From Leon Guinto to upstate New York: Bring Rey to Eastman School of Music

“We are the future of the music education in the Philippines. As we step into the threshold of our mission, let us remember that the very reason we want to teach is that we believe music to be an important part of the educational system for it builds on the potential of every individual. Like other abilities, it should be developed to the fullest.”

These are the exact words I delivered in front of hundreds of people at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in my 2017 valedictory speech. Saying those words already signaled as the start of what I feel is my responsibility as a citizen of the country.

My name is Rey Sunglao, a graduate of St. Scholastica’s College Manila (SSC) and a member/Double Bassist of the Manila Symphony Orchestra (MSO).

I started my music career at a very young age under the guidance of Mirabilia Dei Foundation, Betis, Pampanga, a religious group with the mission of spreading the word of God through liturgical music. There began my formal training in the industry. In 2017, I had the honor to represent the Philippines in the Asian Youth Orchestra (AYO) a pre-professional orchestra that carries a select group of the finest young musicians in Asia. AYO toured Asia, the United States, and Europe for two months with its outstanding repertoire and I am humbled to wave our flag on thisinternational music scene. The following year, with the Manila Symphony Junior Orchestra, I was able to take part in bringing home the first prize at the Summa Cum Laude International Music Festival and Competition in Vienna, Austria. After graduating as the very first male valedictorian of SSC and being blessed to have been part of the 56th Ten Outstanding Students of the Philippines (TOSP), the advocacy to the development of the Music Education in the Philippines grew bigger.

Couple of years after, still carrying the advocacy to help improve the Music Education in the Philippines, I applied for a spot at the prestigious Eastman School of Music, Rochester New York.

It is with a great honor and opportunity that I share with you that I have been admitted to the Eastman School of Music for a double degree program: Master of Music in Music Education and Master of Music in Performance and Literature (Double Bass). While this is a privilege, it also entails financial obligation on my part as I would need to raise funds to cover the tuition and other fees for my study.

With the help of God’s grace and generous people like you, I hope to be able to put up the needed funds.

For those who want to donate:

(1) GO GET FUNDING

https://assets.gogetfunding.com/from-leon-guinto-to-new-y...

(2) BANK TRANSFER

Bank: BPI (Bank of the Philippine Islands)
Account Name: Rey Vincent Sunglao
Account Number: 2779 0892 34

(3) GCASH TRANSFER

GCash Account: Rey Vincent Sunglao 0942 373 1655