At 20 years old, after a string of chorale experiences, Barret Oliver Richards is already a conductor of his own choir.
While leading his group, La Comparza, he pursues music studies and serves as an assistant conductor of a university choir in Cebu City.
Despite what seems an already a hectic schedule, Richards still finds time to volunteer, teach music to 17 children of barangay Ermita, Cebu City, and help organize them into a choir in the next six months.
“It would be great to get more kids to join in our Saturday sessions because I believe that the more underprivileged kids we get, the more we are helping them stay out of the streets and forge friendships here through a choir,” he said.
He started his weekly session with the children from barangay Ermita last Dec. 10. His teaching module includes not just voice lessons and music theories but also developing their confidence and personalities.
“To be a choir, each one should be disciplined. Each one should support the camaraderie of the group. If there is no bond among the members, there is no harmony and music,” he explained.
The session is part of the Children’s Art Project under the Child and Family Healing, Recovery and Re-Integration Program, a program of the Dolores Aboitiz Children’s Fund of the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc., together with the Bidlisiw Foundation Inc.
Richards, while pursuing his dreams, doesn’t lose sight of the needs of others. He participates in the outreach programs with schoolmates at the University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF) teaching music to physically and sexually abused girls.
Even his 20-member choir participates in concerts for a cause. Its first one was in August when they performed back-to-back with the Cebu Male Singers to raise funds for the Child’s Wish Ministry, which provides education-related assistance to impoverished schoolchildren nationwide.
“Admittedly, at first, we formed La Comparza with the hope of earning some money. But it turns out that we sing more for our passion for music than for profit. This is why we participate in concerts with causes. Knowing that we are able to send children to school or help those in need in any way we can is very fulfilling,” Richards said.
Richards has loved music for as far as he could remember. His mother, a teacher who also sings, told him he started singing at 2 years old. When he reached 10, he joined the children’s choir in his church and eventually became a member of a youth choir.
“I realized that without music, my life would be meaningless,” Richards said.
After graduating high school, he enrolled in the University of the Visayas (UV) and joined the internationally acclaimed UV Chorale for three years and became the group’s assistant conductor.
To finish his undergraduate studies, Richards left UV Chorale and pursued a Bachelor of Arts in Music at the University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF) where he also served as assistant conductor and voice coach for the USPF Chorale.
When finances became tight in his family, he worked part-time teaching a choir of senior citizens at Bradford United Church of Christ in the Philippines for more than a year.
Eventually, he left to pursue more challenging endeavors. He was then referred by Roberto del Rosario, conductor of USPF Chorale, to RAFI to hold music lessons for the children of barangay Ermita for the Children’s Art Project.
The project’s goal is to ensure that the children are protected from abuse and exploitation in their homes and communities and to be able to pursue positive alternative activities.
“I accepted this opportunity because this is a form of personal ministry for me to be able to help children. Listening to the children sing during our sessions, I saw talents that are waiting to be nurtured,” Richards said.
He pointed out that the youth can use music to inspire others to enhance their own talents and decrease crime rate in a community “just like what dancing did for inmates” of the Cebu provincial jail.
On weekdays, he pursuing his studies. On Saturdays, he imparts his knowledge to underprivileged children.
On other days, he shares his love for music with family, friends, students and choir.
“One can learn more about one’s craft by teaching it,” he said.
“For my part, I get to explore various strategies to effectively teach music. I also get to teach different kinds of voices and come up with ways for each voice to be further developed,” he said. /Nancy R. Cudis/Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc.