Ryan Cayabyab's 'MaestroClass' concert series brings the music classroom to the stage
National Artist for Music Ryan Cayabyab brought the classroom setting to the stage of his "MaestroClass" concert.
Mr. C, who taught at the University of the Philippines and at his music studio, taught his audience at the start of his show, “MaestroClass: The Songs of Ryan Cayabyab,” at Rockwell’s Proscenium Theater.
“Most of the time, I see my students and they thanked me,” Mr. C shared. “I also thanked them. Ever since then, they either called me Mr. C or Maestro. It is only but fitting that I see all of you here at the Proscenium. Welcome to ‘MaestroClass’.”
“Strophic” was the first word that Mr. C taught his full-house audience for “MaestroClass.” He informed that “strophic” is one part of the song structure where all verses are sung to the same music, like in folk songs Pobreng Alindahaw, Leron, Leron Sinta, and Sitsiritsit Alibangbang. He started by briefly singing Peter, Paul and Mary’s Where Have All the Flowers Gone.
The pillar of OPM has staged many concerts through the years that saw him mostly on the piano, giving accompaniment to his artists. This time around, Mr. C even sang himself. He crooned a few strains of Till There Was You on the Steinway grand piano, which will be permanently housed in the Philippine theater.
The audience did not only listen, they learned a thing or two about music. “MaestroClass” was actually the start of a four-part concert series that will have the second in February 2026, the third in May, and the last in August. The next one will feature the three Cs: Jose Mari Chan, George Canseco and Willy Cruz.
Mr. C opted for a live connection this time for “MaestroClass.” Instead of an orchestra, he opted for something more organic: a grand piano and a six-piece band that brought focus to music and storytelling.
Classics come alive
The seven-member vocal ensemble Ryan Cayabyab Singers—consisting of Poppert Bernadas, VJ Caber, Anthony Castillo, Nica Tupas, Celine Fabie, Erwin Lacsa and Kaye Tiuseco—joined Mr. C onstage and started a slew of memorable Mr. C ballads, like Nais Ko, Hibang sa Awit, and Limang Dipang Tao. They both recently arrived from the US, where they had a successful and well-received concert tour.
Undoubtedly, most of the songs that 71-year-old Mr. C composed have become national soundtracks of the people’s lives. Since he emerged in the local music scene in the late 70s, Mr. C has become the most accomplished composer and musical director for nearly six decades.
He was only 18 and taking up a Business Administration course at UP when he wrote a song for Cocoy Laurel and became a scholar of the Laurel Family.
Mr. C’s versatile musical style spans a wide range of genres—from religious to art song, opera, concerto, classical, and mainstream pop. Mr. C has penned several songs that are reinterpreted across generations.
Through the years, he delivered impressive and memorable works in musical theater, dance for Ballet Philippines and Ballet Manila, and film, like the heart-rending Paraisong Parisukat, recorded by Basil Valdez and directed by Elwood Perez.
The 780-seat Proscenium Theater was built with natural acoustics, which created an immersive and intimate sound for the "MaestroClass" concert.
Cayabyab shared his works in the concert, even for commercial jingles that he earlier penned, such as Bawat Sandali for Nonong Pedero and Shining Through for Philippine Airlines, recorded by Jose Mari Chan.
Asia’s Nightingale Lani Misalucha started her stint in “MaestroClass,” with Magbalik Ka Na Mahal, the ballad from Katy the musical. Then, with the RCS, they rendered more tunes for Katy, including Entablado, Pahiram ng Isang Kanta, and Aba, Aba, Aba Boogie.
Martin Nievera crooned a lesser-known but beautiful Mr. C song, The Best Gift, which the "Concert King" sang for his late dad, Bert Nievera. Mr. C shared that they had to stop during rehearsals since Nievera began to tear up when he sang the tune.
Martin also rendered How Can I?, Once Upon a Life, and the vocally challenging Sometime, Somewhere. In between his numbers, Martin cracked one joke after another that left the audience in stitches.
Mr. C particularly shared his romantic compositions for his wife, Emy Punsalan Cayabyab: Tunay na Ligaya sung by Nievera and Misalucha and Araw Gabi, which "Asia's Nightengale" belted out.
How can the songs of Smokey Mountain, the teenage group who originally recorded Da Coconut Nut, Can This Be Love? and Kailan, not make it to the lineup? From the early nineties, the songs were relived for the “MaestroClass" by the Ryan Cayabyab Singers.
Meanwhile, Martin and Lani did their share of rendering popular Smokey Mountain songs like Paraiso and A Better World, respectively.
The entire ensemble in Filipiniana outfits, appeared together onstage and delivered Mr. C’s first Metropop (1978) award-winning entry, Kay Ganda ng Ating Musika, interpreted then by Hajji Alejandro.
The night couldn't end without injecting some lively Christmas spirit as the RCS sang Kumukutikutitap for the encore.
Together with Lani’s soaring vocals and Martin’s natural humor and unmatched charisma, “MaestroClass” was an evening of nostalgia, artistry, and discovery that left the audience in appreciation of the songs of the National Artist for Music.
Rowell Santiago worked at the helm of the concert, under Mr. C’s musical direction. The show will have its final schedule on Nov. 16, 6 p.m. at The Proscenium.
