Conrad Jaminola Benedicto playing kulintang gongs on a stand with traditional Maguinadaon designs. Photo: Manuel Dragon

Conrad Jaminola Benedicto

Kulintang Music of the Southern Philippines

Bay Area San Francisco County Santa Clara County Asian/Asian-American/Pacific Islander Music Filipino American

Kulintang Music from the Kalanduyan Line

Kulintang is an ongoing source of joy and purpose in my life.” – Conrad Jaminola Benedicto

*Conrad Jaminola Benedicto playing a set of kulintang gongs in the forest. Photo: Catherine Salvin*

Conrad Jaminola Benedicto is an author and musician based in San Francisco, where he studied with kulintang master artist Danongan Kalanduyan from 1997 to 2016, including as his apprentice through the Alliance for California Traditional Arts’ Apprenticeship Program in 2007 and again in 2013.

In 2018, Conrad received an individual artist grant from the San Francisco Arts Commission to compose original kulintang music for his project, “Kulintang Dialect,” which later became the name of his kulintang band. Kulintang Dialect released its sophomore album, “Dialogue,” in May 2026.

Conrad’s travel blogs can be found in Positively Filipino Magazine, and his first novel, Musalaya’s Gift, was published by KulArts in 2021. Conrad earned a master’s degree in music composition for kulintang from San Francisco State University in 2026.

In his other life, Conrad is a happy teacher at Balboa High School and director of the Wilderness Arts and Literacy Collaborative (WALC), an award-winning environmental education program operating at two high schools in San Francisco.

Conrad Jaminola Benedicto’s band, Kulintang Dialect, at Make Music Day 2023, in San Francisco.

Apprenticeship Program

2026

Kulintang Music
with apprentice Jinji Sayson

*Jinji demonstrating at the Uni at Ugat Music Camp in Hawaii. Photo courtesy of the artist*

Jinji Sayson will deepen her study of kulintang music with Conrad Benedicto, focusing heavily on the Kangungudan (new) style of song. For a kulintang player to be considered legitimate, they must have at least three versions of each type of song. Jinji will learn to play each instrument in the kulintang ensemble for the following pieces: Sinulog a Kangungudan and Binalig and play three Binaligs and three Sinulog a Kangungudan pieces.

2023

Kulintang Music
with apprentice Jinji Sayson

Jinji performing with Kulintang Dialect on November 5, 2022. Photo: Buggsy Malone

During her apprenticeship, Jinji will learn the basic rhythmic and melodic patterns on all ensemble instruments for Kamamatuan and Kangungudan (styles of kulintang music). She will also build her understanding of how these parts contribute to the entire structure of different songs.

2013

Filipino Kulintang
with mentor Danongan Kalanduyan

In 2013, Kalanduyan and Benedicto returned to the Apprenticeship Program, focusing on the Filipino music form of Kulintang.

2007

Filipino Kulintang
with mentor Danongan Kalanduyan

After studying with the late Master artist and NEA National Heritage Fellow Danongan Kalanduyan for nine years, Benedicto became Kalanduyan’s ACTA apprentice, focusing on advanced rhythms and techniques on the five different kulintang instruments, improvisational techniques, and the history and social context of kulintang music. Bendicto also presented what he learned to his students at Balboa High School in San Francisco.

2024

Kulintang Dialect

Kulintang Dialogue is a series of community engagements designed to explore the dynamics between tradition and innovation within kulintang music in the United States. This funding will allow Conrad to teach how kulintang music is played traditionally, then show variations that have evolved in America before facilitating a community discussion.