Erick, as he is fondly called, studied at the University of the Philippines Conservatory of Music. He took up Voice under the tutelage of Andrea O. Veneracion. Further voice training was taken under the best mentors like Fides Cuyugan Asensio, Priscilla Magdamo and Elmo Makil.
He was a member-soloist of the world renowned University of the Philippines Concert Chorus (UPCC) and is a veteran of two of its international concert tours in the 1980s. With the encouragement of then U.P. College Secretary and UPCC conductor, Rey T. Paguio, Eric studied Choral Conducting major with Piano and Voice Concentration minor.
Erick worked at The Music Studio of Ryan Cayabyab. He was vocal coach to budding young artists in the industry. The Smokey Mountain, a Filipino pop group is one product of his labor. He established Conservatorium, the Music School in Malolos, where he continued to teach rudiments of music to the youth of the city. Currently, he is a music professor at the Bulacan State University.
Erick is the composer of the theme song for GMA Television's fantaserye Encantadia and Atlantika. The songs have been recorded on a CD and released commercially in the Philippines.
In the 1990s, he debuted in theater by playing the lead actor in Music Theater Philippines production of an original Filipino zarzuela, Anna Maria. Headed by Fides Asensio, they took the zarzuela to various key cities in the USA. In the Cultural Center of the Philippines-Tanghalang Pilipino's production of Ryan Cayabyab's El Filibusterismo, Erick played the characters of Basilio and Simon. In his hometown of Malolos, he played the lead role in Barasoain Kalinangan Foundation's musical play Kanor, and Musikerong Bulakenyo.
Prior to studying music, Erick took up Interior Design at the University of Santo Tomas. The acquired knowledge qualified him into another branch in Erick's illustrious career in the arts. He was chosen to be the Production Designer for movies like Moments of Love, Eternity, Tiyanaks and Till I Met You starring another Bulakenya, Regine Velasquez. He also did the amazing set designs for television series Twin Hearts, Encantadia, Etheria and Atlantika.
As conductor, Erick has handled various choirs in Bulacan and Manila. Tiples del Niño Jesus de Malolos, Bulacan State University SaringHimig, The Meisters, St. John the Baptist Parish Choir of Calumpit, Department of Tourism Choir, Development Bank of the Philippines Chorale, and PLDT Company Chorale to name a few. In 1992, Erick took the helm as conductor of the Coro Basilica de Malolos and holds the position to this date. He has propelled the Coro to winning various local and regional competitions, recording projects and concerts abroad.
Erick is the 7th of 10 children of Oscar and Imelda Torralba. His father, Oscar, was a pianist and his mother, Imelda, was a singer. He grew up with his Ninang Ely Torralba, also a singer. They were the inspiration that led Erick to a similar path. At age 8, he was a choir member and an altar boy at the Basilica. At 17, he started his passion for choral conducting. He is a father to an eight-year old Mari Oscar Miguel Torralba.
A tradition of choral music excellence lives on as Eric commits to take the Coro Basilica de Malolos to greater heights. This is his way of thanking this family for the most valuable heritage in music. This is also his way of thanking and serving the Lord Almighty.
FROM COROBASILICADEMALOLOS.COM
