Bernard Quipot: Musician at heart |
by Laura Salinger
Once a musician, always a musician. Such is the case for Bernard Quipot. Now a Madisonian and medical assistant at UW
Health Sports Medicine, Quipot once made his living as a musician in the Philippines and across Asia. In Madison, Quipot has
played at special events and celebrations but, along with his current career as a medical assistant, he hopes to launch a solo
career in the near future to bring his music to a larger audience. Music is, after all, in his soul.
“It’s in my blood,” Quipot says about music. “My mother was a singer; my dad was a musician too. Most of my cousins were
musically inclined. It was part of our life.”
Quipot was raised in Cebu City, located on the eastern shore of Cebu and dubbed the oldest city of the Philippines. Quipot’s
father (now deceased) was a colonel in the army and his mother stayed home to care for Quipot and his four siblings. Their home
life was filled with music.
Quipot’s first real training in music was when he joined a choir in 6th grade. His first musical inspirations, he says, were
bands like Crosby, Stills, and Nash and the Eagles. In high school, Quipot took up the guitar and put together bands with his
classmates.
“My friends and I, in high school, started a band,” Quipot says. “We sang the Police, Chicago, Journey, and Yes.”
What started as a high school experimentation with music, however, eventually lead to the formation of different bands and the
evolution of Quipot’s musical journey. While keeping with his rock and pop repertoire, Quipot also began experimenting with
jazz fusion. A musical fusion genre, jazz fusion mixes elements of jazz with the rhythms of R&B and the beats and electronic
effects of rock.
Quipot was making a name for himself as a musician, while also hoping to provide for himself and his wife, a nurse, and
growing family. He began traveling extensively, playing in countries like the United Arab Emirates, China, and Malaysia.
“I created myself as a freelance musician in the Philippines,” he says. “My goal was to buy in the house in the Philippines. I
spent 13 or 14 years traveling and playing. Fortunately, I got my house in the Philippines.”
But Quipot’s musical career would be put on hold when his family-now including his wife and two sons-moved to Madison.
“We came here in 2003,” Quipot says. “That ended my musical career. It was hard.”
Quipot went back to school at Madison Area Technical College and has been working as a medical assistant at UW Health
Sports Medicine for two years. Sports medicine, in short, is the area of health care services that treats and rehabilitates injuries
related to sports, exercise or recreational activity.
“I basically help the primary doctors,” Quipot says. “We deal with athletes or any kind of specific injuries to joints or bones.”
Although Quipot has changed career paths, music is still very much a part of his life. He often plays at Filipino events around
town and some of his performances can be found on YouTube, including his own rendering of “On Wisconsin” (http://www.
youtube.com/watch?v=Da6_0rWvGQI) in which his co-workers help him perform.
Quipot hopes to begin playing solo this year and once again bring music to the stage.
About performing musically, Quipot says, “I can’t stop it. It’s part of me.”
Once a musician, always a musician. Such is the case for Bernard Quipot. Now a Madisonian and medical assistant at UW
Health Sports Medicine, Quipot once made his living as a musician in the Philippines and across Asia. In Madison, Quipot has
played at special events and celebrations but, along with his current career as a medical assistant, he hopes to launch a solo
career in the near future to bring his music to a larger audience. Music is, after all, in his soul.
“It’s in my blood,” Quipot says about music. “My mother was a singer; my dad was a musician too. Most of my cousins were
musically inclined. It was part of our life.”
Quipot was raised in Cebu City, located on the eastern shore of Cebu and dubbed the oldest city of the Philippines. Quipot’s
father (now deceased) was a colonel in the army and his mother stayed home to care for Quipot and his four siblings. Their home
life was filled with music.
Quipot’s first real training in music was when he joined a choir in 6th grade. His first musical inspirations, he says, were
bands like Crosby, Stills, and Nash and the Eagles. In high school, Quipot took up the guitar and put together bands with his
classmates.
“My friends and I, in high school, started a band,” Quipot says. “We sang the Police, Chicago, Journey, and Yes.”
What started as a high school experimentation with music, however, eventually lead to the formation of different bands and the
evolution of Quipot’s musical journey. While keeping with his rock and pop repertoire, Quipot also began experimenting with
jazz fusion. A musical fusion genre, jazz fusion mixes elements of jazz with the rhythms of R&B and the beats and electronic
effects of rock.
Quipot was making a name for himself as a musician, while also hoping to provide for himself and his wife, a nurse, and
growing family. He began traveling extensively, playing in countries like the United Arab Emirates, China, and Malaysia.
“I created myself as a freelance musician in the Philippines,” he says. “My goal was to buy in the house in the Philippines. I
spent 13 or 14 years traveling and playing. Fortunately, I got my house in the Philippines.”
But Quipot’s musical career would be put on hold when his family-now including his wife and two sons-moved to Madison.
“We came here in 2003,” Quipot says. “That ended my musical career. It was hard.”
Quipot went back to school at Madison Area Technical College and has been working as a medical assistant at UW Health
Sports Medicine for two years. Sports medicine, in short, is the area of health care services that treats and rehabilitates injuries
related to sports, exercise or recreational activity.
“I basically help the primary doctors,” Quipot says. “We deal with athletes or any kind of specific injuries to joints or bones.”
Although Quipot has changed career paths, music is still very much a part of his life. He often plays at Filipino events around
town and some of his performances can be found on YouTube, including his own rendering of “On Wisconsin” (http://www.
youtube.com/watch?v=Da6_0rWvGQI) in which his co-workers help him perform.
Quipot hopes to begin playing solo this year and once again bring music to the stage.
About performing musically, Quipot says, “I can’t stop it. It’s part of me.”
Video taken at the Philippine American Association of Madison and
Neighboring Areas in December 2007. It features Bernard Quipot, who
started the entertainment Numbers by singing a song of prayer to
Jesus.
Neighboring Areas in December 2007. It features Bernard Quipot, who
started the entertainment Numbers by singing a song of prayer to
Jesus.