Paolo Debuque | Featured Artist
Photo provided by the artist
Paolo Debuque (he/him) is a Filipino- and Chinese-American conductor based in Minneapolis, MN, recognized for his innovative programming and commitment to grassroots, community-centered art.
He is the Founding Artistic Director of A Thousand Tongues, an arts organization dedicated to uplifting Asian-American experiences through music and story, and the Artistic Director of Caritas Vocal Ensemble, a Twin Cities-based group committed to serving the community through music. Passionate about amplifying underrepresented voices, Paolo’s recent and upcoming projects include a residency at Luther College, guest conducting with the Minnesota Chorale and Resonance Ensemble, and professional singing with the Filipino-American choir Lalo and other ensembles.
As an educator, Paolo has served on the choral faculty at St. Olaf College, where he directed the Viking Chorus and Chapel Choir and taught conducting and voice. He is also active as an arranger of choral music, with a focus on works by Philippine composers. In 2024, he was selected as one of six fellows in ACDA’s International Conductor Exchange Program with the Philippines.
Paolo studied music at Swarthmore College, earned his MM in Choral Conducting at the University of Michigan under Jerry Blackstone, and is currently pursuing a DMA in Conducting at the University of Minnesota with Matthew Mehaffey. He has also studied with Simon Carrington, Victor Yampolsky, Andrew Megill, Rodney Eichenberger, and Dale Warland.
Learn more about Paolo and his work at the links below:
Paolo appears on these Resonance programs: