Pakaraguian Kulintang Ensemble

Based in Los Angeles, Pakaraguian Kulintang Ensemble (PKE) is dedicated to performing, preserving, and sharing the gong-chime music and dance traditions of the southern Philippines. Centered on the mesmerizing sound of the kulintang—a row of tuned, knobbed gongs—the ensemble creates music that is both ancient and immediate, intricate and celebratory.

Formed in 2003 by a collective of artists, scholars, and cultural practitioners, PKE’s members have trained extensively with master musicians from Mindanao and the Sulu Archipelago. Their performances bring to life the interlocking rhythms, layered melodies, and graceful dances of the Maguindanao, Maranao, Tausug, Sama, and Yakan peoples, blending authenticity with a sense of connection to contemporary Los Angeles.

A Pakaraguian performance unfolds as both concert and cultural experience. The ensemble’s instruments—ranging from the resonant agung and dabakan drums to the luminous kulintang—interweave in cycles that seem to suspend time, inviting deep listening and reflection. Through movement and music, they honor centuries of tradition while showing how these forms continue to evolve across borders and generations.

Part of Sierra Madre Playhouse’s commitment to presenting Los Angeles–based artists, this performance invites audiences into a sound world that transcends geography—an exploration of rhythm, heritage, and the shared pulse of community.