Caroline Cabading

Serves as Artistic Director, vocalist, percussionist and dancer for this jazz ensemble that incorporates tribal Philippine music motifs in its original jazz compositions. Ms. Cabading's commissioned work has been funded by the Gerbode Foundation, San Francisco Arts Commission, the California Arts Council, Zoo Labs and the Asian Pacific Islander Cultural Center.

Relevant Performances:

• Monthly: "Club Mandalay" Jazz performance at the International Hotel Manilatown Center, San Francisco CA
• March 2024: CD Release of Ms. Cabading's "Sugilanon" suite of original compositions, International Hotel Manilatown Center, San Francisco CA
• November 2023: Nakem Conference of Indigenous Philippine Scholars Gala, Fremont CA
• October 2023: Filipino-American History Month celebration, City Plaza, Watsonville CA
• September 2021: Lion's Den, San Francisco CA
• August 2021: Chinatown Music Festival, San Francisco CA
• August 2021: Celebrating Equity & Solidarity Press Event, San Francisco Chinatown CA
• August 2021: Livable City Weekend Walkways, San Francisco CA
• August 2021: Clarion Performing Arts Center, San Francisco CA
• July 2021: Livable City Weekend Walkways, San Francisco CA
• July 2021: Our Culture, Our Pride festival, San Francisco Japantown CA
• July 2021: Sounds of Summer festival, Benicia CA
• June 2021: "Ullalim-Sugilanon" Premiere, San Francisco
• May 2021: Clarion Performing Arts Center, San Francisco CA
• April 2021: Gongster's Paradise music festival livestream
• December 2019: Parol Festival, San Francisco CA
• October 2019: Self Help for the Elderly Annual Gala, San Francisco CA
• September 2019: “Benny‘s Altars” Art Exhibition Opening, San Francisco CA
• June 2019: “Manilatown Suite” Premiere, San Francisco CA
• November 2017: Undiscovered Night Market, San Francisco CA

Artistic Director, traditional Philippine percussionist, dancer and teacher of this ensemble focusing on preserving and teaching the traditional form of Maguindanao, Maranao, Teduray, Tausug and Kalinga music and dance. Manilatown Ancestral Ensemble has received grant awards from the Creative Work Fund, Alliance for California Traditional Arts and the California Arts Council.

Current Projects & Relevant Performances:

• Monthly "Manilatown Ancestral" traditional Philippine educational performances and hands-on workshops at the International Hotel Manilatown Center, San Francisco CA
• May 2024: Philippine Dance in the Bay Area festival, Sentro Filipino, San Francisco CA
• May 2024: Beats Festival, Berkeley Public Library Claremont Branch, Berkeley CA
• May 2024: We Be Chinatown Night Market, Grant Avenue, San Francisco CA
• March 2024: But Where are the Manangs International Women's Day event, International Hotel Manilatown Center, San Francisco CA
• December 2023: Parol Festival, Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, San Francisco CA
• November 2023: Nakem Conference of Indigenous Philippine Scholars Gala, Fremont CA
• October 2023: Filipino-American History Month celebration, City Center, Watsonville CA
• October 2021: Asian Art Museum, San Francisco CA
• October 2021: University of Hawaii Manoa, Honolulu HI
• September 2021: Autumn Moon Festival, San Francisco CA
• August 2021: Livable City Weekend Walkways, San Francisco CA
• May 2021: Clarion Performing Arts Center, San Francisco CA
• May 2021: Lakbai Diwa, San Francisco CA
• 2018-Present: Roster Artist of Young Audiences of Northern California

Served as Vocalist, Traditional Philippine Percussionist and Dancer for Composer Mark Izu's musical suite, "Songs for J-Town" which premiered on April 23, 2023 at San Francisco's Presidio Theatre.

Hired as a Philippine kulintang, hegelong, kubing and bungkaka musician for Florante Aguilar’s composition, “Utom”, a Wallace Alexander Gerbode Foundation commission which premiered at the San Francisco International Arts Festival in June 2019.

• Twenty years of consistent study of Philippine Maguindanao, Maranao, Teduray and Tausug kulintang and dance traditions under Master Artist and National Endowment for the Arts American Heritage Fellow Danongan Kalanduyan
• Extensive international touring experience with Mr. Kalanduyan
• Trained by Young Audiences of the Bay Area as a traditional arts educator specializing in K-12 audiences. Conducted interactive assemblies and workshops for numerous Bay Area school district students
• Served as ensemble's Road Manager for both local bookings and touring engagements
• Performed and/or conducted educational workshops at the following locations and festivals: Asian Art Museum, Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, California Academy of Sciences, Ethnic Dance Festival, World Arts West, San Francisco State University, UC Berkeley, Mills College, UCLA, UH Manoa, UA Anchorage, UA Kodiak, UM Boston, Tufts University and the Richmond VA Folk Festival