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Zachary Manlapid (he/him) is a conductor, music director, singer, and violist from San Diego, California. He grew up playing in orchestras before discovering singing in high school through musical theatre and choir. He attended Palomar College, graduating with an AA in Sociology and later transferred to UC Berkeley, earning a BA in Music while discovering conducting. Upon graduation, he worked as the Assistant Conductor to the UC Berkeley Chamber Chorus and Music Director at the College Light Opera Company in Cape Cod. At this time, he has earned his MMus Choral Conducting at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada where he conducted the Oriana Treble Chorus and Chamber Choir as well as worked as the Graduate Teaching Assistant for the undergraduate conducting classes. Not one to say no to an opportunity, Zach has music directed over a dozen stage shows, prepped choruses for works such as Mahler 2, Beethoven 9, and the world premiere of Jimmy Lopez's "Dreamers," and has offered many vocal coaching workshops. Throughout his choral career, he has had the immense pleasure of singing under the baton of David Milnes, Jonathan Girard, Ken-David Masur, and Esa-Pekka Salonen. When he’s not looking into how identities and experiences can be communicated through music and what the social responsibilities are for being a conductor, Zach enjoys food in all forms, baking, video games, and bit humor.
