04/10/2025
UST SHS, Conservatory of Music hold orientation for MAD students
By Alizah Raine Gandamra
In partnership with the University of Santo Tomas Conservatory of Music (USTCM), the Music, Arts, and Design (MAD) strand of the UST Senior High School (UST SHS) organized “Exploring Horizons 2025: MAD Tertiary Programs Orientation” at the Albertus Magnus Auditorium yesterday, October 3, 2025.
The orientation introduced Grade 12 MAD students to USTCM’s degree programs and majors, while presenting possible career paths and opportunities in the field of music. Earlier in September, similar tertiary orientations for other academic strands were conducted online, covering possible career paths aligned with their fields.
The program commenced at 12:30 PM with a presentation of USTCM academic programs by Mr. John S. Luke Jose, MM, who discussed the conservatory's areas of specialization and degree offerings. This was followed by a Q&A session, which allowed students to clarify their concerns about courses and application requirements.
In addition to the academic discussions, the event featured a musical showcase of solo and ensemble performances from student performers across various departments. The lineup included voice and music theater numbers, guitar and jazz ensembles, string quartets, and a performance by Coro Tomasino, reflecting the breadth of musical training available at USTCM.
Assoc. Prof. Mary Erika N. Bolaños, LPT, PhD, principal of UST SHS, emphasized the orientation’s importance of bridging SHS with tertiary preparation, noting that the orientation equips MAD students with insights for pursuing music-related programs.
The event concluded with an evaluation and a guided tour of the Conservatory’s facilities, marking a comprehensive introduction to university-level music education for the MAD students.
