Krissan Manikan-Tan’s journey as a soprano began when she was in college. “From 2007 to 2011 in Sta. Isabel College, I was singing and taking piano, although I didn’t formally finish. My music teacher fell ill.” Included in her studies were performing in operas and recitals in humorous and serious interpretations, using body movements and gestures and performing with creative ensembles. She also had to study scripts to understand the characters’ relationships and develop her roles, much like a regular actress. Time, patience, and focus were required to portray characters in dramas and comedies successfully.
“During a masterclass in the Philippines in 2011, French vocal pedagogue and dramatic soprano Florence Guignolet gave a masterclass in opera and I was one of the singers. After the masterclass, Mme Guignolet asked me if I wanted to study in Paris, which I gladly accepted.” Manikan-Tan got a scholarship from the French government and was able to get her Diplôme d’études Musicales: Lyric Chant from the Conservatoire à Rayonnement Régional de Paris in 2013.
“Learning opera in Paris was exciting because it was not only singing that was the focus, but there was also dance, theater, and yoga, which helped a lot in singing. Our solfège class was one of the courses I looked forward to because Mr. Despax, our theory teacher, taught with so much enthusiasm and energy,” says Manikan-Tan. Solfège, a form of solmization, is when syllables are assigned to the notes of the scale to assist the musician in mentally hearing the pitches of a piece of music to sing them aloud. Manikan-Tan also loved her ensemble class, where she gets to sing in a duet or a trio.
Upon her return from Paris, Krissan Manikan-Tan started a family and continued her piano studies.
While remaining an opera singer and classical and cross-over performer, particularly in Pakistan, The Netherlands and the Philippines, she began teaching voice and piano in 2013, often to students with ADHD or autism.
In 2017, she started her role as a music teacher at TCI Village Rehabilitation Centre in Amadeo, Cavite, where she teaches music as therapy to residents of the rehabilitation facility. Residents who have a substance use disorder in drugs, alcohol, gambling and sex, and those with mental health issues including bipolarity, schizophrenia, ADHD, autism, and borderline disorder benefit from such classes as music appreciation and vocalization from Manikan-Tan.
Kundiman at Kaarawan, an event on August 17th to celebrate GeiserMaclang Communications, Inc.’s 25th year and also Krissan Manikan-Tan’s birthday, will gather Manikan-Tan and her associates for a lecture and musical performance. Louie Arelvi Villanueva, a guest violinist who is also a biochemical engineer, university lecturer, conductor, and chorister, is one of the esteemed guests. Reynaldo “Raki” Reyes Gendrano, award-winning classical pianist, composer, arranger, and organist, and guest pianist Augusto Espino, who is known for his creative work in piano, voice, and chorus, will also perform at the event. Espino’s portfolio includes work performed globally as part of the Filipino concert repertoire. Raul C. Navarro, PhD, Chair, Conducting and Choral Ensemble Department at the University of the Philippines, Diliman, will give a lecture. There will also be a performance by Peggy Geiser, an internationally award-winning, neuroatypical mainstream artist on the autism spectrum, and an A5 Awardee for the Performing Arts, honored by the Autism Society of the Philippines. Krissan Manikan-Tan, the glue of the program, says, “I look forward to meeting my friends and music enthusiasts in this wonderful event. My goal is to help deepen the appreciation for Philippine music.”
Kundiman at Kaarawan will be held at Sounds Kradle, 56 Doña Hemady St., Brgy. Mariana, New Manila, Quezon City. You may purchase tickets from Krissan Manikan-Tan at cellphone 09774448147 or at the venue for P1,500.
