Maestro Jose Valdez, one of the Philippines’ best guitar pedagogues and concert artists, developed and nurtured Perf’s classical and flamenco playing.

From there, he went on to become a celebrated fixture in the Philippine music industry, not only a top-notch guitarist with Rivermaya, Triaxis and FrancisM, but as a platinum-selling producer and recording engineer as well for Wolfgang, Marc Velasco, Blue Jean Junkies and other bands and artists.

He was deemed the 1998 NU 107 Rock Award guitarist of the year, placed 3rd in the 1999 National Music Competitions for Young Artists (NAMCYA).

He has performed solo and has done concerts with the Philippine Women’s University (PWU) Philippine music ensemble, the PWU guitar ensemble, the Kasilag Guitar Quartet and the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra (PPO).

Perf also conducted lectures all over the country and has performed in public master classes by Adolfo Timuat, Angelito Agcaoili, Michael Dadap, Janet Marlow and Jorge Orosco and has received private instruction from Prof. James Smith and Jonathan Leathwood.

Since relocating to California in 2004, Perf has given acclaimed performances in and around Los Angeles, the San Francisco Bay area, Colorado, New Jersey, Connecticut and Oregon.

To date, he has corresponded with composers from Great Britain, Italy, the United States, Panama and Brazil in writing exciting new works for 10-string guitar in both solo and ensemble settings.

Coming in full circle, Perf is back home in a concert dubbed "Laudarra: A Journey through 10 Strings," in collaboration with SinagTala slated on Oct. 23, at the Philam Theater, United Nations Ave., Manila.

The concert shall feature pieces for solo guitar by Kasilag, Leach, Tarrega, Torroba and Weiss.

The evening will be capped off with a performance of Rodrigo’s Concierto de Aranjuez with the Metro Manila Community Orchestra under the baton of Maestro Josefino Chino Toledo.