The Glorious Gospel Baptist Church Music Ministry’s Mission is dedicated to nurturing the music talent of tomorrow, preserving the legacy of the past and sustaining the creative incentive for today's creators through a variety of educational and professional programs and activities which serve the entire music community. Our ultimate goal is to promote the Filipino culture, the musicality and unique talents of its people by playing and patronizing our own native instruments. Our church also provides intensive, free-of-charge musical training and performance experiences that would not otherwise be available to these students. The GGBC Music Ministry started to be organized and mentored in 2005 by a pianist named Maritess Parcero – Ibon.
Glorious Gospel Baptist Church Music Ministry includes: GGBC Piano Ensemble GGBC Guitar Ensemble GGBC Violin Ensemble GGBC Tipangklung Player/s GGBC Rondalla Flharmonica GGBC Annual Music Camp
Maritess Parcero - Ibon Artist Profile Born in Sampaloc, Manila, Philippines, Maritess Parcero - Ibon received her Bachelor of Music (Major in Piano Performance) degree in 1999 from the Santa Isabel College in Manila under the tutelage of a well-known coach, accompanist, and piano pedagogue, Professor Cecile Basilio - Roxas. She currently holds a Master of Music Degree Major in Piano Performance in 2013 also from Santa Isabel College in Manila. Aside from Piano Performance, she also received training in Musicology, Marimba, Violin, Music Education, Asian Music, Composition, and Choral Arranging Technique. “Tess” began her desire to play piano when she was five years old, and she started her formal training at seven years of age with the late Mrs. Gloria Reynaldo and continued it under Mrs. Rochita Ruiz-Loenen. From thereon, Mrs. Loenen upheld her to become well-equipped in music and prepared her for a Premier Solo Recital in 1994. During her college years, Professor Cecile Basilio-Roxas further enriched and broaden her musicality, refined her techniques, and enhanced a smooth execution in piano playing until she performed for her Junior Recital in 1996 and Senior Recital in 1999. In September 2011, she gave her First Recital for the Master’s degree and in December 2013, she had her Graduation Recital for her Master of Music degree. She started out of being a church pianist and accompanist in 1986 at the Las Pinas Baptist Church and later on became the music directress in 1992-1999. Eventually, after getting married in 1999, she started to train and develop more musicians in Albay and founded Magayon Casa Musica, a mini music school located in the heart of Bicol Region (Legazpi City, Albay). In between her busy schedule of teaching, she occasionally performs solo or in collaboration with other instrumentalists and singers in NAMCYA. She also gave solo performances and collaborates with a singer in Malaybalay (2009). She has also produced two sets of solo piano recordings that is being sold here in the Philippines and abroad. Aside from being a recording artist, she is also doing several compositions and arrangements of Filipino music, classical, and church music for rondalla, piano, and choir. She is one of the lifetime members of the Piano Teachers’ Guild of the Philippines (PTGP). In 2007, she became the program directress of “Kristiyanong Himig” (held in Legazpi City & Las Pinas City) and “Sagradong Harana” (held in Philamlife Theater - Manila) and also acted as the accompanist, soloist, composer, and arranger. As directress of Glorious Gospel Baptist Church Music Ministry, Ibon spear-headed a Four-Year Music Development program which produced the GGBC Piano Ensemble in 2006, the GGBC Violin Ensemble in 2006, the GGBC Rondalla Filharmonica in 2007, &, and the GGBC Tipangklung Players in 2013. It’s main goal and mission is to perform live sacred, classical, and Filipino music not only in the Philippines, but also in its country side. She is currently working and mentoring the Music Department of Bicol Institute of Biblical Studies (B.I.B.S.) which aims to develop and equip more musicians (performers, accompanists, composers, and arrangers) in Bicol Region.
Concert Engagement
Categories: Filipino classical musicians
THE GGBC PIANO ENSEMBLE PROFILE The GGBC PIANO ENSEMBLE was founded and organized in August 2006 by Maritess Parcero – Ibon, a Master of Music in Piano Performance from the Santa Isabel College – Manila. The group, initially called The GGBC Keyboard Philharmonics has changed its name after 5 years, composed of 6 selected members of Glorious Gospel Baptist Church. They started out with an ensemble of three persons and after 2 years, the group grew into 6 members. The group had been a participant in the “Sagradong Harana” concert in 2007 held at the Philam Life Theater Auditorium, Manila, “Kristiyanong Himig” concert also in 2007 held at the Legazpi City and Las Pinas City, “Sampung Mga Daliri” concert in 2009 held at the BU Amphitheater in Legazpi City, “Cuerdas 1” concert in 2011 held at the Ayala, Alabang, and currently, “Cuerdas 2” concert in 2013 held at the BU Amphitheater, Legazpi City and Insular Life Corporate Centre Auditorium (ILCC), Ayala, Alabang. Their concert repertoire includes classical, folk, and sacred music. Following the group’s aim to further promote Philippine culture and improve the standards of piano playing , many performances, recitals, and intermission numbers were held in various activities of the church, music camps, and other activities organized by the GGBC .
THE GGBC TIPANGKLUNG PLAYERS PROFILE The GGBC TIPANGKLUNG PLAYERS was founded and organized in June 2013 by Maritess Parcero – Ibon, a Master of Music in Piano Performance from the Santa Isabel College – Manila. The group, composed of 2 selected members of Glorious Gospel Baptist Church namely, her son, Reuben Kiel P. Ibon and daughter, Deborah Jael P. Ibon who are also both a developing pianists as they play in several recitals and festivals sponsored by the Piano Teacher’s Guild of the Philippines (PTGP), won in several music competitions sponsored by the School of Tomorrow (Philippines), and currently preparing to be a participant of National Music Competition for the Young Artist (NAMCYA) 2013. They can easily relate their piano playing with the “tipangklung” instrument since both instruments are related. Their mother is the one who is doing the arrangements for their “tipangklung”pieces. They performed Tipangklung instrument together with the GGBC Rondalla Filharmonica concert last November 22, 2013 and in December 5, 2013.Their concert repertoire includes classical, folk, and sacred music. Following the group’s aim to further promote Philippine culture and improve the standards of playing , many performances, recitals, and intermission numbers were held in various activities of the church and organized by the GGBC . They also aim to perform more Filipino classical pieces to promote the quality music of our native land by using a “tipangklung” instrument. What is a Tipangklung? Tipangklung, known also as a bamboo piano or a bamboo harp, is a musical instrument made of two bamboo tubes attached to a bamboo frame. The tubes are carved to have a resonant pitch when struck and are tuned to octaves.
Tipangklung has also been adopted by its Austronesian-speaking neighbors, in particular by Malaysia and the Philippines, where they are played as part of bamboo xylophone orchestras. Formally introduced into Malaysia sometime after the end of the Confrontation, tipangklung found immediate popularity. They are generally played using a pentatonic scale similar to the Indonesian slendro, although in the Philippines, sets also come in the diatonic and minor scales used to perform various Classical and Spanish-influenced folk music in addition to native songs in pentatonic.
THE GGBC GUITAR ENSEMBLE PROFILE The GGBC GUITAR ENSEMBLE is a special ministry of performing group of Glorious Gospel Baptist Church in Malilipot, Albay. The group was founded and organized in 2012 by Mr. Aaron Colar. The group, composed of 3 selected members of Glorious Gospel Baptist Church.They performed together with the Rondalla Filharmonica concerts in November 22, 2013 and in December 5, 2013. Their aim is to promote Philippine culture as per improving the guitar standards by playing wide range of repertoire that includes works from the renaissance, baroque, classical, romantic, 20th century music periods along with other sacred music and Filipino folk music. The group’s current members are Mr. Aaron Colar, Merari Isleta, and Jem Berces.
THE GGBC VIOLIN ENSEMBLE PROFILE
The GGBC Violin Ensemble is a laboratory class for children and youth members of Glorious Gospel Baptist Church. It also serves as the training ground prior to rondalla playing in GGBC. The GGBC Violin Ensemble emerged in 2005 under the direction and guidance of Maritess P. Ibon. From a small ensemble it expanded and adopted its name. During that time, they have performed in various concerts in Albay and other venues around Metro Manila. Aside from playing in the recitals of Magayon Casa Musica, the group had been a participant in the “Sagradong Harana” concert in 2007 held at the Philam Life Theater Auditorium, Manila, “Kristiyanong Himig” concert also in 2007 held at the Legazpi City and Las Pinas City, “Sampung Mga Daliri” concert in 2009 held at the BU Amphitheater in Legazpi City, “Cuerdas 1” concert in 2011 held at the Ayala, Alabang, and currently, “Cuerdas 2” concert in 2013 held at the BU Amphitheater, Legazpi City and Insular Life Corporate Centre Auditorium (ILCC), Ayala, Alabang. Aside from Ibon’s direction, they did have a special training with Mr. Joshua Raquintan, a graduate of BM Major in Music Education. Their concert repertoire includes classical, folk, and sacred music. Following the group’s aim to further promote Philippine culture and improve the standards of violin playing , many performances, recitals, and intermission numbers were held in various activities of the church, music camps, and other activities organized by the GGBC . THE GGBC RONDALLA FILHARMONICA PROFILE The GGBC Rondalla Filharmonica is a unique and special ministry of performing group of Glorious Gospel Baptist Church in Malilipot, Albay.
The group was founded and organized in July 2008 by Maritess Parcero – Ibon, a Master of Music Major in Piano Performance graduate from the Santa Isabel College – Manila. She has been assisted by Mrs. Fe Ballester, who was a rondalla teacher, in 2009. The group, composed of 20 selected youth members of Glorious Gospel Baptist Church. The group started with an ensemble of five persons and in just a little time, 2 brothers and 2 sisters joined the group. After a year or two, other GGBC children were trained to play musical instruments. Soon, they honed the talent of the young string players which had a steady membership averaging from 16-20 players. Their musical training, recitals, and exposure to church helped them to develop their own sense of discipline. In December 2009, they had their 1st rondalla concert in Bicol University’s Amphi Theater (Legazpi City) entitled “Sampung Mga Daliri...Alay sa Ating Panginoon.” In December 2011, they had their 2nd concert entitled “Cuerdas” was held in Insular Life Corporate Centre, Ayala, Alabang. In November 22, 2013, their 3rd rondalla concert, “Cuerdas 2”was held in Bicol University’s Amphitheater. And, in December 5, 2013, they had their 4th rondalla concert, which was also entiled “Cuerdas 2” was held in Insular Life Corporate Centre Auditorium, Ayala, Alabang was really a one-of-a-kind musical event that delivered an unforgettable evening of music, in the hopes of educating and inspiring young and budding Christian musicians in Albay provinces. Their concert repertoire includes classical, folk, and sacred music. Following the group’s aim to further promote Philippine culture and improve the standards of rondalla playing , many performances and intermission numbers were held in various activities of the church and organized by the GGBC .
THE GGBC MUSIC CAMP PROFILE
The GGBC Annual Music Camp started out in April 2012, is held in Glorious Gospel Baptist Church every summer. Pastor Jose L. Ibon, Jr. and his wife, Maritess have established the GGBC Music Camp for the benefit of Bicolano budding musicians with a purpose of equipping them in the area of music and propagate throughout Bicol region. It is a week of seminars, training, youth fun and fellowships. In summer 2012 and 2013, children ages 8- 12 years old, as well as youth ages 13- 25 years old, received a free-of-charge training in singing, playing piano, guitar, violin, viola, cello, double bass, recorders, and banduria. They have also benefited training and seminars about the Contemporary Music,Music Theory, Solfege, and Choir Singing. For most of the young people in Albay, this was their first opportunity to encounter and work with a music teacher and to learn to play an instrument and perform at the camp’s last day’s culminating activity. The year 2014 in GGBC Music Camp marks the big event in summer to work with the music educators on songwriting, composition, choral arranging, instrumental instructions, competitions, and more fellowships and fun on the part of teachers and students.
