Dr. Oliver Molina
NATCHITOCHES – Dr. Oliver Molina, director of Percussion Studies at Northwestern State University, has received a Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program Award to teach and conduct research in the Philippines, specifically studying the kulintang, an ancient gong-like instrument that is an important part of Filipino culture. Molina’s appointment will be from January-June 2027 at the University of the Philippines College of Music in Quezon City. (https://music.upd.edu.ph/)
The Fulbright Program is the flagship international educational exchange program sponsored by the U.S. government, designed to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and other countries. The program provides participants who are chosen for their academic merit and leadership potential the opportunity to study, teach, conduct research, exchange ideas and contribute to finding solutions to shared international concerns.
“I was elated to find out that I was chosen because there is about a 10 percent acceptance rate and over 800 applications each year from the U.S.,” Molina said. “I was one of the people selected and obviously I’m very lucky to have the opportunity to study music.”
Molina grew up with Filipino parents in Orlando, Florida, where his father was stationed at a naval base. He earned a bachelor’s degree at the University of Central Florida, a master’s at the University of Arkansas and a doctoral degree at the University of Iowa. He has been teaching at NSU for 12 years.
“I was doing research for my dissertation class and learned about the kulintang and was interested because of my Filipino heritage,” he said. The instrument, which holds great significance in Filipino culture and the region’s musical traditions, consists of a row of small gongs played with wooden beaters that produce resonant tones. Molina said Dr. Terrie Sanders, chair of NSU’s Department of Music, furthered his interest in the kulintang after she visited the Philippines, and he began to consider applying for a Fulbright as a way to learn the instrument while teaching there. He will study with renowned percussionist, musicologist and teacher Tusa Montes.
“As part of the Fulbright, you can do research or teach or both, so I will research the kulintang while teaching percussion seminars and master classes,” he said. “I’ll be learning the traditions of playing the instrument and hopefully bringing it back to Northwestern and other schools and conferences in the region, showcasing world music.”
Molina’s wife Rebecca and their three young children will accompany him to the Philippines and the family is working with a Fulbright liaison to make schooling arrangements
His connection to the Philippines is also significant. He visited family there as a child while his father was stationed in Guam and he is excited about taking his children there.
“My wife is obviously very excited. My son eldest son is a little hesitant right now, but I think once we’re over there he will be fine. We actually went to Hong Kong for a couple weeks in March for a music conference and they got to explore Hong Kong while I was working every day and that was a really good experience.”
Molina has been active in organizing Percussion Ensemble concerts for schools and the public and adding international flavor to the performances. In 2019, he started NSU’s Steel Drum Band with funding from a Board of Regents grant and during the COVID-19 pandemic presented free concerts for the Natchitoches community. “If there is an instrument or an ensemble that works really well performing outside it’s the steel drum band,” he said.
The Percussion Ensemble will present “Drums Along the Cane,” a free concert on the stage in downtown Natchitoches on Friday, Oct. 30.
“A big thing for me, educationally and pedagogically, is having music for the community and beyond,” he said. “One of the things that we do well, especially with the ensemble, is go out in the community more, as opposed to audiences coming to the recital hall and hearing our music. It’s something that community members and non-music majors can be a part of.”
Molina is not the first from the NSU family to receive a Fulbright Award. In 2002, Dr. Julie Kane, retired professor of English and Louisiana Poet Laureate 2011-2013, was a Fulbright Scholar to Lithuania, teaching at Vilnius Pedagogical University. Dr. Dean Sinclair, professor of geography, spent a semester at a university in Kenya in 2012 lecturing and conducting research into urban geography issues. Dr. Patrice Moulton, a professor of psychology, was named a Fulbright Scholar in 2017 for work in Nepal and is currently serving on the national board of directors for the Fulbright association. In 2024, NSU graduate student Christopher Doney was awarded a Fulbright U.S. Student Award to serve in the Republic of Uzbekistan in Central Asia.
For more information about the Fulbright Program, visit https://fulbrightprogram.org.
To learn more about areas of study, including percussion, in NSU’s Department of Music, visit https://www.nsula.edu/academics/colleges-and-schools/school-of-creative-and-performing-arts/music/music-areas-of-study/.
Dr. Oliver Molina leads a percussion class with students Mason Windham, Cademon Larson, Jacob Naqvi, Mars Heard and Peyton Johnson. Molina received a Fulbright Award to live and study at the University of the Philippines College of Music January-June 2027.