Colegio de Santa Isabel's Tingog Kulintang group in a "Concert at the Park" performance

This momentous celebration highlights its humble beginnings from the time Santa Isabel College, the oldest school for girls in the Philippines, was still located at the center of Manila (the historic Intramuros), when it opened its doors for few students with its first head, Sr. Cecilia Maronila, D.C. Now, boys are also accepted as music students.

Courses offered are Master of Music majors in Composition, Piano, Voice, Music Education, Piano Pedagogy and Musicology; Master of Arts major in Music Education; and Bachelor of Music majors in Piano, Voice, Music Education, Composition and Guitar.

Progressively through the years, student recitals, lecture series, music festivals, performances in public concerts, participation in music competitions were standard musical fare within the campus.

For 75 long years, The Isabelan Music Program has been nurturing, mentoring and producing excellent music teachers and artists. Today’s young breed of musicians are proving their worth as artists. Their exceptional performances were made possible with their passion for music, hard work and diligence. These are what Isabelans are made of.

Any celebration is never complete without mentioning the pillars and luminaries in the field of music, namely Sr. Cecilia Maronila, D.C., the founder and first directress; Sr. Catalina Ledesma, D.C., who took charge of the music program for 40 years; music elites like four National Artists for Music: Jovita Fuentes, Antonio Molina, Lucrecia Kasilag and Lucio San Pedro, and other eminent professors: Milagros de Ocampo, Eugenia Agoncillo, Dinday Yñiguez, Benjamin Tupas, Ernesto Lejano, Luis Valencia, Rosario Picazo, Dom Benildus Maramba, Francisco Feliciano, Cecile Roxas and Mercedes Vinculado, to name a few.

Prelude to the Diamond Jubilee was the launching of three performing groups:

The TINGOG KULINTANG, meaning "sound of kulintang," is primarily an instrumental ensemble geared towards the preservation and dissemination of Philippine indigenous music, particularly the music of the kulintang, a set of graduated gongs or slabs. Founded at Santa Isabel College Music Department in July 2003, this ensemble consists of music students, who take time out from their regular music classes, to perform the traditional music of the Maguindanaon, Maranao, Molbog, Tiboli, Jama Mapun, and Manobo, as well as ethnic-inspired contemporary compositions of Dr. Kristina Benitez, an ethnomusicologist. Since its inception, Tingog Kulintang has performed in PAREF Rosehill School in Antipolo, Adventist Academy in Batangas, Concert at the Park, Tondo Barangay Hall, San Beda College, Antipolo and institutional activities in Santa Isabel College.

The SANTA ISABEL CONCERT SINGERS (SIConS) is an ensemble of mixed-voices dedicated in pursuing the tradition of singing classical music may it be acapella or accompanied. The premier choir of Santa Isabel College, under the Chairmanship of Sr. Emilita Pacubas, D.C., with Armnin Comon as conductor and Maribel Miguel as vocal coach, has evolved into a musical force to contend with. Formerly known as Santa Isabel Vocal Ensemble (SIVE), the SIConS continuously pursues with dedication excellent performances that will promote not only the classical genre of Western Music but also our own Filipino Music.

The SANTA ISABEL GUITAR QUARTET is composed of advanced guitar students enrolled in the Bachelor of Music course under the tutelage of founder Edgardo de Dios. Aside from playing regularly in school activities, they have also performed at Concert at the Park, University of the Philippines Los Baños and selected schools in Metro Manila.

The Music Program in Thanksgiving to GOD for the gift of Music has lined up a series of performances from January 23, 2005, Opening Concert at the PhilAmlife Theatre up to its Closing Concert on January 26, 2006 at the Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo, Cultural Center of the Philippines. All proceeds will be used for music scholarships of poor but deserving students.

Santa Isabel College Music Program is now ready to fulfill the challenges that tomorrow may bring and will continue to re-assert itself as time marches on. It will strive to give its present crop of students the necessary strength to carry on the tradition of the Isabelan formation.