What Makes a Music Leader?

What Makes a Music Leader?
A SEAMLI and SEADOM Congress Experience

At a time when the world has seen rapid changes in society with the advancement of technology and the emergence of artificial intelligence (AI), what does it take to lead and make an impact as a musician today? Come, listen, and take part in unpacking and processing the many valuable insights and significant discussion points about being a music leader today from the recent Southeast Asia Music Leadership Initiative (SEAMLI) and Southeast Asian Directors of Music (SEADOM) Congress 2023 held last March 6-11 in Mahidol University in Thailand.

Register now: bit.ly/WhatMakesAMusicLeader2023

About the Speaker:

Ricardo Juanito “RJ” Balledos is a Master’s in Guitar Performance student at the University of the Philippines College of Music (UP CMu). He served as a student leader in various capacities for several years: as the Music Representative to the UP Diliman University Student Council in AY 2017-2018, Vice-Chairperson of the UP College of Music Student Council in AY 2018-2019, and eventually as its Chairperson from 2019 extending until the holdover term in 2021. He spearheaded the MusiKaakbay: Musika at Bayanihan online fundraising concert series as its Overall Director which was held last May to June 2020 to assist the students and staff of the UP College of Music, as well as the healthcare workers in the UP Health Service.

RJ graduated Bachelor of Music in Guitar Performance, cum laude, and was also the recipient of the Gawad Dekano para sa Natatanging Paglilingkod o Serbisyo 2020. Last June 2021, RJ received the Gawad Tsanselor para sa Natatanging Mag-aaral, the highest, most prestigious University award given to students who have attained a high level of academic accomplishment, demonstrated good leadership, and exemplified “honor and excellence in the service of the people. He is currently a University Research Associate at UP CMu, and has been part of several initiatives and projects of the College such as the project G.T.A.R.A. (Grip/Grasp Training with Active Range of Motion Activities using Guitar): Guitar Lessons for Restoring Hand Function Among Patients with Unilateral Hand Impairment from Chronic Stroke as its Project Manager, and of the Gitara at Awit: Panimulang Klase sa Paggigitara para sa Manggagawa ng UP Diliman as a Guitar Instructor.

RJ is also one of the SEADOM 30 Under 30 artists, a group of outstanding Southeast Asian music leaders under the age of 30 who embrace the multiplicity and hybridity of various musical styles and genres present in Southeast Asia. This group creatively fuses tradition and innovation, and is passionate about cultivating the next generation of musicians and audiences in their respective countries and across the region. Very recently, RJ and the rest of SEADOM 30 Under 30 artists attended the Southeast Asia Music Leadership Initiative (SEAMLI) and the Southeast Asian Directors of Music (SEADOM) Congress in Mahidol, University in Thailand. There they were mentored by seasoned Southeast Asian music leaders into becoming better next-generation leaders, as well as discussed the present circumstances, challenges, and opportunities for music as a discipline in the academe in their respective countries.

As an artist and a music leader, RJ advocates and wishes to see changes in the Southeast Asian music scene where efforts are directed towards using music in forging and strengthening connections with different disciplines which can be in the form of projects such as sustainable instrument-making in collaboration with scholars in the engineering field; this can be in the form of music therapy, music rehabilitation, or music-wellness programs, in collaboration with doctors and experts in the medical field. He believes that by doing all of these, guided by a strong principle and goal of helping people and fellow citizens, we are creating additional value for music as a discipline, such that it will not be simply viewed as a tool for mere entertainment, but as a powerful tool for pushing for social progress and building societies.

Source: UP Kolehiyo ng Musika Facebook