CLSU MAESTRO - SINGERS

The CLSU Maestro-Singers of the Central Luzon State University was organized in
1998 by a Classic Fulbright Scholar, Dr. Florante P. Ibarra, serving as CLSU’s
cultural ambassadors, the group had won numerous awards in local, regional,
national, and international levels. After merely four years of existence, the Singers
have gained a lot in terms of competition awards enough to say that they are
successful in earning fame in choral singing. Recently, the group won 2 awards in
the recently concluded Leonardo Da Vinci International Choir Festival hosted by
Florence Choral in Italy namely Gold Medal, Gold Diploma and Category
Champion in Virtual Choir Category V, Silver Diploma in Sacred Music Category
last July 2021. The group also bagged awards in the 3rd BCS World Virtual Choir
Festival hosted by Bandung Choral Society in Indonesia namely Gold Medal
Award in the Folklore Category and the Most Viewed Friendship Concert Entry
last May 2021. Awarded Gold Diploma Award in Mixed Choir Category and Silver
Diploma Award in Sacred Music Category in the 4th Macau International Choral

Competition held at Macau, China in 2019. At present, the CLSU Maestro-Singers
maintains their high standard in choral singing and sustaining the university’s
reputation as a dynamic and respected state university in the Philippines, not only
in the field of agriculture and allied sciences but also in the field of choral music.

JEZREEL DAVE L. LEYBAG

JEZREEL DAVE L. LEYBAG, LPT

Instructor I, College of Education

Mr. Leybag is a licensed professional teacher where his expertise covers visual arts, music education, and performances. Earning his bachelor’s degree from Central Luzon State University, He finished his studies with flying colors as he bagged an academic distinction of Cum Laude and also confered as Cultural Awardee - both University and College level. In like manner, he completed his Applied Music majoring in Voice (Level 1 -7) under the tutelage of National Vocal Coach and Fullbright Professor, Maestro Florante “Randy” Ibarra. He was also hailed as one of the Top 3 Most Outstanding Students of CLSU and nominated as "Lider Estudyante ng Taon" in 2018.
As the choirmaster of Cuyapo Rang-ay Ensemble and the prestigious CLSU Maestro-Singers, he participated in various international and national trainings, choral festivals, workshops and have competed in regional, national, and international choral competitions. He was also part of the Sing Philippines Youth Choir (SPYC) Batch 4 with Prof. Mark Anthony Carpio as their choirmaster.
At present, Jezreel Dave is also the Musical Director and the Assistant Youth Leader of ODBBC, the Graphic Artist and Visual Director of ODCA, Higher Education/Institution Coordinator of the Nueva Ecija Youth Network, and a Culture and Arts Instructor at the College of Education - CLSU.
Likewise, he is a volunteer at his town where he participates and conducts donation drives to their LGU.
Mr. Leybag envisages to honor and serve his Alma Mater through musical, cultural, and educational endeavors.

FLORANTE P. IBARRA

Gaining international recognition, Dr. Ibarra was a recipient of the 2009 Classic Fulbright Scholarship Award to the United States. He finished his doctorate degree in Music and Music Education (2009-2012) at Columbia University – Graduate School of Education- in the City of New York, USA. He took up voice and choral pedagogy with Dr. Jeanne Goffi - Fynn of Julliard School of Music. Popularly known as Maestro Randy, he graduated Master of Music in Choral Conducting at the University of the Philippines, Diliman, College of Music and Bachelor’s degree in Music Education (Voice) at the University Of Santo Tomas Conservatory Of Music with distinct honor of Cum Laude. He studied choral conducting with Dr. Raul Navarro, Prof. Nicanor Mazo Jr., and and had first lesson in classical singing with Prof. Luzviminda Dominguez Gonzales, popularly called ‘TitaVina’, one of the pioneering members of UP Madrigal Singers. He also studied voice under the tutelage of Maestra Salvacion Oppus - Yniguez and Prof. Gloria Dizon-Coronel.

A multi-awarded choral conductor, he trained several winners in the National Music Competition for Young Artists (NAMCYA) and the Literary-Musical Competitions of the Development Council of State and Universities in the Philippines (DCSUC). He attended various international choral workshops the United States, Israel, Singapore, Thailand, and Indonesia. At present, Dr. Ibarra is proudly affiliated with the Central Luzon State University College of Education teaching core courses in music and arts, and continues to perform here and abroad. As music researcher, he has published research articles on teaching and learning indigenous musical traditions in referred international journals such as International Journal of Community Music and The Qualitative Report both indexed in Scopus.