VICTORIAHANON’S pride Nové Deypalan received the President’s Award: “Profiles in Service, Pillars of Community” from the Philippine Heritage Institute International (PHII) at the Great Wolfe Lodge, Garden Grove in California last Oct. 12.
Sharing the President’s Award with Deypalan are Lanie Berrei, Archerie Calunod, and Dan Nino.
The award-winning credentialed educator, prolific conductor, published composer, and effective clinician in the United States, Europe and Asia was born and raised in Victorias City.
Deypalan, also an alumnus of Don Bosco Technical Institute – Victorias, is committed in bringing his insatiable desire and lifelong commitment of striving to make music at its finest and highest level of creativity.
His higher education began at the College of Music, University of the Philippines, and continued in the United States.
He completed his Bachelor of Music in Conducting Performance at Chapman University in Orange, California, obtained a Master of Music in Choral Music, magna cum laude from the University of Southern California and received his Doctorate Degree of Musical Arts in Orchestral Conducting at the University of South Carolina.
He has conducted prominent orchestras such as the Berlin Sinfonietta in Germany, Filharmonie Bohuslav Martinu in Czech Republic, Festival Orchestra in Santa Cruz, California, and the London Conducting Workshop Orchestra at the Royal Academy in London; led ensembles in repeat performances at Carnegie Hall; and commanded performances for Saint Paul II and Pope Benedict.
He also maintains an active role in serving as guest conductor and clinician of both vocal and instrumental ensembles in middle schools, high schools, community orchestras, semi-professional bands, and orchestras in Europe, Asia, and the United States.
Deypalan was even hailed by the Columbia FreeTimes of his interpretation of Brahms’s Piano Concerto No.1 as a “fearless performance...first class music-making.”
The PHII, a private foundation established in 1989 for the advancement of Filipino Americans through youth development programs, volunteerism, and the promotion of Filipino Culture; and partner of the White House Millennium Council under the then first lady Hillary Clinton, recognized awardees for their academic excellence, professional achievements, and for having a great impact on the community with their volunteerism.
Other awardees for this year are the City of Fernando, La Union Association President Victoria Balcita Nero for the Founder’s Award; Dojo Aguilar, Josefina Ngayan Casabar, Faye Christen, Betsy Cruz, Rochelle Lacuesta Galeon, Evelyn Gonzales McLaughlin, Joseph Albert Melocoton, Christine Natividad, Catherine Rubio, Noribel dela Cruz, Dorianne Tillano, Henry Bustos Yaranon, Marietta H. Salcedo, and Lourdes Garcia for Outstanding Filipino American Nurse Award.