Tusa Montes

Tusa Montes is a percussionist, ethnomusicologist, and educator who specializes in the musics of the Philippines, Asia, West Africa, and Latin America.

Montes has performed and recorded in multiple projects, events, and festivals in the Philippines and abroad. Recent events include the »Gongster’s Paradise« Kulintang festival in the US (2023), »Rain Motions: Connecting (with) the Skies of Southeast Asia« Festival in Thailand (2023), »Padyak Hamburg« in Germany (2022), Nusasonic HCMC Festival in Vietnam (2022), and Virtual PASIC (an international percussion convention, 2021). She has performed with notable local and international musicians such as Edsel Gomez, Joe Bataan, royal hartigan, Leonard Eto, Bob Aves, Grace Nono, Johnny Alegre, and Bo Razon.

Montes graduated in 2012 with a Master’s degree in Musicology from the University of the Philippines (UP) College of Music. She subsequently taught at the University of Santo Tomas Conservatory of Music for 10 years, before taking a position as Senior Lecturer at the UP College of Music where she continues to teach.