About Us
If interested in underwriting this new BSO Chorus Director, please reach out to BSO Executive Director Gail Ridenour
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Celebrating our first year with Dr. Mabalot!
Dr. Frederick B. Mabalot, a Filipino-American composer and choral conductor hailing from Southern California, has been a resident of Bellingham since 2016. Holding a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Choral Conducting from the University of Washington, his academic work sheds light on the intersections of music and social transformation. His dissertation, A Path to Song: The Incorporation of Aboriginal and Environmental Influences in 20th and 21st Century Australian Choral Music, explores the singular characteristics of Australian choral music, confronting the lasting impacts of colonial history on Aboriginal communities and their representation within the choral tradition.
Dr. Mabalot’s research offers meaningful approaches for incorporating Indigenous influences into composition and performance with cultural sensitivity. His other doctoral inquiries encompassed The History and Performance of the 1328 Rimini Antiphonal Chants and The Application of Yoga Principles to Alleviate Musical Performance Anxiety and Stress in Choral and Individual Singers. During his residency at UW, he directed ensembles such as Glee Choir, Recital Choir, and Chamber Singers under the mentorship of Dr. Geoffrey Boers and Dr. Giselle Wyers.
Dr. Mabalot also holds a Bachelor of Music degree from California State University, Northridge, where he studied piano, voice, and conducting—training that laid the foundation for his pursuit of musical excellence and leadership in the choral arts. His artistic journey advanced with honours at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, where he studied composition under Dr. Michael Smetanin, Dr. Matthew Hindson, and Dr. Paul Stanhope. Under the guidance of Dr. Neil McEwan in choral conducting, he performed with the Sydney Chamber Choir and the Choir of Christ Church Saint Laurence, achieving recognition as a tenor soloist, composer, and assistant conductor. During this period, his compositions were showcased in esteemed venues such as the Sydney Opera House and broadcast on Australian Broadcasting Corporation’s Classical radio. His time at the Conservatorium led to lifelong friendships and formative experiences, with his choral works performed in Australia and across Europe.
Furthering his studies in Copenhagen at the Royal Danish Academy of Music, Dr. Mabalot worked under renowned Danish composers Hans Abrahamsen, Niels Rosing-Schow, and Jeppe Just Christensen. He conducted RDAM Voices and Coro Latino Copenhagen and participated in the PULSAR Contemporary Music Festival, where his compositions were performed by leading ensembles such as the Paris-based Ensemble Alternance, Esbjerg Ensemble, RDAM Sinfonietta and RDAM Symphony, DKDM Voices, Tourdion Chamber Choir, and artists from the Royal Opera Academy. His time in Denmark fostered collaborations with fellow musicians, enriching his creative approach and expanding his global network of artistic allies.
Dr. Mabalot’s works have been performed internationally and are published by Walton Music Publications. He serves as the Artistic Director and Conductor of the Bellingham Chamber Chorale, a role he has held since 2016 and the Director of Music and Liturgy at Church of the Assumption since 2016. A major impetus in his work stems from a deep passion for sharing his vision of music as a transformative and healing force. Dr. Mabalot is a member of the American Choral Directors' Association, the National Association of Teachers of Singing, Royal School of Church Music, ASCAP, and Denmark’s KODA.
He assumed the role of Chorus Director for the Bellingham Symphony Orchestra for the 50th anniversary season, beginning the BSO Chorus.
More information can be found on Dr. Mabalot's website, frederickbmabalot.com.
