Artist Profile

Classical guitarist, Rafael Ronquillo completed his degree from the University of Santo Tomas
Conservatory in 2014. He studied under numerous professors including Professor Ruben Reyes – a mentor
whom he considers his major influence in music. In the following year, he finished a master’s degree from
el Conservatorio Superior de Música “Óscar Esplá” in Alicante, Spain, under Prof. Ignacio Rodes. In the
same year, he was also a student in Música en Compostela in Santiago de Compostela, Spain.

As an ensemble guitarist, Raffy participated in major concerts of the UST Guitar Department and
performed in prestigious venues in Metro Manila. In Spain, he performed in the Theatre Arniches and the
ADDA (Auditorio de la Dipucatión de Alicante) in Alicante. Currently, he is a member of the Silangan
Chamber Guitar Ensemble, which also performs in and out of Metro Manila.

He gave numerous concerts, recitals, and was featured as a guest in events like the Opening Concert
of the International Scientific Congress of Private Law of the Philippines & Spain (2016) and "Hapag at
Himig: A Night of Banquet and Beautiful Music" Philippine Psychiatric Association Presidential Gala Night
(2018). In the past years, he performed in venues in Spain (where he gave the Spanish Premiere of the
Batang Laro Suite for Guitar by Bayani Mendoza De Leon), California, Malayisa, and Metro Manila. He
was featured in the Manila Guitar Festival 2016 where he performed all the guitar works of Joaquín Turina.
In his concert, Una Noche de Cuerdas (2017), he performed the Concierto in A by Fernando Carulli along
with the Silangan Chamber Guitar Ensemble. He is currently a faculty member of the Faculty of Arts and
Letters of the University of Santo Tomas and the Presidential Committee on Arts, Culture, and Sports of
the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila. He occasionally gives master classes in different conservatories
in Manila and currently aims to further build his career as a concert artist and promote Philippine music
in different countries in the coming years.