as on January 1, 2001
(Source: the composer)(Source: the composer)
Agripino “Nonoy” V. Diestro took piano lessons with Manuel S.P. Bautista at the age of ten. He obtained his degree, major in Music Theory and Composition at the University of the Philippines, College of Music in 1990. After graduation, under a scholarship grant from the French government, he took up Orchestral Direction with Jean-Sebastien Bereau at the Conservatoire National de Region de Reims where he earned a (Premier Prix - Medaille d'Or) Gold Medal of Excellence (the highest award given by the conservatory) in 1991. He also studied Orchestral Direction (Auditeur) at the Conservatoire National Superieur de Musique de Paris.
A 1993 Community Outstanding Young Achiever (COYA) awardee(given by Philippine Jaycees International), he has conducted the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra in many projects and outreach concerts. Since 1995 he conducts the Festival Orchestra of the International Bamboo Organ Festival in Las Piñas accompanying Filipino and foreign artists. Among them are Otoniel Gonzaga, Nolyn Cabahug, Andion Fernandez,Camille Lopez, Jose Mari Chan,Judith Engels, Maria Lluisa Muntada, Linda Maguire, Jan Caals, and Franz van Eetvelt.
In 1995, he was commissioned to compose a hymn for the beatification of Maria Domenica Brun Barbantini, Mother Foundress of the Camillian Sisters. The hymn “Lode a Dio Per Maria Domenica” was sung by the Camillian Sisters from Albania, Brazil, Chile, Italy, Kenya, Taiwan, Thailand and the Philippines under his direction in Rome and Lucca, Italy.
In April 1997, Diestro represented the Philippines in the 45th International Competition for Young Orchestra Conductors in Besancon, France where he emerged as one of the top 10 out of 179 candidates from 43 countries around the world. He is the first Filipino to achieve this level in any international conducting competition.
Nonoy did some music for Filipino films. He was one of the arrangers for the film “JOSE RIZAL” (1998). He composed the theme song of the movie "DROGA" (1999) entitled “Anino Sa Liwanag”
Last May 2000, he had a series of concerts in Spain conducting the “OrquestaDe Camara Ciudad de La Linea” upon the invitation of then Spanish ambassador tothe Philippines, His Excellency Delfin Colome.
At present, Nonoy is the President and Resident Conductor of the Angono National Symphonic Band. He is also the Music Director and Conductor of the University of the Philippines Chamber Orchestra(UPCO)and Centro Escolar University Chorale. He teaches Band & Orchestra Conducting at the University of the Philippines College of Music.