Emil Mijares
Encyclopedia
Emil Mijares was an award-winning Filipino
jazz musician.
Mijares was born in 1935, the son of Emilio Montilla Mijares, Sr. and Nitang Belo and grew up in Roxas City
in the province of Capiz
. He emerged in the 1950s as a jazz vibist
and pianist
, and was a musical director on Filipino television, as well as a composer, arranger, bandleader and producer.
Known as the "grandfather of Philippines jazz", Mijares was the musical director for the Metro Manila Popular Music Festival
in 1978, and won the Aliw Award
for best jazz performer (1983) and best musical director (1985). In 2004, Mijares was granted a Lifetime Achievement Award by Los Angeles-based Filipino-American magazine Celebrity Chronicle.
Mijares’ career continued until the late 1980s when he left the Philippines and migrated to the United States
. He remained active musically in the Los Angeles
area until he was taken ill in 2007 and died at the age of 72. In his honor, the Jazz Society of the Philippines in the United States named their annual scholarship grant program the Emil Mijares Scholarship.
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
jazz musician.
Mijares was born in 1935, the son of Emilio Montilla Mijares, Sr. and Nitang Belo and grew up in Roxas City
Roxas City
Roxas City is a medium-sized city in the province of Capiz, Philippines. It is the provincial capital and a component city. , the city mayor is former city vice mayor Angel Alan Celino who was elected during the 2010 election....
in the province of Capiz
Capiz
Capiz is a province of the Philippines located in the Western Visayas region. Its capital is Roxas City and is located at the northeastern portion of Panay Island, bordering Aklan and Antique to the west, and Iloilo to the south. Capiz faces the Sibuyan Sea to the north...
. He emerged in the 1950s as a jazz vibist
Vibraphone
The vibraphone, sometimes called the vibraharp or simply the vibes, is a musical instrument in the struck idiophone subfamily of the percussion family....
and pianist
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
, and was a musical director on Filipino television, as well as a composer, arranger, bandleader and producer.
Known as the "grandfather of Philippines jazz", Mijares was the musical director for the Metro Manila Popular Music Festival
Metro Manila Popular Music Festival
The Metro Manila Popular Music Festival is a songwriting competition launched by the Popular Music Foundation of the Philippines in 1977. Its objective was to promote the advancement of Filipino music, and its chief proponents were Teodoro Valencia and Imee Marcos...
in 1978, and won the Aliw Award
Aliw Awards
Aliw Awards by the Aliw Awards Foundation, Inc. was established by the renowned Philippine journalist Alice H. Reyes, to recognize achievements in the live entertainment industry in the Philippines...
for best jazz performer (1983) and best musical director (1985). In 2004, Mijares was granted a Lifetime Achievement Award by Los Angeles-based Filipino-American magazine Celebrity Chronicle.
Mijares’ career continued until the late 1980s when he left the Philippines and migrated to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. He remained active musically in the Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
area until he was taken ill in 2007 and died at the age of 72. In his honor, the Jazz Society of the Philippines in the United States named their annual scholarship grant program the Emil Mijares Scholarship.