ANDREA OFILADA

VENERACION
PROF. ANDREA OFILADA VENERACION
A.K.A “MAAM OA”

National Artist for Music (1999)

• Born in Manila on July 11, 1928, she

is recognized as an authority on
choral music and performance and
has served as adjudicator in
international music competitions.
LIFE OF ANDREA OFILADA
VENERACION
 EARLY LIFE
O She was born on July 11, 1928, to Macario Ofilada and
Raymunda Carriaga. She was raised in Manila, Philippines.
O She was a lyric soprano soloist in various Oratorio works and
in the Opera Stage. She was also a very accomplished pianist
and accompanist and was the accompanist of National Artist
for Music, Jovita Fuentes for a number of years. Apart from
being an extraordinary musician, she was also an exceptional
athlete as a competitive swimmer. She was part of the
Philippine swimming team who first competed internationally
in Hong Kong.
 EDUCATION
O She earned her Bachelor of Music degrees
in Piano and Voice at the University of the
Philippines Diliman, graduating cum laude.
O Later on, she continued to pursue her
Master's Degree in Voice at Indiana
University School of Music - Bloomington as
a Fulbright scholar, where she encountered
the Indiana University Madrigal Singers
which rallied the music of the Renaissance
period.
DEVELOPMENT
OF
CAREER
 WORK EXPERIENCES
O Under her direction, the Philippine Madrigal Singers won
major awards in international choral competitions, including
those in Spittal an der
Drau, Austria; Arezzo and Gorizia, Italy; Neuchâtel, Switzerla
nd; Debrecen, Hungary; Varna, Bulgaria; Tolosa, Spain;
and Marktoberdorf, Germany. In 1996, she led the
Philippine Madrigal Singers to its victory in the 1996
International Choral Competition in Tolosa, Spain. This made
them eligible to compete for the European Grand Prix for
Choral Singing the following year and eventually won the title
in Tours, France.
 WORK EXPERIENCES
O Upon her return to the Philippines in 1963, she established
a singing group with the same idea. This group was initially
exclusive of U.P. faculty members and students and became
officially known as the University of the Philippines Madrigal
Singers. She established a tradition for which the Madz, as
they are fondly called, are known for: unlike most choirs, the
Madz were seated in a semicircular formation without a
conductor. The Choirmaster is at the left-most end of the
circle, and leads the group by giving their cues, much like
how a concertmaster leads in an orchestra
 WORK EXPERIENCES
OVeneracion was the
founding choirmaster and
first conductor of
the Asian Institute for
Liturgy and Music (AILM)
Chorale.
 SIGNIFICANT
WORKS OF
ANDREA OFILADA VENERACION
 FOUNDER OF THE PHILIPPINE
MADRIGALS

Upon her return to the Philippines in 1963, she established a singing group with the same
idea. This group was initially exclusive of U.P. faculty members and students and became
officially known as the University of the Philippines Madrigal Singers. She established a
tradition for which the Madz, as they are fondly called, are known for: unlike most choirs, the
Madz is seated in a semicircular formation without a conductor. The Choirmaster is at the left-
most end of the circle who leads the group by giving their cues.
FOUNDING CHOIRMASTER AND FIRST
CONDUCTOR OF ASIAN INSTITUTE OF
LITURGY AND MUSIC

Veneracion also founded and served as the first conductor of the

Asian Institute for Liturgy and Music (AILM) Chorale
 SPEARHEADED THE
DEVELOPMENT OF PHILIPPINE
CHORAL MUSIC

Highly esteemed for her achievements as choirmaster and choral arranger she
spearheaded the the development of Philippine choral music. A former faculty
member of the UP College of Music and honorary chair of the Philippine Federation
of Choral Music, she also organized a cultural outreach program to provide music
education and exposure in several provinces.
 AWARDS
AND
ACHIEVEMENTS
TOFIL (THE OUTSTANDING
FILIPINO) 1997
NATIONAL ARTIST OF THE
PHILIPPINES FOR MUSIC
1999
 CONCLUSION
O Perhaps the greatest legacy of Prof. Veneracion is her work
for the propagation of Philippine choral music. She
encouraged composers and arrangers to write music for the
Madrigal Singers. The result was a steady stream of
outstanding compositions and arrangements arranged for a
cappella chorus. They were hewn for every genre from
materials and music concepts from Philippine folk songs,
Filipino tribal or traditional music, contemporary song hits,
church liturgy, and a wide array of eclectic sources.
 CONCLUSION
O She also kick-started the formation of a Singing Philippines
through a series of festivals and workshops led by her
singers and alumni. As the artists-in-residence of the
Cultural Center of the Philippines, the Philippine Madrigal
Singers were brought to the countryside to train conductors
and choirs. Andrea taught her singers to spread this vision
more quickly to eager-to-learn musicians throughout the
archipelago. Because of her enormous contribution to the
growth of Philippine choral music, she was named National
Artist for Music in 1999, the highest cultural award
bestowed by the Philippine government to an individual.
 CONCLUSION
O The proof of the overwhelming success of her work lies in
the unprecedented growth of the Philippine choral
movement today. The Philippine Choral Directors
Association, whose board is mostly composed of MADZ
alumni, is a testament to her energetic vision and legacy. A
huge number of former members of the Madrigal Singers
are now distinguished choral conductors, composers,
arrangers, educators, and musicians.
 CONCLUSION
O The country recognized her selfless contributions to the
world of choral music, and accorded her a magnificent
service at the Main Theater of the Cultural Center of the
Philippines. Presented with full military honors at her
funeral, she was given her final resting place at the
‘Libingan ng mga Bayani’ (Cemetery of Heroes). The theater
was filled beyond capacity with choral singers both on and
off stage, in the seats and in the aisles, all singing to the
woman who unified them and gave them a voice.
 CONCLUSION

Andrea Veneracion was the

voice of her age, and beyond.
 THANK YOU!

Presented by: Justin Henderin

12-MONTREAL