Ivan Nery

Biography

            Ivan Nery has been very active in the Philippines’ opera and classical scene during the past years, portraying mostly lead roles namely: Crisostomo Ibarra in Felipe De Leon’s Noli Me Tangere, Ferrando in Mozart’s Cosi Fan Tutte, Belmonte in Mozart’s Die Enthfuhrung aus dem Serail, Juan Luna and Jose Rizal in Ryan Cayabyab’s Spoliarium which was his international debut held in New York city. He was also an understudy for the following lead roles: B.F. Pinkerton in Puccini’s Madama Butterfly, Rodolfo in Puccini’s La Boheme, Don Jose in Bizet’s Carmen and Nemorino in Donizetti’s L’elisir D’amore.  Ivan has also done the role, Lord Arturo Bucklaw in Donizetti’s Lucia Di Lammermoor.

            Through the years, Ivan has attended numerous masterclasses and coaching sessions. He has worked with Nelly Miriciouiu, Gian Luca Pasolini, Arthur Espiritu, Alexader Vikulov, Victoria Rapanan, Margarita Gomez-Gianelli, Katrina Saporsantos, Abdul Candao, Camille Lopez-Molina, Pablo Molina, Randy Gilongo, Najib Ismail, Peter Porticos, Arturo Molina, Jeffrey Solares, Somtow Sucharitkul, Stephen Bednarzyk, John Glenn Gaerlan and Rica Nepomuceno. He has attended three Viva Voce workshops in Baguio city, which is a week-long intensive voice and singing workshop. Ivan was chosen to participate in a week-long masterclass conducted by Florence Guignolet and Stephane Werchowski, both from the Conservatoire à Rayonnement Régional de Paris. There was a culminating concert after the masterclass entitled: Songs and Symphony with the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Michael Cousteau.

            Ivan has also worked with some of the country’s most notable directors, Anton Juan, Alexander Cortez, Laurice Guillen, Dexter Santos, Freddie Santos, Soxie Topacio, Jeffrey Camanag, and Alegria Ferrer. He as worked with international directors as well. Namely, Vincenzo Grisostomi Travaglini, Prince Ravivaddhana Monipong Sisowath, Lo King-Man, and Andrew Sinclair.

He won the 1st prize in the Jovita Fuentes Vocal Competition, a finalist at the ASEAN vocal competition hosted by the Singapore Lyric Opera, a 2nd prize winner at the Evelina Kalaw Operatic duet competition, an Aliw award nominee for best actor in a musical (Noli me tangere the opera) and also a nominee for best classical performer.

Outside classical music, Ivan also ventures into songwriting, and has written music for community theaters. He wrote the music for Artist Lab’s “Drowing Ka” directed and written by Vince Ricafrente, and “kABRAd” the musical directed and written by Jerson Guiwa for the St. Joseph Seminary in Bangued, Abra. He is also an independent singer-songwriter and has released music in major streaming platforms.

Ivan is also an advocate for arts development. He started an initiative to train singers, poets, and actors to use their voices more efficiently. He does this by partnering with art collectives, studios and facilitates vocal workshops and coaching sessions. 

He is the current musical director of Teatro Opera Seriabuffa Filipinas, which does adaptations of musicals and operas with film as a medium, produced by Vibal Foundation.