Artist Spotlight: Composer, Melissa Orquiza
We’re introducing the composers we’ve commissioned for the “5 Composers/1 Theme” project. Next up under the spotlight is composer and FASO cellist Melissa Orquiza! Watch the premiere of her work and our four other composers on Saturday, Oct. 16 at 7:30 p.m. PST (Sunday, Oct. 17 at 10:30 a.m. Philippine Standard Time) via Facebook Live.
Melissa’s father, Dr. Rene S. Orquiza in Cabiao.
1. Melissa’s parents are doctors who immigrated to the U.S. from the Philippines during a physicians’ shortage in the 1970’s.
Her mother is a pediatric oncologist from Ilocos Norte and her father is a radiologist with a specialty in nuclear medicine from Cabiao, Nueva Ecija. When her dad received a scholarship to Ateneo de Manila University as a young boy, her lola was overjoyed and their family wondered how that was possible. He later earned an NIH scholarship to the U.S. and met Melissa’s mother at John Hopkins University. While standing in a hospital hallway, his pick-up line was “Are you Filipina?”
2. Melissa leads a decorated career in music, with work on hundreds of films, including the “Pirates” franchise, ”Soul,” ”Frozen 2,” and “Encanto” (which releases this November!)
Melissa’s parents assumed that their daughter would follow in their footsteps and become a physician. Little did they know that their daughter would end up working in music preparation, orchestration, arranging, and composing for the film industry. Melissa’s father, who comes from a small rice-farming town, still cannot believe he has a daughter who works in motion pictures! Melissa currently works for Booker White, head of music preparation at Walt Disney Studios, and plays piano and cello. Melissa also holds a bachelor’s and master’s in music, and earned a Deans Scholarship to the University of Southern California and the Elaine Krown Klein Scholarship to University of California, Los Angeles.
Melissa celebrating her first communion with her ninong and siblings.
3. Melissa’s interest in Philippine music wouldn’t have been possible without the support of her family, especially her Ninong Attorney Jesus Disini.
Like many ninongs, Ninong Jesus would visit and regale Melissa’s family with stories of the Philippines. He watched her play music throughout her entire childhood. When her lolo passed away in 2006, her ninong, his wife, and her uncle, Attorney Domingo Disini, spent hours photocopying four volumes worth of Philippine folk songs, which generally aren’t taught in American music conservatories.
4. Melissa’s connection to FASO goes way back.
After “A Summer Symphony with FASO” at Walt Disney Concert Hall in 2019, Melissa discovered that FASO violinist and founder Andy Tecson was from Cabiao, just like her lola, a former concert pianist who had to give up her career when she was widowed. Her Cabiao cousins said that Andy had taken the last picture of her uncle with his family. Life truly works in beautiful and mysterious ways!
Melissa with her lola, a former concert pianist.
5. Melissa is grateful to and in awe of the community leaders that have made FASO possible, as well as her family in both the Philippines and U.S.
She says that after waves of immigration from the Philippines to the U.S., some of the best and the brightest musicians of the country decided to settle in Los Angeles, including Andy Tecson, maestro Bob Shroder, composer Louie Ramos, FASO president Arlene Ferrolino, and countless other FASO musicians. Melissa is also grateful to community leaders who’ve supported FASO, including Edith Winterhalter, Ethel Rubio, Gloria Caoile, Janet R. Nepales and her husband, Ruben Nepales, Jessica Caloza, Marily Mondejar, Rocio Nuyda, Vina Lustado, and countless others. Melissa believes that FASO, under the leadership of these talented individuals, has given a voice to Filipino musicians in Los Angeles and in turn, given Philippine music and culture a place on world-class stages. In addition, as both a musician and a mother, Melissa believes in the power of music education. She believes that music helps with problem-solving, discipline, emotional intelligence, and creativity within traditional confines. Melissa is grateful that by happenstance, her lola from Cabiao, her parents, ninong, and life’s meanderings, helped lead her to Hollywood and to Walt Disney Concert Hall with FASO.
Melissa with FASO violist Mercedes Shamlo and violinist Lisa Grazanka and Erica Delos Santos at the “Larry Itliong Day Festival 2019” at Unidad Park in Los Angeles’ Historic Filipinotown.
Hear Melissa’s work and hot takes on our other four composers on Saturday, Oct. 16 at 7:30 p.m. PST (Sunday, Oct. 17 at 10:30 a.m. Philippine Standard Time) on Facebook Live. RSVP here.