Lucio San Pedro

Lucio D. San Pedro is a master composer, conductor, and teacher whose music evokes the folk elements of the Filipino heritage. Cousin to painter "Botong" Francisco, San Pedro has produced a wide-ranging body of works that includes band music, concertos for violin and orchestra, choral works, cantatas, chamber music, music for violin and piano, and songs for solo voice. He was the conductor of the much acclaimed Peng Kong Grand Mason Concert Band, the San Pedro Band of Angono, his father's former band, and the Banda Angono Numero Uno. His civic commitment and work with town bands have significantly contributed to the development of a civic culture among Filipino communities and opened a creative outlet for young Filipinos. Maestro Lucio San Pedro was born on February 11, 1913 in Angono, Rizal. His involvement in music started when his father Elpidio San Pedro, put up his family band, thus exposing young Lucio to the world of conducting and composition. He obtained his teacher’s diploma in composition and conducting at the University of the Philippines Conservatory of Music. He taught at various universities and colleges such as St. Scholastica’s College, La Concordia College, the Philippine Women’s University, and the UP College of Music. For 60 years, he wrote hymns, masses, chamber music, even incidental music and movie themes and scores. He earned the Republic Cultural Heritage Award in 1962 for his composition Lahing Kayumanggi. Following in the footsteps of his father, he led their family band, the Angono Municipal Symphonic Band. His orchestral music include The Devil's Bridge, Malakas at Maganda Overture, Prelude and Fugue in D minor, Hope and Ambition; choral music Easter Cantata, Sa Mahal Kong Bayan, Rizal's Valedictory Poem; vocal music Lulay, Sa Ugoy ng Duyan, In the Silence of the Night; and band music Dance of the Fairies, Triumphal March, Lahing Kayumanggi, Angononian March among others. He was conferred the National Artist for Music in 1991.