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Chiara Cox
Chiara Cox
Filipino-American Artist • Filmmaker • Soprano • Educator • Cultural Advocate
PROFILE
PROFILE
Multidisciplinary artist, classical soprano, documentary filmmaker, writer, and cultural advocate dedicated to preserving and promoting Filipino heritage, indigenous knowledge, endangered scripts, and diaspora identity. Her work spans film, music, storytelling, cultural programming, and community education, guided by a mission to inspire pride, curiosity, and connection among Filipino and Filipino-American communities and beyond.
AREAS OF WORK
AREAS OF WORK
Documentary Film Direction & Production
Classical Vocal Performance (Soprano)
Cultural & Heritage Advocacy
Writing (essays, cultural analysis, personal narrative)
Community Arts & Educational Programming
Filipino Textile & Indigenous Knowledge Preservation
KEY PROJECTS & ACCOMPLISHMENTS
KEY PROJECTS & ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Documentary Film
Documentary Film
Director / Producer / Writer / Editor / Narrator
Mangyan Ambahan: Wisdom for Our Filipino Soul (2024)
Award: Documentary of a Minority Script – Endangered Alphabets Project (World Endangered Writing Day 2025)
Festival Awards & Selections: Documentary Without Borders (Exceptional Merit), Depth of Field International Film Festival (Exceptional Merit), Tigertail Asian Film Festival (Honorable Mentions), Global Nonviolent Film Festival, others.
Focus: The Mangyan people of Mindoro, the ambahan poetic tradition, and endangered indigenous writing systems.
Evelyn Mandac: The Filipina Soprano Who Broke Opera Glass Ceilings (2024)
Short documentary spotlighting Filipina opera trailblazer Evelyn Mandac, representation in classical music, and Cox’s musical lineage.
Festival Selections: SoundCheck! Festival at Wing Luke Museum, Diwa Filipino Film Showcase of Seattle, Kundiman Masterclass with Q&A at the Philippine Consulate in NYC.
Music & Classical Voice
Music & Classical Voice
Classical Soprano & Interpreter of Filipino Art Song
Performs Filipino kundiman, regional folk songs, art song repertoire, sacred works, and classical standard pieces.
Produced a sizeable body of music videos since the COVID-19 pandemic as an act of healing and cultural reconnection.
Vocal mentorship:
Evelyn Mandac, legendary Filipina soprano
Michael Dadap, composer, conductor, guitarist, and cultural leader
Supported by the South Carolina Arts Commission (with NEA partnership) during her Filipino Traditional Music and Rondalla apprenticeship with Maestro Dadap.
Founder of Rondalla of the Carolinas.
Music & Art Ambassador, Filipino American Association of Greater Columbia (FAAGC)
Organizer and curator of cultural events, art programs, and Filipino festivals in the Carolinas focusing on:
Indigenous culture
Textile collections & exhibitions
Heritage education
Cultural and natural heritage protection
Founder and director of School of the Minds, a free homeschool cooperative for gifted/asynchronous learners in Irmo, SC (approx. 10 years).
Essays on cultural identity, grief, heritage, sustainability, personal history, and music.
Notable works include:
The Calling of My Soul — personal cultural narrative published in Positively Filipino
A Certifiable Sustainable Way of Life — one of the most read stories in 2023 on Positively Filipino
Sustainability & cultural identity Q&A with Arthaland
Reflective pieces on music mentorship, family legacy, and Filipino pride.
StoryCorps interview (2024) discussing Filipino identity, cultural longing, and her grandmother’s influence.
Features in local news and cultural publications in South Carolina.
Recognized for heritage preservation and documentary accomplishments.
SKILLS
SKILLS
Vocal technique & interpretation
Film production: directing, editing, script development
Curriculum design & community education
Cultural programming & event curation
Heritage research & indigenous knowledge advocacy
Writing & narrative development
Public speaking and community engagement
Ang Pamana — Project Director
Arthaland — Advocate for sustainable development and heritage initiatives
Asian Opera Alliance — Documentary Director & Producer
Endangered Alphabets Project — Honoree
Filipino American Association of Greater Columbia (FAAGC) — Music & Art Ambassador
Gónô Tmutul: A Tboli House of Stories — Advocate & Fundraiser
HABI: The Philippine Textile Council — Advocate, Collector, Traveling Exhibitor
Make Us Visible South Carolina — Steering Committee Member
Mangyan Heritage Center — Documentary Director & Producer
Mapping Philippine Material Culture — Research Associate
School of the Minds — Founder
South Carolina Arts Commission — Artist and Program Support Recipient
South Carolina Humanities — Program Sponsorship Recipient
The Children’s Orchestra Society — Advocate; Student of Conductor Michael Dadap
The Hinabi Project — Advisory Council Member
US Philippines Society — Gala Concert USA Production Manager
Timeline
Timeline
Summary
Early-2000s–Late-2010s
Early-2000s–Late-2010s
Begins community-based cultural and educational work after moving to the Carolinas.
Founds a homeschool cooperative for gifted/asynchronous learners (runs ~10 years).
Late–2010s to 2023
Late–2010s to 2023
Increasing involvement in Filipino cultural organizations and local Filipino American community.
During the pandemic, starts classical vocal study more seriously under soprano Evelyn Mandac and music theory and Filipino music interpretation under conductor, composer, classic guitarist, Filipino music expert Michael Dadap.
Begins producing music videos as a personal and cultural practice, inspired by the passing of her grandmother.
2023
2023
Expands her advocacy for Filipino heritage, weaving, indigenous knowledge, and cultural education.
Begins developing textile and heritage programs.
Continues producing art song and Filipino repertoire videos.
Strengthens partnership with Maestro Michael Dadap.
2024
2024
Produces lecture which turns into a documentary:
“Evelyn Mandac: The Filipina Soprano Who Broke Opera Glass Ceilings.”Begins production on first major documentary:
“Mangyan Ambahan: Wisdom for Our Filipino Soul.”Features in StoryCorps interview about cultural identity.
2024
2024
Multiple music releases and writing publications.
Film festival submissions for her documentaries begin.
Receives support from the South Carolina Arts Commission (2024–2025).
2025
2025
Mangyan Ambahan wins Documentary of a Minority Script Award from the Endangered Alphabets Project.
Official selections and awards from international film festivals.
Expands cultural exhibitions and textile projects to the other cities in the USA and beyond.
Current (2025)
Current (2025)
Active as a soprano, filmmaker, heritage advocate, writer, and cultural educator.
Working on future documentary projects, new cultural programs, and expansion of Filipino heritage exhibitions.
In-State
(Educational Programming • Performances • Screenings • Exhibits • Cultural Events • Speaking Engagements • Volunteer Work for Filipino American Association of Greater Columbia )
2007
2007
January 2007 – Holistic Moms Network, Columbia, SC (Co-Leader, Educational Programming for Families, Homeschool Curriculum for PreK-5)
2010
2010
August 2010 – Gifted Homeschoolers Forum, Columbia, SC (Regional Representative and Coordinator, Ambassador Coordinator, Outreach Manager)
August 2010 – Mothers Acting Up, Columbia, SC (Regional Representative)
2012
2012
January 2012 – School of the Minds, a leading homeschool support group committed to quality high-level secular education and to developing a dedicated inclusive homeschool community in Irmo, SC. (Founder, Organizer, Facilitator, Teacher)
2019
2019
7 September 2019 – Filipino American Association of Greater Columbia Gala, a FAAGC Fundraising Event, Columbia, SC (Performer)
2020
2020
5 November 2020 – Music Video Production, first classical and traditional music videos released on YouTube (Video Director, Producer, Editor, Soprano)
2023
2023
18 February 2023 – Harana, a FAAGC Fundraising Event, Columbia Museum of Art, Columbia, SC (Performer)
18 March 2023 – Asian American Community Music Making Event with Eric Hung, Boyd Plaza, Columbia, SC (Performer)
4 October 2023 – First Thursday, Boyd Plaza, Columbia, SC (Performer)
6 October – 21 November 2023 – Weaving Communities and Culture: Filipino Textile Exhibit, Richland Library, Columbia, SC (Curator, Producer, Organizer)
18 October 2023 – Philippine Textiles: A Complex Mapping with Marian Pastor Roces, Richland Library, Columbia, SC (Organizer)
27 October 2023 – Masterclass with Michael Dadap & Florante Aguilar, School of Music, University of South Carolina (Organizer)
28 October 2023 – Interactive Workshop with Michael Dadap & Florante Aguilar, Richland Library, Columbia, SC (Organizer, Performer)
29 October 2023 – Michael Dadap & Florante Aguilar Concert, Recital Hall, University of South Carolina (Organizer)
2024
2024
24 March 2024 – Assisted StoryCorps with Columbia Launch; recorded interview on cultural identity with Elen Callahan
11 May 2024 – Make Us Visible Launch Event (Steering Committee Member)
14 May 2024 – Screening of Evelyn Mandac: The Filipina Soprano Who Broke Opera Glass Ceilings with live Q&A featuring Evelyn Mandac, Richland Library St. Andrew Branch (Producer, Organizer)
July 2024 – May 2025 – Filipino Traditional Music and Rondalla Apprentice South Carolina Arts Commission (Sponsorship)
5 October 2024 – Mangyan Ambahan: Wisdom for Our Filipino Soul Screening, Richland Library (Producer, Organizer, Sponsored by South Carolina Humanities)
24 October 2024 – K’na the Dreamweaver Screening with virtual intro by director Ida del Mundo, The Nick, Columbia, SC (Organizer)
27 October 2024 – Michael Dadap Kundiman Concert, Barnes Recital Hall, Winthrop University, Rock Hill, SC (Organizer, Performer)
2025
2025
8 May 2025 – Huling Pagsamo by Michael Dadap, music video released on YouTube (Video Director, Producer, Editor, Soprano)
13 May 2025 – A Long March Screening with Director Tammy Botkin (Q&A), The Nick, Columbia, SC (Organizer)
16 May – 13 June 2025 – The Faces to Remember Project, Richland Library, Columbia, SC (Organizer)
7 August 2025 – Bahay Kubo, first recording released by Rondalla of the Carolina on YouTube (Bandurlin Player)
20 September 2025 – Gong, Dance, and Fashion Show by House of Gongs, FAAGC Fundraising Gala (Organizer)
21 September 2025 – Gong and Dance Workshop by House of Gongs, Koger Center, Columbia, SC (Organizer)
4 October 2025 – Blaan Textiles & Culture Workshop with Arjho Turner, Richland Library, Columbia, SC (Organizer)
2026 (Planning Stage)
2026 (Planning Stage)
30 May 2026 – St. Malo Screening & Q&A with Randy Gonzales, TBA, Columbia, SC (Organizer)
October 2026 – Art Nelson Left Behind — Humanistic Exhibit, TBA, Columbia, SC (Curator, Producer, Organizer)
October 2026 – Ilokandia Screening with Ilocano Food Buffet, TBA, Columbia, SC (Organizer)
Out-of-State
(Screenings • Exhibits • Cultural Events • Speaking Engagements • Film Festivals)
2024
2024
May 2024 – Threaded Traditions Exhibit with documentary screenings and trunk show, Charlotte Museum of History, Charlotte, NC (Curator, Exhibitor, Speaker, Seller)
11 May 2024 – Lecture, Evelyn Mandac: The Filipina Soprano Who Broke Glass Ceilings, Sound Check! Festival (Virtual), Wing Luke Museum, Seattle, WA (Lecturer)
24 August 2024 – Filipino Textile Trunk Show, Charlotte, NC (Seller)
October–December 2024 – Threaded Traditions Exhibit with documentary screenings, Museum of Science and History, Jacksonville, FL (Curator, Speaker, Exhibitor)
9 November 2024 – Mangyan Wisdom: Wisdom for Our Filipino Soul Film Screening I and Q&A, Arthaland Century Pacific Tower, BGC, Makati, Philippines (Producer, Organizer)
29 November 2024 – Mangyan Wisdom: Wisdom for Our Filipino Soul Film Screening II and Q&A, Arthaland Century Pacific Tower, BGC, Makati, Philippines (Producer, Organizer)
2025
2025
8 January – 5 April 2025 – Contemporary Filipino Textiles Exhibit with Threaded Traditions documentary screenings, Southeastern Museum of Textiles and Quilts, Carrollton, GA (Curator, Exhibitor)
23 January 2025 – Mangyan Ambahan: Wisdom for Our Filipino Soul Screening and Q&A, SOAS University of London, in partnership with the National Museum of Language and the Endangered Alphabets Project (Film Screening, Producer, Organizer, Speaker)
23 January 2025 – Documentary of Minority Script Award on World Endangered Writing Day by Endangered Alphabets Project (Honoree)
8 March 2025 – Mangyan Ambahan: Wisdom for Our Filipino Soul Virtual Screening and Q&A, The Brown Psych’s The Hilom Collective (Film Screening, Speaker)
April 2025 – The Soul of the Mangyan Ambahan Interview, It’s About Language Podcast (Organizer, Speaker)
24 May 2025 – Mangyan Ambahan: Wisdom for Our Filipino Soul Screening, Tigertail Asian Film Festival, Tampa, FL (Honorable Mention)
29 May 2025 – Screening of Evelyn Mandac: The Filipina Soprano Who Broke Glass Ceilings and Kundiman Masterclass, Kalayaan Hall, Philippine Consulate, New York, NY
(Film Screening, Organizer, Promoter)
3 July 2025 – Mangyan Ambahan: Wisdom for Our Filipino Soul South American Premiere, 6th Literature in Cinema, Buenos Aires, Argentina (Official Selection)
17 August 2025 – Mangyan Ambahan: Wisdom for Our Filipino Soul Screening, Depth of Field International Film Festival, Rehoboth Beach, DE (Exceptional Merit Award)
12 September 2025 – Mangyan Ambahan Screening, Pop-Up Exhibit, and Q&A, National Museum of the Philippines, Manila (Film Screening, Organizer)
14 September 2025 – Mangyan Ambahan: Wisdom for Our Filipino Soul Screening, Documentaries Without Borders International Film Festival, Rehoboth Beach, DE (Exceptional Merit Award)
25 September 2025 – Mangyan Ambahan: Wisdom for Our Filipino Soul Screening, Global Nonviolent Film Festival (Official Selection)
4 October 2025 – Screening of Evelyn Mandac: The Filipina Soprano Who Broke Glass Ceilings, Diwa Filipino Film Festival of Seattle, Seattle, WA (Film Screening)
14 October 2025 – Buklod Mangyan: An Ikebana Workshop Inspired by Mangyan Ambahan, Arya, BGC, Makati, Philippines (Film Screening)
18 October 2025 – Empowerment Through Heritage: Cultural Diplomacy and Creative Leadership — Stories That Inspire the Future, ACT International Consulting LLC Leadership Speaker Series 2025 (Interviewee)
1 November 2025 – Mapping Philippine Material Culture Filipino American Cleveland Community Meeting with Principal Investigator Cristina Juan, Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (Organizer)
14 November 2025 – Evelyn Mandac on Living the Creative Life interviewed by Zsolt Bognar, New York, NY (Coordinator)
18 November 2025 – Mangyan Ambahan: Wisdom for Our Filipino Soul, Library of Congress, Washington, DC (Donor)
2026 (Planning Stage)
2026 (Planning Stage)
1 July 2026 – 80th Anniversary Gala of U.S.–Philippine Diplomatic Relations, Daughters of the American Revolution Constitution Hall, Washington, DC (USA Production Manager)
TBA October 2026 – Mangyan Ambahan Screening and Pop-Up Exhibit, Pack Memorial Library, Asheville, NC (Film Screening, Exhibitor)
Awards
July 2024 – May 2025 – Filipino Traditional Music and Rondalla Apprentice, South Carolina Arts Commission (Grantee)
23 January 2025 – Documentary of Minority Script Award on World Endangered Writing Day by Endangered Alphabets Project (Honoree)
24 May 2025 – Mangyan Ambahan: Wisdom for Our Filipino Soul Screening, Tigertail Asian Film Festival, Tampa, FL (Honorable Mention)
17 August 2025 – Mangyan Ambahan: Wisdom for Our Filipino Soul Screening, Depth of Field International Film Festival, Rehoboth Beach, DE (Exceptional Merit Award)
14 September 2025 – Mangyan Ambahan: Wisdom for Our Filipino Soul Screening, Documentaries Without Borders International Film Festival, Rehoboth Beach, DE (Exceptional Merit Award)
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