RAUL SUNICO
A Pianist for the Filipino Soul
In every generation, there are artists whose impact goes beyond applause—who use their craft not merely for performance, but to shape national identity and preserve cultural memory. For the Philippines, Dr. Raul Sunico is one of those rare individuals.
Through decades of artistry, scholarship, and cultural leadership, he has become a powerful voice not only in concert halls, but in the very heart of the Filipino.
A Mind for Precision, A Heart for Music
Dr. Sunico’s journey is a testament to both brilliance and balance. He earned degrees in Music, Mathematics, and Statistics from the University of the Philippines, and later completed his Master’s and Doctorate in Piano Performance from the Juilliard School and New York University—two of the most prestigious institutions in the world.
Equally at home with logic and lyricism, his unique combination of academic discipline and musical depth has shaped his approach to performance, leadership, and public service.
A Global Artist with a Filipino Identity
Over the years, Dr. Sunico has performed in over forty countries, interpreting the works of Liszt, Rachmaninoff, Chopin, and Filipino composers with both technical mastery and deep emotional insight.
He is known for performing all four Rachmaninoff concertos in a single evening—a feat that places him among the most elite concert pianists globally.
At the same time, he brought distinctly Filipino works to international stages, including his own transcriptions of folk songs, kundiman, and patriotic music, creating programs that placed Philippine culture side by side with the Western classical canon.
Leadership in Culture and the Arts
Beyond performance, Dr. Sunico has been an influential leader in the country’s cultural institutions.
He served as the President of the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP), where he championed both traditional and contemporary Filipino arts, opened platforms for regional voices, and expanded the CCP’s educational and outreach programs.
He also served as Dean of the UST Conservatory of Music, one of the oldest music schools in Asia, and currently holds the position of Dean of the College of Music and the Performing Arts at St. Paul University Manila, where he continues to mentor young musicians with the same excellence and nationalism that have shaped his career.
Songs of the Revolution: Music as Memory
In 1998, to mark the centennial of Philippine independence, Dr. Sunico led the revival and composition of Mga Awit ng Himagsikan (Songs of the Revolution). These were poems written by Filipino revolutionaries—often hidden in battlefields, homes, and hearts—and carried the emotions of a nation struggling for freedom.
Together with researcher Evelyn Cabanban and Tawid Publications, he arranged and recorded these texts into deeply moving piano pieces, bringing forgotten voices back to life.
Through the support of the Department of Foreign Affairs, these works were performed internationally—in Canada, Spain, China, Sweden, and the UK, among others—reminding Filipinos abroad and foreign audiences alike of the emotional history behind Philippine independence.
The Correct Voice of Lupang Hinirang
As the years passed, public renditions of the Philippine National Anthem grew less consistent, often straying from the tempo and character prescribed by law.
Determined to protect the anthem’s dignity, Dr. Sunico collaborated with the Department of Education, the National Historical Institute, and Tawid Publications to teach its proper performance: in the key of G major, at 100 beats per minute, and always as a march—strong, proud, and patriotic.
He created a solo piano version of Lupang Hinirang, which has been used in schools, government ceremonies, and cultural events. For him, the anthem is not to be stylized—it is to be honored.
A Legacy Beyond Notes
What sets Dr. Raul Sunico apart is not only his musical skill, but his consistent devotion to country. Through his performances, arrangements, and leadership, he has shown that music can serve memory, identity, and education.
In an era of constant change, he remains a quiet constant—an artist whose compass is national dignity, whose mission is to uplift the Filipino soul, and whose legacy is found not only in records and recitals, but in the hearts of those who listen.
Raul Sunico is not just a pianist.
He is a custodian of culture.
A teacher of truth.
And a voice through which the nation hears itself—whole, proud, and deeply Filipino.
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