Ricardo Abapo Jr., pianist

17/09/2026

🎹

Experience an extraordinary celebration of heritage, voice, and keys with Pista Sa Nayon: A Tapestry of Filipino Music Through The Ages! Join us as we bring together exceptional vocalists and a dynamic piano ensemble for an unforgettable evening honoring the depth and vibrance of Filipino music across generations.

Featuring the artistry of our stellar performers:
Elizabeth Veronica Cabahug, soprano
Jon Riam Quizo, baritone
Katrina Marie Saga-Talaroc, soprano
James Alkene Rizza Lamuna, tenor
Maria Elcon Kleine Koerkamp, soprano
Melody Enero-Lumagod, soprano

with pianists,
Ricardo Abapo Jr.
Gina Raakin
Lemoine Poligrates
Nathaniel Bicoy

Show Schedules:
Septebmer 25, 2026 | 7:00 PM (Gala Season Pass)
Septebmer 26, 2026 | 1:00 PM (Matinee Season Pass)

Claire Isabel McGill Luce Auditorium
Silliman University

Ticket Prices: ₱500 | ₱800 | ₱1,000

For inquiries and reservations, message us or contact:
📧 [email protected]
📞 09073691338 / (035) 422-1901 loc. 522
🏢 CAC Office (2/F COPVA II, 9 AM–5 PM)

31/08/2026

Finally able to make a score video of this composition.

This is Usahay (Sometimes), a Visayan traditional, in the style of a nocturne written solely for the left hand. Started as a thought exercise —when I was learning the Ravel Concerto for the Left Hand—but sprang to life with much inspiration, honesty, and vulnerability during the writing process. There are several stylistic and harmonic language references embedded here, but I guess my favorite is the 'Bortkiewiczian lingering' in the transition towards the Db section.

A huge part of the imagery and inspiration while I was writing this was a vivid memory from when I was a freshman in Silliman. I was on my way to the old COPA building (Guy Hall) from Narra Cottage (where I used to stay then) when suddenly there was a total power outage. It was completely dark. When I looked up, there were so many stars. The sky looked dreamy from the absence of light pollution. When I was approaching the house across the gym, I was wondering why there was a record playing in the background, yet it was still dark.

The song was "Smoke Gets In Your Eyes" by The Platters. If you're a millennial, you know this song! I remember thinking, "Wow, this recording of this song is so beautiful!". I then sneakily sat down on the white metal chair that was just outside the house, admiring the beautiful music that was playing. The record sounded like those old recordings from the 50s or 60s. The piano playing was just so incredibly beautiful and intricate, and the male singer had this powerful tenor voice that was so pleasant to listen to. I was just sitting there in the dark, totally immersed and engulfed in this admiration.

Right in the middle of the song, a silhouette of a man formed by the windows, and I could hear the singing get louder and clearer. I was like "Wait, this is not a recording? It's live??? It can't be." "Someone's singing?Someone's playing the piano like this???" Then, of course, it was total blackout still, and it kind of made sense... but I was in such a state of disbelief because I swear it really sounded like a record, BUT I had to scramble out because the male figure was looking outside, and I didn't want to be accused of being a thief! lol So I hurriedly got up and left.

Eventually I found out that that was THE Vista house, and of course it was none other than the legendary duo, Lola Bobbie and Lolo Badong. I am so grateful for that experience. Definitely one of the highlights of my student days in Silliman. And so while I was writing this piece and looking back at this wonderful memory, I just had to dedicate this composition to Lola Bobbie (and by extension, to Lolo Badong). This piece is a glimpse of that night.

This video was recorded by Pastor Jan in a church in Moline, Illinois. I'm glad Pastor Jan took a video because this is the only video I have of this piece from our concert series last December in the US.

Funny enough, I premiered and performed it many times there, yet I haven't performed it in public here in the Philippines; perhaps in the near future I'd be able to. I gotta practice!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k6K48frIwII

21/08/2026

Hitting two birds with one stone:
Buwan Ng Wika tribute, and a tribute to Silliman's 125th Founding Anniversary this week!

Sharing my latest composition: Dagat Dagat "Sea Shanties" (can alternatively be called Kinhason) —a work for 1 piano and 4 pianists; hence, piano 8-hands! It is pure chaos and fun! haha!

My friends, all from Silliman, will do the world premiere of this work next month in our piano ensemble concert called Piknik! Exciting!

This piece's main theme is a Visayan folk song called "Kinhason" (seashells). It is a folk song that narrates all sorts of seashells one can find in the ocean. The very last line, "mangahubog" (to get drunk) —can be jokingly taken as "mga hubog" ("the drunks")—is quoted at the very end, perhaps as a jab at the four pianists for doing this utter madness. 🤣

A sea-themed tune quotation from a popular video game ( ) portraying how the character (in this case, Filemon) goes to the sea "para mamasol sa kadagatan" (to catch fish) serves as a transition leading towards the slow section. Si Filemon, another popular upbeat Visayan folk song, is transformed into a melancholic tune to offer a contrasting serene "à la notturno" section.

The recapitulation of the main theme appears after the slow middle section. It eventually gets taken over by a groovy boogie-woogie coda, and finally ends with some flair. These past few years and months, I've listened to a lot of blues (both actively and passively—thanks to Douglas), such as in Spicy Haus, Valencia (great food and music, btw!), and observed how they jam and stack up on each other. I took that idea and incorporated it in the coda of this composition.

There are other sea-related folk songs hidden and quoted in this work, as well as several melodic and rhythmic references. On top of that, various stylistic and harmonic references (such as Milhaud, Bortkiewicz, Joplin, Gershwin, Bernstein, Gates, Lavignac, Hamelin, Cayabyab, Talaroc, etc.) are interspersed, whether they are deliberate, an afterthought, or just an uncanny resemblance.

Hope you'll enjoy this work as much as I did when I was writing this!
So excited for the chaos in the rehearsals! 😁

Also available in my YT channel:

https://youtu.be/6zr_-rLTN68?si=9UGSanb63Ry_uFQS

24/05/2026

What the current state of the Senate of the Philippines sounds like:

12/05/2026

So happy and proud of my student for getting a Gold Medal from VAYA International Festival based in Vancouver, Canada. 😍❤️

21/03/2026

Proud of my online piano student who did his recital today in Manila. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

Knight Rupert
R. Schumann

Thanks T. Jonathan for recording my student! :)

14/02/2026

Because it’s still Valentine’s in some parts of the world. I was recording the songs I heard in my recent trip, and suddenly I remembered this song which I heard more than 10 years ago! I just had to find the score and record it.

The other side of Valentine’s—-this is for the ones who have their TOTGAs. 😭

Lover, Come Back To Me
Sigmun Romberg/Oscar Hammerstein

04/02/2026

Hear this a lot in short form videos these days.
Just had to get rid of this earworm lol

La Maritza
Sylvie Vartan

31/12/2025

…..and a Happy New Year!!!

No piano? No problem. haha!
Happy New Year to everyone, especially to my friends, family, and my students. I hope to see you very soon!!!

19/12/2025

This was really fun! So glad I was able to share this experience with my awesome friends who are thriving and growing here in the US! It was so easy to have fun when you’re in such great company!

I’m so grateful and privileged that 3 of my works had their world premieres on such a beautiful , historic, and intimate hall. The works were well-received and the audience were so sweet and appreciative.

*Usahay, A Nocturne for the Left Hand Alone (solo)
*Ang Mga Maya Sa Kabukiran (Birds of the Countryside) (piano 4-hands)
*Kalesa x Kalesa (original concept version) (piano 6-hands)

This was just the 3rd concert of the concert series we’re doing over the holidays, more to come the next few weeks. I am so grateful for this wonderful opportunity and experience Christian Gonzales! Thank you so much!!!!! (echosera haha!)