Meet the multifaceted musician Koowir Ison Relevo

Our featured artist today is Koowie Ison Relevo, Assistant Artistic Director of the Far Eastern University (FEU) Drum and Bugle Corps.

Koowir Ison Relevo currently works as a Fire Officer 3 at the national headquarters of the Bureau of Fire Protection while also serving as the assistant conductor and arranger of the BFP marching band. PHOTO CONTRIBUTED BY THE ARTIST

Koozie graduated from FEU in 2017 with a Bachelor of Arts in Human Resource Development Management. He is not only an artist, but also a Fire Officer 3, an arranger for the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) Marching Band and also its Assistant Conductor.

He participated with the FEU Drum and Bugle Corps in international competitions such as drumline and brass line held in Indonesia.

In addition to his duties as Assistant Artistic Director, Koozie also performs with the local community band as a guest trombone, baritone or tuba/sousaphone player at events and competitions in the Philippines.

We recently had a chat with Koowie and here is that conversation.

Who inspired you to become a musician?

I grew up with my cousins ​​and uncle who were my music teachers. They taught me how to read notes and play brass instruments. My grandfather started a local marching band in our town, which I now run, and I continue his legacy. My family influenced my love of music and I ended up using those skills to attend college, earn extra money, and make a living.

How did you become a firefighter at the national headquarters of the Bureau of Fire Protection? I used my musical skills to join the BFP. They needed to form a band within the bureau to meet the needs of band drills and ceremonies. I applied and auditioned. Fortunately, I was selected. I am assigned to the national office under the direction of the control. I do not drive the trucks or put out fires because that is not my assigned job. During the training days, we study firefighting and rescue, but once you graduate, your duties will depend on where you are assigned. In my case, after training, I was assigned to the national office to do administrative tasks.

Do you think there is a future for drum and bugle corps in the Philippines? I think the future depends on how the Drum and Bugle Corps adapts to the changes and innovations of the local and international marching band community, learning new methods and teaching the fundamentals to each student.

Tell us about the big event coming up on September 28th and how can our readers find out more and ticket prices? On September 28th we want to show how a traditional drum and bugle corps, usually seen on the field, can transform and showcase their talent in a concert hall, performing as a symphonic band or orchestra. Embarking on this journey is quite challenging and exciting as we all grow and learn new ways of producing music, different from what we are used to. Admission is free and anyone can watch if they register. Visit our Facebook page, FEU Drum and Bugle Corps, for more details.