Embodying Magis through Music: Atenean Makes Historic Win in International Opera Singing Competition

Kyle Sanchez Tingzon (BS Management 2015, minor in Economics), made history after winning first prize in the 8th Handel Aria Competition held in Madison, Wisconsin, USA, last August 20, 2021. Tingzon is the first Filipino to win the top prize in this annual competition, which is dedicated to showcasing performances of the extensive repertoire of Baroque composer Georg Friedrich Handel.

Out of 150 applicants, Tingzon was chosen as one of the seven finalists who each sang two arias and were judged by countertenor John Holiday, opera director David Ronis, and Italian diction expert Alessandra Visconti.

Tingzon says that careful thought went into his choices for his performance, as he wanted to emphasize both his strength as a countertenor and versatility as a performer. The first piece, Combattono il mio core… ​​Furibondo spira il vento, from the opera Partenope, was described by Tingzon as a coloratura piece—meant to demonstrate his prowess for elaborate melody and vocal runs. This was followed by a rendition of O sacred oracles of Truth, an English aria from the oratorio Belshazzar, chosen to complement Tingzon’s first performance by showcasing his vocal color in the middle and low ranges. Tingzon says that he wanted these performances to reinforce each other through a contrast—the former being fast and ornamented, the latter being slower and more solemn.

Tingzon cited that being in the middle of a pandemic forced him to relearn to perform in front of an audience and collaborate with other musicians. Nevertheless, he cherished the opportunity to rehearse and perform with the accompaniment of an ensemble, the Madison Bach Musicians.

While Tingzon sees the merits of being the first prize winner, what made him prouder was that he was personally satisfied with his performance. “The highest point [of the competition] was actually getting to perform both my pieces in a way that I thought was authentic. Then, after I sang it and was able to deliver it, I just saw the audience—and I knew that I did my job. I communicated the meaning of the music,” Tingzon said.

“Communication, authenticity, being truthful. It doesn’t matter if you’re the best technical singer, but if you have something to say—if you found meaning in what you’re performing and you’re able to deliver that not just to yourself but to other people, I think that’s good.” Tingzon pointed this out as a meaningful learning experience for him, to the extent that he began asking himself how he could be not just a better performer but ultimately a better communicator—someone who has something to say.

After all, communicating through music is not necessarily new to Tingzon, as he traces his passion for singing back to joining the choir in high school and the Ateneo College Glee Club (ACGC) upon entering university. Being a member and eventually, the president of the ACGC was formative to him not only in reinforcing his musical interests but, more importantly, in developing his skills through rigorous and guided vocal training. During his time in ACGC, Tingzon learned that he was a countertenor and thus fit to perform baroque musical pieces.

“Because of the strong culture of Ateneo organizations and the support that the Office of Student Affairs gives to its organizations, it helped organizations like the ACGC to really commit to its goals.” Through this support, Tingzon explained, the ACGC was able to provide its members with excellent musical training and scholarship—the kind comparable to conservatory-level education that enables them to perform the classical choral repertoire.

The quality and holistic education that Ateneo provides also instilled in Tingzon the concept of magis—something that has permanently been imprinted in the minds of his and his org mates. A concrete expression of magis could be observed in how the members dedicate their time to train for at least nine hours every week, something that Tingzon saw as a labor of love.

“It’s not always about doing more—but doing more with love, doing more with passion. To always bring out what is necessary, to bring out the truth in our music. Without magis—without that sense of being more, giving more of yourself and your time— [our organization] wouldn’t have been able to achieve its goals,” Tingzon says.

Currently, Tingzon is based in San Francisco and pursuing his postgraduate studies at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. He hopes to continue embodying magis through music to seek opportunities to join musical competitions and opera companies. “I just want to be able to share to more audiences, and most especially, represent our culture as Filipinos,” Tingzon concluded.

Photo courtesy of Barry Lewis