country. It aims to evolve into a well renowned performing group as their music inspires and touches the hearts of people here and abroad.
He is not only a professional conductor, but an award-winning composer as well. His original composition “Bagong Umaga” bagged the Grand prize award in the University of Santo Tomas Conservatory’s 2004 Songwriting Competition. This composition became the official festival piece for the Harmonies 2004 Choral Festival.
Another award-winning composition and arrangement that this talented musician arranged was “Orde-e”, a traditional Madukayan folksong. He was acknowledged as one of the winners of the 2007 “Mga Awiting Bayan para sa Korong Pilipino” Competition sponsored by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA). In 2008, he again won as first place in the Makati Kasanib Foundation Songwriting Competition.
2008 was also the year when he launched the Filipino liturgical Songs entitled as “Misa Delgado”.  As his way of helping to develop liturgical music in the country, he composed a complete compilation of original Filipino Mass songs for every liturgical season. In April 2009, a thanksgiving concert dubbed as “Leap of Hope II” was held in St. John Bosco Parish Makati where he conducted and arranged several of the songs performed by the SJB Chorale and a 30-piece orchestra. Last December 2009, he won the grand prize in the Basic Ecclesiastical Community (BEC) Theme Song Writing Contest of the Archdiocese of Manila. His most recent project, where he worked as one of the composers, is the musical “Ang Paglalayag ni Ugly Duckling” by the Young Artists Production. Apart from the numerous things that Lester has on his plate, he also teaches part-time in various universities, judges choral competitions, and conducts choral clinics all across the Metro. This unstoppable musician also attends training under SD2 Studio to further enhance his musical scoring.
With all these achievements, he still continues to share his passion in music to the world as a conductor, arranger, composer and pianist.