About
Soprano Pauline Therese Arejola graduated cum laude from the University of the Philippines (UP) College of Music with a Bachelor's Degree in Music Major in Voice (2018) under the tutelage of Prof. Ma. Cecila O. Valeña. Pauline developed her interest in music when she joined her high school choir, the UP Rural High School Glee Club. Pauline has taken masterclasses from Susan Waters, Andion Fernandez, Knut Schoch, Alan Bennett, Noel Velasco, and Keiko Yokoyama. Pauline is currently taking voice lessons under Christopher Arceo.
As a soloist she performs classical and contemporary operas and musical theater. In 2017, Pauline studied in the International College of Liberal Arts (iCLA), Yamanashi Gakuin University (YGU), Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan. It was a study abroad grant from the UP Office for International Linkages and the Mobility for Vigor and Excellence UP. During her stay in Japan, she performed in the Philippine Night event at the Minoh Association for Global Awareness 2017, Osaka, Japan. She also performed in iCLA's Winter Gala, the university's annual Christmas recital, where she played koto and premiered her first contemporary composition. In 2019, she did two major roles in Emerge Opera's back to back productions: the world premiere of Alexander John Villanueva's contemporary opera, "Maria y Marta" and the Philippine premiere of Singaporean composer Chen Zhangyi's "Window Shopping" both staged at the Black Box Theater, De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde. In 2018, she performed the roles of "Ligaya" (lead) and "Dalaga" in her graduation recital production of "Ang Mahiwagang Hardin: An Opera Tableaux in 2 Parts", a Filipino contemporary opera composed by National Artist for Music Dr. Ramon Santos. Some of the notable opera roles she has done include "Oberto" in G.F. Handel's "Alcina", "Cherubino" in W.A. Mozart's "Le Nozze di Figaro", and "Helen" in Ned Rorem's "Three Sisters Who Are Not Sisters" among others. Pauline is one of the soprano soloists of Ripieno Ensemble PH, a contemporary chamber group dedicated to the promotion and performance of contemporary music of the Philippines and Southeast Asia. With the group, she found interest in new music and learned new/extended vocal techniques and styles. In 2016 she sang the Philippine premiere of Kowalski-Schöllhorn's "Pierrot Lunaire" at the DL. Umali Auditorium, UP Los Baños. In 2018, she performed with Ripieno Ensemble in Hong Kong. The concert was entitled "Kundiman" which featured Kundiman songs arranged for chamber ensemble in a contemporary setting. It was one of the commissioned projects of the Modern Academy Creative Projects staged in Hong Kong Festival Hall, Hong Kong Festival Orchestra School of Music.
Pauline is also a chorister and has sung with the UP Los Baños Choral Ensemble and competed with the group in their 2014 European tour. She is also a member of the Villancico Vocal Ensemble, who performs annually at the International Bamboo Organ Festival. Her other choral groups include Dawani Women's Choir, and the Sing Philippines Youth Choir. She has also been selected as one of the sopranos for the World Youth Choir 2020 session. Pauline has sung under the batons of conductors Eudenice Palaruan, Beverly-Shangkuan-Cheng, Mark Anthony Carpio, Simon Carrington, Jai Sabas-Aracama, Romel Lomarda, and Herminigildo Raniera, to name a few. As a soloist, Pauline has performed with the UP Guitar Orchestra, UP Orchestra and Harmonya: The String Ensemble of UP Los Baños. She has performed GF. Händel's The Messiah with the UP Orchestra in the UP College of Music's 2016 production. Among the notable places she has performed include the Cultural Center of the Philippines, Ayuntamiento de Manila, Paco Park Manila, Manila Hotel, and many university functions of the University of the Philippines to name a few. Her international performances include Germany, Switzerland, Thailand, Japan, and Hongkong. When Pauline is not performing, she is a vocal coach and a music teacher. She is also the conductor of the Diocesan Shrine of St. Therese of the Child Jesus Children's Choir.