PAGDIRIWANG PHILIPPINE FESTIVAL 2024
Ken Sabalza
Known as “Seattle’s Baritone Vocalist”, Ken Sabalza is a highly sought-after soloist, thanks to his rich baritone sound and a warm, endearing personality. Ken performs a wide variety of music from love ballads, pop standards, opera, Broadway musicals, foreign language/folk songs, classical and sacred works, and church music (such as traditional hymns, gospel, spirituals, and contemporary Christian). Ken has performed throughout the United States, making his debut at New York City’s Carnegie Hall with the Choir of the Sound in 2005 and at Seattle’s Benaroya Hall with the Bellevue Chamber Chorus in 2007. Internationally, Ken has performed in Spain, Argentina, Uruguay, the Philippines, and recently made his debut in Tokyo, Japan last August of 2016.
Ken has worked with various groups and organizations in the Puget Sound, appearing with Fat Chance! Opera Company, Bellevue Opera, Puget Sound Opera, UW Opera Studio, Opera on Tap, as well as opera workshops and musical theater productions of “West Side Story” and “The Music Man” with Shoreline Community College. In 2010, he was a member of the Vocal Apprentice Program with the Astoria Music Festival, performing in scenes from Mozart’s “The Magic Flute” and Strauss’ “Die Fledermaus”. In 2011, he won First Prize (Opera Voice category) for the Performing Arts Festival Eastside (PAFE) competition and was the recipient of the Michael Mitchell Award for Opera. Ken also performs for fundraisers and galas throughout the Pacific Northwest. In 2011, his performance of “This Nearly Was Mine” from South Pacific was broadcast on NPR for the Earth Day Cabaret Fundraiser in Spokane and in 2014, he was the special guest artist for Interim CDA’s 45th Anniversary Sapphire Gala. Ken is also active in other community events, performing for the International Drop-in Center (IDIC), the annual Todos Los Santos event in North Seattle, Celebrate Recovery programs, Alzheimer’s Café gatherings in Bellevue, private concerts for retirement homes and memory care departments, and guest appearances at many churches throughout the area. Ken has also performed the US National Anthem for the University of Washington’s sports events.
Ken is grateful to his family and friends for their continued support throughout his musical journey. He would also like to thank the Filipino Cultural Heritage Society of Washington (FCHSW) for the invitation to be part of Pagdiriwang’s 30th Anniversary celebration and is looking forward to continuing to be an ambassador of music for the Filipino community. For more information, please visit Ken’s website at www.kensabalza.com and on social media at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. Maraming salamat po!