Priscilla Magdamo-Abraham

 

PRISCILLA MAGDAMO, born in the Philippines, completed Bachelor’s degrees in biology and music at Silliman University, Dumaguete City, Philippines, Masters in voice and ethnomusicology at Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, and is a Certified McClosky Voice Technician. As an active professional musician she performed, recorded & toured nationally and internationally with professional choral & chamber ensembles such as The Gregg Smith Singers, The New York Vocal Ensemble, & The John Biggs Consort and various other groups. 

 

Her extensive collection of Philippine Visayan folk songs and traditional music of ethnic groups of southern Philippines is a source for performers, composers & arrangers. As a performer, she introduced this music as well as Philippine folk tales & myths to schoolchildren in the United States and abroad.  Her arrangements of folk songs have been included in the international touring repertoire of several Philippine choral ensembles. She has returned to the Philippines several times to hold workshops in singing & promoting traditional music in public schools, private colleges, church organizations & teachers’ conferences.

 

She & husband, Frederick Abraham, live in Vermont where she teaches privately, continues to arrange Visayan songs & occasionally performs traditional music at schools & community gatherings. They have two grown children.