Matthew Espina Harris

Matthew Espina Harris is a musician and cultural researcher based in Oakland. He got his start in Philippine dance and music through Pilipino Culture Night at UC Davis, where he fell in love with Kulintang and Rondalla. While attending university, Matthew established one of the only student-run, traditionally based Kulintang ensembles in the United States.

Matthew is a proud member of Agos (formerly known as American Center of Philippine Arts) as part of their music ensemble and as an advisor to numerous collegiate Filipino-American organizations in NorCal. He is a student of traditional Kulintang music, learning from ensembles like House of Gongs, Little Manila Stockton, Kulintang Dialect, and Salamindanao Dance Company.

In 2022, Matthew formally joined the artistic team of Parangal Dance Company, and now works as Co-Director of Music to strengthen the company’s gong and percussion repertoire. Notable music works of his include the Sama Ta’u Sug-inspired set, Panghimati sin Parsugpatan, and the Tboli-inspired set, Keseguyen. He was also a producer of Parangal’s first full-length Maguindanaon-inspired show, Ipat a Kadsakay.

In 2024, Matthew participated in his first artistic residency with Kultivate Labs through Balay Kreative. In this program, Matthew produced his first personal show, Makabagong Kumparsa, which celebrated Rondalla music of old and new.

Outside of his performing arts career, Matthew is also the owner and operator of PamanaTreasures, an event-based retailer that aims to bridge diasporic interest in tangible heritage with the growing movement in support of Philippine artisans.