About | Juan Emile Bagtas

BIOGRAPHY

Juan Emile Inocencio Bagtas is a multi-passionate Filipino multimedia composer, consultant, and educator whose work spans the arts, technology, and academia. He was first exposed to music through his mother, who was also his first piano teacher, and his great-grandfather, National Artist Levi Celerio. Despite this early exposure, he only began formal music studies in 2013.

Before specializing in composition, Emile was an active pianist, participating in festivals organized by the Piano Teachers' Guild of the Philippines. In 2018, he shifted his focus to full-time multimedia composition, collaborating with a diverse array of clients, from individual filmmakers and creatives to non-profit organizations, commercial production companies, and international entities.

Beyond multimedia composition, his expertise extends to audio post- production, global music distribution, and even music software development. These varied experiences have enriched his understanding of the intersection between music, technology, business, and community work.

In academia, Emile serves as an adjunct professor at St. Scholastica's College School of Music and a visiting faculty member at the Philippine High School for the Arts. He teaches courses in composition, orchestration, and scoring for film, TV, and radio. He also serves as the practicum coordinator for the Music Composition and music production programs, providing one-on- one mentorship to students and guiding them in their practicum, junior, and graduation recitals.

He is currently pursuing a Master's Degree in Public Management at the University of the Philippines. This is in alignment with his vision of establishing a non-profit organization to discover and support talented artists from marginalized and impoverished communities. His professional affiliations include being a member of the prestigious Asian Composers League and a resource person for cultural works at the Institute for Studies in Asian Church and Culture. Both have recently received funding from the National Commission for Culture and the Arts for cultural projects.

SELECTED FESTIVALS AND COMPETITIONS

Shanghai International Film Festival (China)
Kuala Lumpur International Film Awards (Malaysia)
Gandhara Independent Film Festival (Pakistan)

Gawad Alternatibo (Cultural Center of the Philippines)
Sine Kabataan (Film Development Council of the Philippines)
Cinema Rehiyon (National Commission for Culture and the Arts)
Sorok Film Festival
Greenlit Screenings (Meridian International Business, Arts and Technology College)
CineMapùa (Mapua University)
SinePiyu (Far Eastern University)
Himig Handog Songwriting Competition
Living Freedom Songwriting Competition
Piano Teachers' Guild of the Philippines

NOTABLE PROJECTS

NOTE: Commercial projects (films, advertisements, other programs) are generally excluded unless they received a major award or were performed at a significant public festival.

Concert & Stage Works