The Ateneo de Zamboanga University Concert Band is the official student concert band of Ateneo de Zamboanga University. Its members consist of grade school, junior high school, senior high school and college students from the university. The band performs for various university functions, competitions, and official events within Zamboanga City, Philippines, and also operates as a marching band during parades. It has been called one of the "most enduring [bands] in the country."
History
Early years
Records show that an Ateneo band was established after the Ateneo High School was opened in 1928, along with a photo captioned "Ateneo Orchestra Band, 1932" consisting of its all-boys high school students. Its early activities were playing for graduation ceremonies. They regularly rehearsed in the patio beside the Immaculate Conception Church until the Mindanao Theater building was purchased by the Knights of Columbus, which the Ateneo moved into. American and Filipino priests and scholarly seminarians from Ateneo de Manila then transferred to Ateneo de Zamboanga and refurbished the band along with forming other school organizations. The last director of the pre-war band was Fr. Joseph N. Behr, . The band's progress was interrupted by the outbreak of World War II, when the Ateneo campus was converted into a public school by the Japanese and was later shelled by American troops.
Re-establishment The band was re-established on September 10, 1951, by Fr. Ernesto Carretero, and Mr. Arcadio Perez was assigned bandmaster. They continued their activities playing in parades, pass-in-review ceremonies, basketball games, and school programs. At the time, the anthem "Hail! Ateneo, Hail!" was being played by the band during school intramurals or homecomings. During the 1970s, the band served as a part of the Philippine Military Training (PMT) program and played during military drills and ceremonies.
Transition to a concert band Mr. Apolonio Enriquez assumed the role of band director in 1991 and initiated a transformation from a marching and pep band to a full-fledged concert band. This development enabled the band to perform in concerts and formal occasions, expanding its repertoire to encompass classical, art music, popular, contemporary, and other musical styles.
Since the transformation, the concert band has competed in events such as the Zamboanga Brass Band competition during the Zamboanga Hermosa Festival, in which they won three times — in 2001, 2002 and 2008. The band has also performed in other schools in the country as part of its concert tour from 2009 to 2010, such as the Ateneo de Manila University, Ateneo de Davao University, Xavier University (Ateneo de Cagayan), Ateneo de Naga University, Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu, and Liceo de Cagayan University.
On July 7, 2016, a fire broke out in the Brebeuf Gymnasium, where the university band office was located. It burned all the band's equipment and facilities, its repertoire which was regarded as "nationally acclaimed," and all the brass instruments were melted in the fire. The band was able to recover through donations from organizations locally and nationally.
Band leadership +Directors1939–1941Joseph N. Behr, S.J.1951–1960Arcadio Perez1960–1983Ildefonso Encarnacion1983–late 1980sCarlos "Carlito" EncarnacionLate 1980sAlfonso EncarnacionLate 1980s–1990Emelito Saavedra1991–2023Apolonio Enriquez2023–2025Carl Anthony Camacho2025-presentJasper Pioquinto
List of previous concerts +YearMonthNameLocationCollaborations2002MayOde to MusicAteneo de Zamboanga UniversityAdZU Chorale -The AdZU Band in ConcertClaret School of Lamitan2004DecemberClaret College of Isabela2008OctoberClassic Meets RockAteneo de Zamboanga University2009SeptemberAteneo de Davao UniversityAdDU Carillon Glee ClubNovemberStintXavier University - Ateneo de CagayanLiceo de Cagayan University2010FebruaryaCAUSEticsAteneo de Zamboanga UniversityMusic and YouJuneStintAteneo de Naga UniversityAteneo de Manila UniversityAteneo Grade School Boys ChoirHenri OcierConcert at the ParkSeptemberStintSacred Heart School - Ateneo de Cebu2011FebruaryAmorGarden Orchid Hotel and Convention CenterSeptemberAve MariaMetropolitan Cathedral of the Immaculate ConceptionThe Paracletos2012JuneGran ConciertoGarden Orchid Hotel and Convention CenterZamboanga Hermosa ChoraleZamboanga City ColiseumSeptemberSLA Benefit ConcertAteneo de Zamboanga UniversityAteneo Grade School BandAteneo Liturgical SocietyDecemberChristmas ConcertCentro Pastoral de ZamboangaZamboanga Hermosa ChoralePastor Bonus Seminary Choir2013MayAmigos para SiempreZamboanga Puericulture Center No. 144Doc & Friends Ogie Diaz Kakai Bautista2016DecemberAnd The Music Goes On...Ateneo de Zamboanga UniversityGBPI TV11 Christmas ConcertGBPI TV112017February#Grateful: The ConcertZamboanga City ColiseumZamboanga Singing and Dancing PadresArchbishop Romulo de la CruzZCSPC Cantamos ChoraleNovemberA HomecomingAteneo de Zamboanga UniversityMajor Chords2019JulyOne Heart... One Melody... One JourneyZamboanga City ColiseumZCSPC Cantamos Chorale2022DecemberCiento Diez: The Music of HomecomingAteneo de Zamboanga UniversityAdZU Glee Club
Notes a.One source mentions a "Fr. Behr" as the director of the pre-war band. Only one Jesuit with "Behr" as a last name was assigned to the Jesuits' Zamboanga mission according to Japanese POW records.
b.Yearbook photos from 1972 and 1974 showed pictures of the band wearing military uniforms with helmets labeled PMT. They also listed the band as part of the "Military Programs."
References
External links Ateneo de Zamboanga University