Zamora
considers Fr. Zacharias Jimenez as his "Ryan Cayabyab in Bohol" - being
his first music teacher at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary and to whom he
eventually became the assistant.
He
comes from a family of musicians. His father was a great banjo/bandurria player
as well as a scriptwriter and director. He also played the trumpet for DWCT Band
when he was in college. The late former city Mayor Honorio Grupo, also a composer
was Zamora's grandmother's brother.
But
Zamora looks at his two aunts as also being influential in his pursuit for the
music and priestly life. His aunt, Aniana "Naning" Zamora taught him
how to read the notes on the piano, particularly the bass clef. His other aunt
Francisca "Cacay" Zamora was the one who bought him a piano at home
which made the difference. As such, he has dedicated his studio and production
name to his two aunts as "Franz Music Production" for Francisca and
Aniana, hence Franz, not Fr. Arnold Zamora as somebody mistakenly thought and
at one time gave him a plaque with Arnold N. Zamora.
For
15 years since becoming the music director of the IHMS in 1986, he has arranged
songs for every graduation.
The
new generation of Jeduthun Concert was also considered really a big thing. In
fact, the Jeduthun Ensemble was granted an audience with then President Corazon
Aquino at the Malacanang Palace to present the video of the concert, being a presentation
for the first anniversary of the EDSA revolution.
Despite
already having started his formal music school, he had to cut a semester to
help in the 40th (Ruby Jubilee) Anniversary of IHMS in August, 1990.
The
"HIUSATLO" concert was a term Zamora made up in short for ''hiusa''
or panaghiusa sa tulo, pari, seminarista ug laygo. . It was an offshoot or result
of the first diocesan synod in 1997 when there was a unity of people. This unity
was presented in a concert where the old priests and nuns joined to perform a
dance and sing.
The
name Chorus Paulinus was coined from the St. Paul the Apostle Parish in Timog,
Quezon City where Arnold Zamora was stationed and where we started the group.
It was registered with the Philippine Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
During
registration, the organizational structure included a music director/choirmaster,
assistant music director/choirmaster, head of external affairs (in-charge of the
concert and engagements), head of internal affairs, like the president of the
group, vice president, treasurer, secretary and librarians, someone in charge
of costumes. In addition, there were individual committees l for concerts, souvenir
program and parties.
The
members of the Singing Priests of Tagbilaran or SPOT were just hand picked by
Arnold Zamora because of his knowledge of the better singers or best singers in
every generation or every class of IHMS. In fact, some of the members are already
his students at IHMS. like Fr. Edick Monreal and Fr. Jun Ligtas,
The
proceeds of the first U.S. concert was used for the seed money of the priest's
standard living allowance, which is a monthly standard salary for priests.
The
proceeds of the second U.S. concert proceeds were for the health plan of the clergy.
Both SPOT concerts were first financed by the diocese, then later reimbursed plus
the net income.
Besides
choral conducting, Zamora does more of music directing, too. Other than Chorus
Paulinus and SPOT, he has also conducted the Philippine Consulate Choir at the
Philippine Consulate in San Francisco, California, Filipino Priests Concert in
the U.S. and FilAmusika, his new formed group of Filipino and American young adults.
In addition, he is also the music director of the Star of the Sea Parish and conducts
the Stella Maris Choir at Star of the Sea Parish along Geary Avenue, San Francisco,
California, USA.
(Notes:
Last February 10, 2007, Fr. Zamora marked his natal day as well as his 15th year
anniversary of his founding the Chorus Paulinus and the official launching of
www.arnoldzamora.org).
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