RYAN CAYABYAB

is a Filipino musician, composer and conductor.

Born Raymundo Cayabyab in 1954 in Santa Cruz, Manila, he suffered
the death of his mother, Celerina Venson Pujante, when he was 6
years old. His father, Alberto Austria Cayabyab, who is an ordinary
government employee, struggled to support him and his three siblings.
An opera singer, his mother's dying wish was that none of the children
pursue a music career, as she knew what a hard life it was, with often
low earnings.
Cayabyab took his first piano lessons when he was four years old.

Cayabyab initially took up Bachelor of Science in Business

Administration in the University of the Philippines, Diliman.
Looking for work to support his studies, he landed with then-Senator
Salvador Laurel as accompanist for the Chorale Ensemble of the
Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP).
Noticing Cayabyab's exceptional talent on the piano, Laurel offered
Cayabyab a scholarship to enable him to pursue an education in
music.

Cayabyab graduated from the UP College of Music earning a

Bachelor of Music, Major in Theory degree.
Eventually, he became a full-time professor for the Department of
Composition and Music Theory in the UP Diliman for almost two
decades.
As music director, conductor and accompanist, Cayabyab has
performed in the United States with leading Philippine music figures,
at venues including Avery Fisher Hall in the Lincoln Center in New
York City; Carnegie Hall (both the Main and Recital halls) in New
York; the Kennedy Center and the Washington Convention Center in
Washington, D.C.; the Shrine in Los Angeles; the Orpheum in
Vancouver; and Circus Maximus of Caesars Palace on the Las Vegas
Strip.
He has traveled as music director in most of the Southeast Asian
cities, in the cities of Australia as well as in Germany, France, Spain,
the Netherlands, Japan, and the United States.
He has worked in the same shows with Sammy Davis Jr. and Frank
Sinatra, as well as conducted the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra
for special performances of American jazz singer Diane Schuur and
pianist Jim Chappel.
He has performed as music director in command performances for
King Hasan II in Rabat, Morocco, King Juan Carlos and Queen Sophia
of Spain in Manila, King Fahd of Saudi Arabia in Tangiers, Queen
Beatrix at the Noordeinde Palace in the Netherlands, and U.S.
President Bill Clinton in Boston, Massachusetts.
In Manila, he has conducted the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra, at
the Cultural Center of the Philippines for a concert of Philippine and
American contemporary music; and the Manila Chamber Orchestra for
a concert of his original works.
Ryan Ryan Musikahan, the television show, has won a total of
fourteen awards as Best Television Musical Show and for Mr.
Cayabyab, the Best Show Host in various television award-giving
bodies.
Likewise, as an artist, producer, arranger, and composer, he has won
a total of eighteen awards from the recording industry for various
commercial recordings.
He has produced albums of the popular Filipino teen group Smokey
Mountain, Broadway and West End's diva, Lea Salonga, and Spain's
internationally acclaimed singer Julio Iglesias.
In 1987 he composed and rearranged the classical version of
ABS-CBN jingle, which was used in the network's Station ID and
Station Notice during startup and closedown.
Cayabyab also composed the catchy jingle for an advertisement of a
soft drink brand Sarsi, entitled "Sarsi: Angat sa Iba" (Sarsi: Different
from Others) in 1989. The commercial became the most creative TV
ad of that year.
Cayabyab composed "Mabuhay", the opening song of Miss Universe
1994 pageant, held in Manila, Philippines.
In 2005, Cayabyab composed the theme song for the 23rd edition of
the SEA Games in Manila.
In 2006, Cayabyab signed on as a resident judge for the first season
of Philippine Idol, offering critiques for the contestants on the
reality-talent show. He was chosen by the top guns of Philippine Idol,
while the other two judges, Pilita Corrales and the late Francis
Magalona, had to undergo auditions.
He also composed the themes of TV Patrol and The World Tonight in
1993 and it was used until 1996 for TV Patrol (The World tonight has
since been using his composed theme from 1996 up to now).
Ryan Cayabyab has been a prolific movie composer and among the
movies that contain his original works are:

Kay Ganda ng Ating Musika (1976)

Magandang Gabi sa Inyong Lahat (1976)
Masikip, Maluwang...Paraisong Parisukat (1977)
Aguila (1979)
Desire (1982)
Karnal (1984)
Misis Mo, Misis Ko (1988)
Toyland ng Dalawang (1989)
Hihintayin Kita sa Langit (1991)
Ikaw Pa Lang ang Minahal (1992)
Kailangan Kita (1993)
Saan Ka Man Naroroon (1994)
Closer to Home (1995)
Inagaw Mo ang Lahat sa Akin (1995)
Abot Kamay ang Pangarap (1996)
Vulcan (1997)
Ligaya ang Itawag Mo sa Akin (1997)
Ang Lalaki sa Buhay ni Selya (1997)
Anak ng Bulkan (1997)
Tatlo...Magkasalo (1998)
Kahapon, May Dalawang Bata (1999)
Azucena (2000)
Deathrow (2000)
Ang Larawan (2017, his most recent work)
Theater
Among his many works, his theater musicals Noli Me Tangere and El
Filibusterismo have won acclaim and have been performed
extensively in the cities of Japan in 1994 and 1996.
Another musicale, Magnificat, has had nearly 200 performances.
His other popular musicals include Katy (words by Jose Javier Reyes),
Alikabok, Ilustrado and the classic pop-ballet Rama Hari (words by
2006 National Artist for Literature Bienvenido Lumbera).
His latest opera, Spoliarium (libretto by Fides Cuyugan-Asensio),
premiered in February 2003 at the Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo of
the CCP, and is to be followed by another opera also with Asensio,
Mariang Makiling at Ang Mga Nuno sa Punso, with music also by
Ryan Cayabyab.
In 2011, he lent his genius once more by composing music for the
concert Ageless Passion (libretto by Kristian Jeff Agustin), which was
commissioned by the family of retired Chief Justice Artemio V.
Panganiban, and staged at the Meralco theater. In 2016, "Ageless
Passion" was staged as a full musical, reuniting Cayabyab and
Agustin.
LORENZO, a musical on the life of St. Lorenzo Ruiz, also showcases
music composed and arranged by Ryan Cayabyab. LORENZO started
its runs in September 2013.
Ryan Cayabyab is 2004's Gawad CCP para sa Sining in MUsic.
On February 2, 1999, he was selected as one of the 100 awardees of
the CCP Centennial Honors for the Arts .
He became the first recipient of the Antonio C. Barreiro Achievement
Award on 4 May 1996 for significant and lasting contributions to the
growth and development of Filipino music.
Likewise, on 18 June 1996, Awit Awards, the recording industry
awards, awarded him a Lifetime Achievement Award for "invaluable
contribution and outstanding achievements in the promotion and
development of Filipino music."
The University of the Philippines Alumni Association has conferred
upon him the Professional Award in music for the year 1998.
In 2012, Ryan won the prestigious MYX Magna Award in the Myx
Music Awards 2012 for his achievements in music and in the OPM
industry.
Ryan Cayabyab The Music Studio, a music school that specializes in
developing outstanding performance artists is run by Emmy
Cayabyab, Ryan's wife. Established in 1986, the music studio has
trained a whole generation of young singer-performers who have
become nationally known Filipino performing artists.
Ryan Cayabyab was also the Executive and Artistic Director of the
San Miguel Foundation for the Performing Arts for several years. He
was the conductor of the San Miguel Philharmonic Orchestra (SMPO)
and the San Miguel Master Chorale (SMMC). Under his direction, the
SMPO and the SMMC recorded seven award-winning albums to date:
Great Filipino Love Songs (2004), Great Original Pilipino Music by
Ryan Cayabyab (2004), The Sacred Works of Ryan Cayabyab (2004),
Pasko I and Pasko II (2005), Great Original Pilipino Music from the
Movies (2006), and Dancing in the Rain (2006).
Discography

GREAT ORIGINAL PILIPINO MUSIC BY RYAN CAYABYAB All songs

in the album composed and arranged by Ryan Cayabyab. All songs
recorded in 2001, except tracks 5, 8, and 9, which are SMMC a
capella tracks and were recorded in 2004. This album received three
nominations in the 18th Awit Awards aside from winning Best Musical
Arrangement for Tuwing Umuulan at Kapiling Ka. Under Sony-BMG
Pilipinas.
PASKO I Festive Filipino Christmas classics, all songs arranged &
conducted by Ryan Cayabyab and performed by the SMPO and the
SMMC. Certified Gold Record. Under Sony-BMG Pilipinas.
PASKO II Mellow Filipino Christmas classics, all songs arranged &
conducted by Ryan Cayabyab and performed by the SMPO and the
SMMC. Certified Gold Record. "Isang Taong Lumipas" won as 'Best
Christmas Song' during the 19th Awit Awards. Under Sony-BMG
Pilipinas.
SPOLIARIUM: THE OPERA An neo-opera in three acts based on the
life of renowned Filipino painter Juan Luna. Music by Ryan Cayabyab,
libretto by Fides Cuyugan-Asensio.
THE FILIPINO CLASSICS A collection of Filipino classics from the
1920s up to the 1960s. All songs arranged & conducted by Ryan
Cayabyab and performed by Basil Valdez accompanied by the SMPO.
Sequel albums 2 and 3 are said to be produced if this first album
performs well in the market. This album became No. 1 at Tower
Records in one month's time since it was released. Certified Gold
Record. Under Viva Records.
THE SACRED WORKS OF RYAN CAYABYAB Religious
compositions of Cayabyab. Misa was his thesis composition for his
graduation at the University of the Philippines College of Music. Misa
2000 was composed for and won as Original Music Composition for
Dance in the 2000 Onassis International Cultural Competition in
Greece. This album won as 'Best Religious Album' in the 2004
Catholic Mass Media Awards. Under Sony-BMG Records.
BEAUTY AND THE BEAST Songs from the Philippine run of the
musical Beauty and the Beast, arranged and conducted by Ryan
Cayabyab, performed by the musical's main cast with the SMPO and
the SMMC.
GREAT ORIGINAL PILIPINO MUSIC FROM THE MOVIES
Well-known and well-loved theme songs from Filipino movies.
Recorded live in July 2006 and released December of that year.
Mainly featuring the SMMC, accompanied by the SMPO. Choral
arrangements by Ryan Cayabyab, Jesus Carlo Merino, Ed
Nepomuceno and Nathanael Arnel de Pano (the latter 2 being section
leaders of the SMMC Tenors and Basses, respectively), and Eudenice
Palaruan (SMMC Principal Conductor). All orchestrations by Ryan
Cayabyab. Under Sony-BMG Pilipinas.
DANCING IN THE RAIN Latin jazz pieces (mostly instrumentals)
written, arranged, and produced by Ryan Cayabyab. Recorded live in
August 2006 and released December of that year. Under Sony-BMG
Pilipinas.
ONE Features old Filipino classics and some of Cayabyab's earliest
hits, performed a capella by Ryan Cayabyab's 16 voices.
ONE CHRISTMAS A collection of classic Filipino Christmas songs,
including original compositions performed a cappella by Cayabyab.
ONE MORE All songs composed, arranged, and performed a capella
by Cayabyab.
ROOTS TO ROUTES (Pinoy Jazz II) Cayabyab's first album, featuring
jazz arrangements of well-known Filipino tunes.
THE SILVER ALBUM A collection of Ryan Cayabyab's hits throughout
the years, performed by various well-known Filipino artists.
Awards
Ryan Cayabyab is a recipient of the Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice in 2013.
Pope Francis awarded him the highest papal award for Laity for his
many contributions in the field of religious-themed compositions and
sacred works.
He is also a TOYM (Ten Outstanding Young Men) awardee for
contemporary Filipino music in 1978.
He won the Grand Prize award at the first Metro Manila Popular Music
Festival for the song "Kay Ganda ng Ating Musika".
“To young aspiring composers/singers who seek to follow in my
footsteps learn, learn, learn. Study, study, study everything you can
about songwriting or music making. Be patient. Success is not what
one should aim for, but aim to be the best, be an authority, gain
respect and aspire for personal happiness. Everything else follows.
Also, be kind and humble all the time,” Cayabyab advised.