First Filipino in Music and Dance

Eleanor Academia
1st Filipina-American Musician to produce the 1st recording of Kulintang music in the world
1st Filipina-American Musician to mix the ancient sound of bronze gongs with heavy metal rock guitars on a rock album, Oracle of the Black Swan

José Maceda
1st Filipino avant-garde Composer

Francisca Reyes Aquino
1st Filipina National Artist for Dance (1973)
Maniya Barredo
1st Prima Ballerina of the Philippines (1978)

Helena Z. Benitez
Founder of the 1st Filipino dance company, Bayanihan Philippine National Folk Dance Company (1957)

Ryan Cayabyab
1st Musician Recipient of the Antonio C. Barreiro Achievement Award (1996)
1st Filipino Grand Prize Winner of the 1st Seoul Song Festival (1978)
1st Grand Prize Winner of the 1st Metropop Song Festival (1977)
Charmaine Clamor
1st Filipina-American Jazz Singer (2006)

Billy Crawford
1st Filipino-American Best Male International Artist, NJR Music Awards in Cannes (2003)

Sharon Cuneta
1st Filipina "Movie Soundtrack Star" and the only “Megastar”

Jovita Fuentes
1st Filipina National Artist in Music (1976)
"First Lady of Philippine Music"
Philippine National Artist in Music (1976)

Danongan Sibay Kalanduyan
1st Filipino-American Master Artist of Maguindanao Kulintang music in the United States (1976)

Ildefonso Lauron
first and only Filipino flutist with the Boston Pops

Kuh Ledesma
1st Filipina Singer to be the recipient of the Salem Music Awards (1989)

Evelyn Mandac
1st Filipina Soprano to sing at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York and the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., USA (1975)
1st Filipina Soprano to sing in a full-length opera with Placido Domingo

Mark Mejia
1st Filipino-American Star Search Two-time Junior Singer Champion (2004)

Marcelita Kabayao-Mortensen
1st Filipina Concert Pianist to play a full piano recital at Broadway’s Town Hall

Martin Nievera
1st Filipino International Singer to perform in the Golden Nugget Hotel showroom (originally built for Frank Sinatra) (2006)
"Concert King of the Philippines"

Parokya ni Edgar
1st Filipino rock band to become Favorite Artist Philippines in the MTV Asia Awards
(2004)

Jamie Rivera
1st Filipina named "Inspirational Diva" for bringing inspirational music

Josephine “Banig” Roberto
1st Filipina International Star Search Grand Champion

Odon Sabarre
1st Filipino dance scholar to USSR

Lea Salonga
1st Filipina to perform at the Oscar Academy Awards (1993)

Luis Valencia
1st Filipino Music Director of the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra (PPO) (1973)

Gary Valenciano
1st Filipino International Musician to hold a concert with 800,000 attendees, the biggest pop concert in Philippine history (1989)
1st Filipino artist to have a Seinnheiser mic named after him

Regine Velasquez
1st Filipina Favorite Artist Philippines in the MTV Asia Awards (2002)