Ronaldo Raz

Ronaldo Javier Raz is a prize-winning choral conductor, choral clinician and composer from the Philippines. He went to the University of Sto. Tomas (UST) Conservatory of Music and studied choral conducting under Prof. Ricardo Mazo and since then, he has been adjudicating and facilitating choral workshops/clinics both in local and international competitions and festivals such as the following, all in Malaysia: 21st International Art & Festival in Genting, 2011-2012; Concordis Festival of Choirs in Johor Bahru, 2011-2012; Jubilate IV Festival of Choirs in Port Dickson.

As musical director-conductor of the Sta. Teresita Parish Chorale (STPC), he lead the group to win in various competitions on festivals, local and abroad. Two of the group's major accolades include the: 2007 Grand Prize in "A Voyage of Songs" in Pattaya Thailand which bested 32 other choirs from Europe, Australia, and Asia; as winner of three (3) gold medals and the title in Folkloric Category in the 1st Bandung International Choral Competition in Bandung, Indonesia in 2010.

He is also the conductor of One Voice Vocal Ensemble which comprised of UST Engineering faculty members and led the group in winning three championships in 2007, 2009, and 2012 in Himig Tomasino. Aside from being a choral clinician and conductor, Raz found a new passion for making church music especially liturgical music. He launched his first book “The Mass of St. Therese” in 2010 as response to the new translation of the Roman Missal Third Edition which is widely used now in most of the Catholic churches in the Philippines and reached as far as Norway. His second book ‘’The Mass of St. Francis” was launched in 2016. He has also been arranging and composing new choral pieces intended for choral competitions. In 2017, 4 of his choral works for children’s choir were premiered in Singapore Youth Festival. Three of which are poems of his former mentor in Theatre, Niles Jordan Breis. They are collaborating to produce original secular choral music.

Raz is the co-owner of RAZ Music and Arts School located in Dasmariñas, Cavite and Imus Cavite. He is one of the Board of Directors of the organization of Filipino composers who specializes in choral music. He is also an active member of Philippine Choral Directors Association (PCDA). Raz is the musical director of RAZ Singing Cherubim founded in 2017. The ensemble were able to gain recognition in international competitions such as Children and Youth Choir festival in Hong Kong and Asia Arts Festival in Singapore.