Born in Cavite in 1972, Rodney Ambat had his early music lessons, training and experience with Banda dela Cruz 46 in Amadeo under Maestro Arsenio dela Cruz.

Assoc. Prof. Ambat conducted the Philippine Youth Symphonic Band in 1993-94 and initiated the formation of the UP Symphonic Band in 1998, where he served as Director/ Conductor until 2002. He also conducted the Manila Youth Symphony Orchestra in his graduation recital in 1996. He accompannied piano recitalists also with MYSO, and graduating composition majors chose him to conduct their works including a number of operas and chamber pieces. He also served as administrative officer and assistant conductor of the Crosswave Symphony Orchestra with founding director Prof. Josefino “Chino” Toledo. He later became the conductor of the UP Orchestra, launched in January 2005 at the CCP through the efforts of Dean Ramon Acoymo. He has conducted the U.P. Orchestra in several concerts including Handel’s “Messiah”, Beethoven’s 9th Symphony “Ode to Joy” and Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 4. He also conducted operas such as “La Serva Padrona” by Pergolesi, “Dido and Aeneas” by Purcell and “Sussanah” by Carlisle Floyd. In celebration of UP Centennial Anniversary in 2008, the UP Orchestra played in a series of concerts the whole year and Rodney Ambat conducted the orchestra in varied programs. In September 2010, he conducted the premiere of “Mass of Penafrancia” in its 300th year anniversary in Naga City.

As Director of the UP Symphonic Band since 2010, he lead it to a series of concerts including “Ode to the Common Filipino” 2011, “A Symphonic Metamorphosis” 2012, “Sound Images” 2013, “Ode to the Filipino People” 2013, “Extreme Make-Over” 2014, and “The Planets” 2015. He also premiered 9 new international compositions for symphonic band at the 33rd Asian Composers League International Festival and Conference in November 2015 winning the Best Performing Group Award for the UPSB. UP Diliman through OICA bestowed the UP Symphonic Band its Honorific Award for Student Performing Arts Group (HASPAG) in June 2016 and also joined the CCP International Winds and Jazz Festival in July 2016. He conducted the world premiere of opera “Diwata ng Bayan” in February 2017 at the CCP commissioned by UP College of Music under the direction of Dr. Ramon Acoymo, music by Carmela Sinco and Text by Ed Maranan headed by Dean Jose Buenconsejo as part of UP College of Music Centennial celebration. He mounted a major concert entitled “La Passio de Crist” at the CCP Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino in April 2017 and also performed at the closing concert of the UP College of Music Centennial in September 2017. Their latest performance, a major production entitled “Symphonicity” Sonic Imagery and Videographic Vignettes in cooperation with UP College of Fine Arts in October 2018 was a Philippine premiere of three major international compositions for symphonic band that was met with great success.