The University of Santo Tomas Conservatory of Music, popularly known as UST Music, is the music school of the University of Santo Tomas (UST) in Manila, Philippines. UST is the oldest and largest Catholic university in Asia.
Overview
The Conservatory of Music has been proclaimed by the Philippine Commission on Higher Education as one of only two universities designated a Center of Excellence in Music. It is the only music school in the Philippines with an all-student symphony orchestra and an all-student symphonic band. The conservatory maintains several choral groups, including Coro Tomasino, the Liturgikon Vocal Ensemble, and the UST Singers, as well as instrumental ensembles such as the UST Jazz Band, the UST Guitar Ensemble, the Rondalla, the Woodwind Quintet, the Brass Quintet, and USTe Mundo (the ethnic ensemble).
As of February 2024, the conservatory had 431 enrolled students. Its patron saint is Saint Cecilia, and its official color is pink. The conservatory is located on the fifth floor of the Albertus Magnus Building on the UST campus in Sampaloc, Manila.
History
The UST Conservatory of Music traces its origins to 1945, when the university began offering music classes at the UST Gymnasium. These classes were not yet government-recognized at the time. In 1946, the Philippine government granted the conservatory authority to confer degrees, with Manuel Cuerva serving as its inaugural director. Cuerva was succeeded within the same year by Julio Esteban Anguita, who composed the music for the UST Hymn. The conservatory moved to a Quonset Hut in 1948, on the site where the Albertus Magnus Building now stands.
Bernardino Custodio became the first Filipino director of the conservatory in 1958. National Artist for Music Antonino Buenaventura took over the directorship in 1961 and reorganized the UST Symphony Orchestra, which had originally been formed in 1927. Sergio Esmilla became director in 1964, during a period of declining enrollment across music schools in the country. The Quonset Hut was demolished to make way for the Albertus Magnus Building, which now houses the conservatory. Benjamin Tupas assumed the directorship in 1968.
In 1972, concert pianist Stella Goldenberg Brimo became the first female director of the academic unit. During her term, the title of "Director" was elevated to "Dean," making her the first administrator of the conservatory to become an ex-officio member of the university's Academic Senate. She was succeeded by Dr. Alejandra Atabug, who later became Dean Emeritus.
Under the deanship of Erlinda Fule, the UST Singers were founded by pianist and conductor Fidel Calalang Jr. The choral group would later become a two-time winner of the "Choir of the World" grand prize at the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod. It was also during Fule's term that the conservatory was proclaimed a Center of Excellence by the Commission on Higher Education.
Concert pianist Dr. Raul Sunico succeeded Fule in 2002 and served for 15 years, during which a jazz department was organized. Composer Dr. Antonio Africa replaced Sunico in 2017 and served until December 2024. As of 2025, the deanship is held by musicologist Dr. Maria Alexandra I. Chua, who previously served as Director of the UST Research Center for Culture, Arts, and Humanities.
Academics
The conservatory offers the following undergraduate programs:
- Bachelor of Music in Performance (with majors in bassoon, cello, choral conducting, clarinet, contrabass, flute, French horn, guitar, oboe, orchestral conducting, percussion, piano, saxophone, trombone, trumpet, tuba, viola, violin, and voice)
- Bachelor of Music in Composition
- Bachelor of Music in Jazz
- Bachelor of Music in Musicology
- Bachelor of Music in Music Education
- Bachelor of Music in Music Theatre
- Bachelor of Music in Music Technology
Graduate programs include:
- Master of Arts in Music
- Doctor of Philosophy in Music (with majors in music performance: choral conducting, guitar, piano, and voice)
Notable Alumni
The conservatory has produced at least two National Artists of the Philippines: Antonino Buenaventura and Ernani Cuenco.
Annual Events
The annual classical UST Christmas Concert is led by conservatory students, faculty, and alumni. The conservatory also regularly participates in the National Music Competition for Young Artists (NAMCYA) and other national music competitions.
