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ANTHONY GO VILLANUEVA

Musical Director

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Anthony Go Villanueva—choral conductor, pianist, and singer—is acknowledged as one of the Philippines' most esteemed choral conductors of his generation, with his musical dynamism enabling him to reach a level of success and distinction rarely found at his very young age. Part of Anthony's early musical foundation was his years studying at the University of Santo Tomas (UST), where he majored in Piano and Choral Conducting under the tutelage of music luminaries Dr. Raul Sunico and Prof. Fidel Calalang Jr., respectively. In 2018, he finished his degree in Music, majoring in Choral Conducting, at the Philippine Women's University. He has enriched his solid choral experience as a former member of the UST Singers, which he considers his most significant influence. He now shares this knowledge and experience in successfully handling Kammerchor Manila. During his time with the UST Singers, Anthony received the Benavides Outstanding Achievement Award for winning the Choir of the World in 2010.

 

Anthony started his conducting career in 2011 with Kammerchor Manila, a church-based choir comprising young professionals from various walks of life. The group is a three-time recipient of the Philippine National Commission for Culture and the Arts' Ani ng Dangal Award in 2016, 2019, and 2022. Since taking the helm, Anthony has led Kammerchor Manila in numerous local and international performances, tours, and competitions. In 2013, the group won 3rd place in the Chamber Choir Category at the 1st Andrea O. Veneracion International Choral Festival. In 2014, the choir was hailed as the Absolute Winner during the Grand Prix Round at the 42nd Festival of Songs in Olomouc, Czech Republic, where they also bagged several Gold Medals and 

were hailed as winners in multiple categories. In 2017, the choir was the Grand Prix Winner at the 1st Leonardo da Vinci International Choral Festival held in Florence, Italy, 1st Prize winner in Habaneras, 2nd Prize winner in Polyphony at the 63rd Certamen Internacional de Habaneras y Polifonia in Torrevieja, Spain. The group was also a Finalist in the Grand Prix Round at the 8th Musica Eterna Roma, in Rome, Italy, where they also received multiple Gold Diploma awards in different categories in the said festival. In 2021, the choir was hailed as the Grand Prix winner of the Queen of the Adriatic Sea International Choral Festival and Competition (2021 Virtual Edition) held in Cattolica in the province of Rimini, Italy. In the same competition, Anthony was also awarded as Best Conductor.

Aside from Kammerchor Manila, Anthony Villanueva is also the conductor of the following choirs:

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  • The Commerce Cantemus Chorale (2006 – 2013), where he was awarded Best Conductor at the Annual UST Himig Tomasino for two consecutive years in 2012 and 2013.

  • The Pag-IBIG Fund Chorale (from 2011 – 2018) was the Grand Champion at the 2014 Civil Service National Choral Competition and winner of 2 Gold Medals and 1 Silver Medal at the Festa Musicale Grand Prix Pattaya in Thailand in July 2015.

  • The Cignal HD Vocal Ensemble (2014 – 2016) won the Grand Prize in the Open Category of the TNG Choral Competition in December 2014 and 2016.

  • The Philippine National Oil Company Chorale (2015 – present)

  • The Minstrels Rhythm of Hope (2017 – present), whom he toured with in Europe from April to June 2017 and Canada in October 2019. Under his baton, the group won 2nd place at the Musica FEUropa 10 in May 2018.

  • Land Transportation Office – National Capital Region Choral (2017–present) won 1st place at the 2018 Inter-LTO National Choral Competition.

  • Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Singers (2018 – present) won 1st place at the 2019 Civil Service Commission Government Chorale Competition.

  • National Power Corporation Chorale (2018 – present)

  • Infor Manila Chorale (2018 – 2020) won 2nd place at the 2017 TNG Choral Competition, 1st place at the 2018 TNG Christmas Choral Competition, and Champion of the 2019 NEO Choral Competition

  • Philippine Cultural College (2018 – 2020), which was hailed as the Grand Champion at the 2019 Inter-Chinese Schools Choral Competition

  • Miriam College High School Glee Club (2019 – 2020), which placed 2nd at the Andrea O. Veneracion International Choral Festival – Equal Voices Category in August 2019

  • Letran Singing Ambassadors (2022 – present), was the grand champion at the 6th Biñan National Choral Competition in Biñan, Laguna

  • Malabon Concert Singers (2020 – present) was the grand champion at the International Virtual Christmas Music Festival held virtually in Sri Lanka in 2021, the 5th Biñan National Choral Competition held at Biñan, Laguna in 2022, and the winner in the Open Choir Category in the 2nd Ken Steven International Choir Festival in North Sumatra, Indonesia. In the same competition, he was hailed as the Best Conductor.

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Anthony is consistently invited as a guest conductor to conduct workshops, choir clinics, and concerts in various countries, including Canada, China, South Korea, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Singapore. He is also invited as an adjudicator in prestigious international competitions in Malaysia and Finland.

 

Aside from his international stints, he is also regularly invited as an adjudicator of national competitions such as the National Music Competition for Young Artists Foundation (NAMCYA), the Civil Service National Chorale Competition, Voices and Harmony, and Alay Kay Don Bosco.

 

He was a "Dangal ng Malabon" recipient at the recently concluded 38th Gintong Parangal ng Malabon in October 2019. The award was vested to Anthony by the Municipality of Malabon to acknowledge his excellence in the field of music as a way to recognize citizens of Malabon that excel in their field of expertise. Most recently, he was given the distinction of "Most Outstanding Individual Achievement as Musical Director" by the Asian Sterling Awards for his achievements. He was also awarded a Medal of Distinction by the Global Globe Annual Awards Council for Outstanding and Significant Achievement as Musical Director.

 

After winning as the Best Conductor at the Queen of the Adriatic Sea International Choral Festival and Competition, Anthony received his 1st Ani ng Dangal award from Philippine National Commission for Culture and the Arts. He recently joined the International Choral Conductors Federation as one of the organization's founding members, along with some of the most esteemed conductors of his generation.

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