Arne Lubasan soars high with the USA Troubadours
Arne Sunico Lubasan
At 41, this man has achieved so much in the musical arena. He's no less than Arne Sunico Lubasan, the director of the famous University of San Agustin (USA) Troubadours.
A graduate of the Master of Arts in Educational Management from the USA, Lubasan also teaches applied music like piano and voice, theoretical and pedagogical subjects including chorus and conducting. His piano and voice students range from elementary to college level.
As a student, he won in the 1990 National Music Competition for Young Artist (NAMCYA) Solo Voice Male Category, College Level held at the Cultural Center of the Philippines.
Under his directorship, the USA Troubadours won in the College Choir Category of the NAMCYA in 1996 and 2002.
Arne with a Korean delegate
The USA Troubadours represented the country in the 5th Philippine International Choral Festival held at the CCP and several heritage sites in Laguna in September 2003.
Also, under his directorship, the USA Troubadours was adjudged Grand National Champion of the Department of Tourism's WOW Philippines Himig Pinoy Choral Competition, Best of the Best of the Regions last December 2003. They won P200,000 and a presidential trophy.
The USA Troubadours was invited to perform in Samu't Saring Himig, showcasing the best University Choirs in the Philippines in February of 2004 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines in Manila.
With the USA Troubadours
He conducted the same choir when it participated in the 2005 Apec Busan International Choral Festival in Busan, Korea in November 2005.
He is one of the most celebrated and sought-after vocal coaches and accompanists in Western Visayas Region. After all, several of his students won in major singing competitions both in regional and national levels.
He is active as guest lecturer in music workshops sponsored by the Department of Education and other civic and religious organizations.
The USA Troubadours at the 5th Busan APEC
Choral Festival and Competition
He served as musical director to several productions produced by the USA as well as other arts organizations like the Arts Council of Iloilo City, National Commission for Culture and the Arts, National Heritage Council, Association of Hotels and Resorts of Iloilo City, and Instituto Cervantes, the cultural arm of the Spanish Embassy in the Philippines.
He served as pianist for the Baptist Center Church in La Paz from 1987 to 1992. From 1999 to present, he is a pianist for the Jaro Evangelical Church, the first Baptist Church in the Philippines.