Gaining international recognition, Dr. Ibarra was a recipient of the 2009 Classic Fulbright Scholarship Award to the United States. He finished his doctorate degree in Music and Music Education (2009-2012) at Columbia University – Graduate School of Education- in the City of New York, USA. He took up voice and choral pedagogy with Dr. Jeanne Goffi - Fynn of Julliard School of Music. Popularly known as Maestro Randy, he graduated Master of Music in Choral Conducting at the University of the Philippines, Diliman, College of Music and Bachelor’s degree in Music Education (Voice) at the University Of Santo Tomas Conservatory Of Music with distinct honor of Cum Laude. He studied choral conducting with Dr. Raul Navarro, Prof. Nicanor Mazo Jr., and and had first lesson in classical singing with Prof. Luzviminda Dominguez Gonzales, popularly called ‘TitaVina’, one of the pioneering members of UP Madrigal Singers. He also studied voice under the tutelage of Maestra Salvacion Oppus - Yniguez and Prof. Gloria Dizon-Coronel.

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A multi-awarded choral conductor, he trained several winners in the National Music Competition for Young Artists (NAMCYA) and the Literary-Musical Competitions of the Development Council of State and Universities in the Philippines (DCSUC). He attended various international choral workshops the United States, Israel, Singapore, Thailand, and Indonesia. At present, Dr. Ibarra is proudly affiliated with the Central Luzon State University College of Education teaching core courses in music and arts, and continues to perform here and abroad. As music researcher, he has published research articles on teaching and learning indigenous musical traditions in referred international journals such as International Journal of Community Music and The Qualitative Report both indexed in Scopus.