CANDELARIA PRO FLUTE HEAD JOINT

Born in Butuan City, Francisco Candelaria had his first flute lessons at age 12 under Mr. Amando San Jose of the famed Banda 8 (“Banda Ocho”) in Cardona, Rizal. He participated in the Summer Intensive Music Camp at the then National School for the Arts in Makiling. His formal flute lessons started when he entered the UP College of Music in 1982 under highly acclaimed flutist and pedagogue, Prof. Enrique Barcelo.

Kiko, as he’s fondly called, had an early brush with success when he landed first place in the National Music Competition for Young Artists, Category B in 1983 and garnered third prize in the Mozart Competition of the Manila Symphony Orchestra Youth Artist Competition that same year. As a member-scholar of the Philippine Youth Orchestra, he

represented the Philippines twice in the ASEAN Music Camps held in Indonesia and Thailand in 1983 and 1986, respectively. He became a member of the Metro Manila Symphony Orchestra in 1983, became a soloist and principal flutist of the Manila Symphony Orchestra in 1984 to 1987 and later on played with the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra in 1987 to 1990.

After earning a DCPMA (Diploma in Creative and Performing Musical Arts) in UP in 1989, he took further studies in the Flute Performance at the Musikakademie Detmold or Academy of Music in Detmold, Germany under Prof. Dr. Müller-Dombois as a DAAD scholar from 1990 to 1994 (DAAD is German Academic Exchange Service, a foreign initiative of higher education). Rated “very good” in the final examinations, he begun research work in the art of flute making after graduating from the academy. He was privileged to work as technician of all wind instruments at the Harke Music Store and also became chief repairman at the Haus der Musik in Detmold where he earned respect from among professional flutists, teachers and orchestra players in the Lippe region. It was also at this opportune time that he learned the art of making professional handcrafted silver and gold flutes. He visited renowned flute makers in Europe like Albert Cooper in London, Helmut Hammig in Berlin and several flute technicians in Germany and Switzerland. In between these activities, he casually performs with some local orchestras.

He returned to the Philippines after 12 years in Germany and became active again in the music scene. He became a member of the Clarion Chamber Music Ensemble and later on became principal flutist of the San Miguel Philharmonic Orchestra in 2004 to 2006. He was able to train

young flutists of the National Youth Summer Music Camps organized by the Asian Institute of Liturgy and Music (AILM) Sambalikhaan in 2004 and 2006-2008. His knowledge and abilities as repairman and maker of flutes widely spread in the grapevine and to date, has handcrafted numerous head joints made of wood, silver and gold and has created more than a hundred pieces of lip plates that suit the preferences of his varying clients – from renowned professional ones to the most obscure student in music schools and universities, as well as private individuals in the country.

He personally uses his masterly crafted head joints in his performances and teaching profession for reasons of difference in timbre, yet all producing clear and articulate tones, responsive to the demands of a flutist.