Gerard Salonga

Life and career

1973–1998: Early life and education

Gerard Imutan Salonga was born on October 11, 1973, in Manila, Philippines, to Maria Ligaya Alcantara Imutan (b. 1937) and Feliciano Genuino Salonga Jr. (1929–2016), a rear admiral in the Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary and chairman of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority. His elder sister is actress and singer Lea Salonga. He began piano studies at the age of five and appeared with his sister on her debut album Small Voice (1981). In 1985, the siblings also performed at the 8th Metro Manila Popular Music Festival, interpreting Tess Concepcion’s entry "Musika, Lata, Sipol at La La La" [Music, Tin Can, Whistle and La La La], which won second place. He completed his primary and secondary education Operation Brotherhood (OB) Montessori Center.

Salonga earned a Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies degree from the Ateneo de Manila University in 1994, and briefly studied music theory with Filipino composer Ryan Cayabyab. He later attended the Berklee College of Music in Boston, where he graduated summa cum laude in 1998 with a Master of Arts degree in Contemporary Writing and Production, receiving Berklee’s Contemporary Writing and Production Achievement Award.

1999–2011: Early career

After graduating, Salonga worked briefly at Sony Pictures as an orchestrator and music copyist before returning to the Philippines in 1999. He began arranging and conducting for ensembles such as the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra and the Manila Philharmonic Orchestra, and by 2005 had won three consecutive Aliw Awards for Best Musical Director, later earning a fourth in 2008. In 2005, he co-founded the Global Studio Orchestra, later renamed FILharmoniKA, as the in-house orchestra for Global Content Center, a recording and post-production facility in Alabang. On May 8, 2005, Salonga married Divina "DJ" Francisco, a violinist, at Santuario de San Antonio Parish in Makati.

Salonga collaborated widely with classical ensembles and Philippine popular musicians, including Lani Misalucha, Martin Nievera, and Regine Velasquez. He arranged and produced award-winning station IDs for The Filipino Channel in 2004 and 2005, both of which won Promax World Silver Awards in New York for "Best Use of Music/Post Score." In 2006, he scored the soundtrack for the film Ang Pamana: The Inheritance, which premiered at the Hawai'i International Film Festival. With FILharmoniKA, he led recordings in the Musika Natin [Our Music] series, highlighting works of composers such as Lucio San Pedro, Ángel Peña, and Antonio Buenaventura. He later collaborated on Eastern Skies (2007) with jazz guitarist Johnny Alegre and produced Kumpas (2008), an album featuring orchestral renditions of songs by rock artists Ely Buendia, Sampaguita, Noel Cabangon, and Wally Gonzales.

2012–present: International conducting

Salonga first appeared as a guest conductor with the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra in 2018 and was officially appointed Resident Conductor in January 2019. In this role, he has led symphonic, ballet, opera, pops, family, and film presentations, including film-in-concert events such as Harry Potter, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Ratatouille, and other Disney productions.

In 2018, Salonga conducted the world premiere of Lachlan Skipworth’s Breath of Thunder with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra and Taikoz at the Sydney Opera House, earning an APRA Performance of the Year nomination. In 2019, he collaborated on a recording of George Gershwin works with pianist Cecile Licad and the Sønderjyllands Symfoniorkester in Denmark, released by Danacord.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, he served as music producer for the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra's YouTube channel (MPOTV) and Artistic Advisor for the Malaysian Composers’ Collective, premiering new works by Malaysian composers. Since 2021, he has also served as music director of the Orchestra of the Filipino Youth (OFY), a Manila-based training orchestra for young musicians. In 2023, he conducted the world premiere of Elliot Leung’s Metaverse Symphony with the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra, held at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre, a work commissioned to debut in both the concert hall and the metaverse. The recording of which was released by Sony Classical.

In March 2025, Salonga conducted the Marvel Studios Infinity Saga concert at The Theatre at Solaire in Manila. In August of the same year, Salonga served as a music director for the Theatre Group Asia production of Into the Woods conducted Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back In Concert with FILharmoniKA. His guest conducting appearances have included venues such as the Sydney Opera House and Royal Albert Hall, leading ensembles like the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, and BBC Symphony Orchestra.

Awards and recognition

Salonga has received multiple honors for his contributions to music and the performing arts. He is a four-time recipient of the Aliw Award for Best Musical Director and was inducted into the Aliw Awards Hall of Fame in 2009. In the recording industry, he received the Awit Award for Best Arrangement, while in Philippine musical theatre, he has twice won the Gawad Buhay Award for Outstanding Musical Direction for his work on the Manila productions of West Side Story and Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.

In 2012, Salonga was named one of the recipients of The Outstanding Young Men (TOYM) Award, a national recognition program honoring Filipinos under 40 who have demonstrated excellence in their fields and significant contributions to society. In 2021, he was among the recipients of the SUDI National Music Award presented by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, which recognizes outstanding achievements in Philippine music.

References

References

1. Salterio, Leah. (August 21, 2017). "Lea, Gerard Salonga throw surprise party for their mom's 80th birthday". [[ABS-CBN News]].
2. (January 31, 2016). "Lea Salonga's father Feliciano Salonga dies".
3. Salut, EJ. (February 1, 2016). "Lea Salonga's dad passes away". [[ABS-CBN]].
4. Rocca, Jane. (January 26, 2017). "What I know about men...".
5. (October 10, 2013). "Gerard Salonga started out as Lea's unexpected pianist at 7". Philippine Daily Inquirer.
6. (October 7, 2018). "Lea Salonga’s career highlights".
7. Soliven, Preciosa S.. (March 2, 2000). "Presenting Gerard Salonga -- the musical composer and orchestra conductor- A Point Of Awareness".
8. "Gerard Salonga appointed Resident Conductor of the MPO".
9. "Gerard Salonga".
10. Matias-Pizarro, Shirley (December 8, 2009). ''[http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/233052/gerard-salonga-conquers-international-scene Gerard Salonga conquers the international scene].'' Manila Bulletin Publishing Corporation. Retrieved on October 3, 2010.
11. (November 27, 2009). "Gerard Salonga inducted into Aliw Awards Hall of Fame". [[ABS-CBN News]].
12. Matias-Pizarro, Shirley (January 15, 2010). ''[http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/238619/more-filharmonika-2010 More of FILharmoniKA in 2010] {{webarchive. link. (September 17, 2011.'' Manila Bulletin Publishing Corporation. Retrieved on December 2, 2010.)
13. "pizza with wife and kiddies = priceless".
14. Salterio, Leah C.. (May 11, 2005). "They’re playing their song".
15. "Ang Pamana: The Inheritance".
16. ''[http://www.musikanatin.com/ About Us] {{Webarchive. link. (February 7, 2011'' Musika Natin. Retrieved on December 2, 2010.)
17. (January 9, 2008). "Jazz Artist Johnny Alegre Teams Up With Gerard Salonga". The Manila Times.
18. Gil, Baby A.. (April 3, 2009). "A new take on OPM hits".
19. (20 July 2012). "ABS-CBN launches new orchestra". The Philippine Star.
20. (21 April 2016). "Gerard Salonga appointed assistant conductor".
21. "Gerard Salonga appointed Resident Conductor of the MPO".
22. "Resident Conductor: Gerard Salonga".
23. (July 21, 2019). "Gerard Salonga, Sydney Symphony Orchestra nominated at Australia's Art Music Awards". [[ABS-CBN]].
24. Mallorca, Hannah. (March 25, 2025). "Gerard Salonga tapped as music director of ‘Into the Woods’ Manila staging".
25. Wild, Stephi. (April 13, 2023). "HK Phil Presents The First-Ever Metaverse Symphony, Performed Both In A Concert Hall and The Sandbox".
26. (January 9, 2025). "Marvel's 'Infinity Saga' concert: Here are the ticket prices, seat map, selling dates".
27. Saulog, Gabriel. (May 8, 2025). "Film Concerts PH To Bring 'Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back' In Concert".
28. Fortescue, Elizabeth. (January 1, 2017). "Lea Salonga, the voice of Princess Jasmine and Miss Saigon, to perform at the Opera House". [[The Daily Telegraph]].
29. (June 20, 2009). "Gawad Buhay Awards honor top theater artists". [[ABS-CBN News]].
30. (13 December 2012). "TOYM awardees honored". The Philippine Star.
31. (23 March 2021). "NCCA announces SUDI awardees". GMA News.