The story of a
symphonic tenor.
Hailed by Opera News as a "clarion high tenor," praised by Seen and Heard International as a "standout performer," and described by Arts Knoxville as "a marvelous storyteller and portrayer of emotion."
Philippine-born American tenor Allan Palacios Chan is known for his stylistic versatility and deep connection with audiences.
A graduate magna cum laude of both George Mason University (BA, Music with Theater minor) and the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (MM, Vocal Performance), Allan was a Corbett Foundation Young Artist with Cincinnati Opera for four seasons and a two-time Voice Fellow at the Music Academy of the West in Santa Barbara, where he studied under mezzo-soprano Marilyn Horne and appeared in the West Coast premiere of Matthew Aucoin's Second Nature.
Performance highlights include his debut with Tacoma Opera as Sing Lee in the world premiere of Tacoma Method; the role of Achille in NYOS's Babette's Feast; Guang in Byron Au Yong and Aaron Jafferis' Stuck Elevator with Knoxville Opera; tenor solos in Paul Leavitt's Stabat Mater (world premiere); and concerts at the Kennedy Center, Carnegie Hall, and in Cape Cod with the New York Opera Society.
Beyond the big stage, Allan champions Kundiman (Filipino art song) and frequently performs anthems for the Philippine Embassy in Washington, D.C., at venues such as the State Department and the Ronald Reagan Building. He has sung the Philippine National Anthem at major events — including Manny Pacquiao's Las Vegas fight against Timothy Bradley Jr.
Allan is currently releasing a crossover album with multi-platinum songwriter and producer Leonardo de Bernardini ("Leo Z"), known for his collaborations with Josh Groban, Andrea Bocelli, and David Archuleta. The album, Songs from the Attic, features symphonic interpretations of beloved classics, including Billy Joel's "And So It Goes" and The Cranberries' "Zombie."
His recent release Frozen, a symphonic cover of Madonna's iconic song, features Grammy-nominated cellist Tina Guo and reimagines the track through expansive string writing, operatic vocal lines, and cinematic pacing. The release exemplifies Chan's work as a symphonic pop artist, applying classical technique and orchestral depth to crossover music. Frozen was featured on a Times Square billboard.
Across opera, concert, and crossover music, Allan Palacios Chan continues to expand the expressive possibilities of the tenor voice — honoring classical tradition while speaking directly to contemporary audiences through orchestral storytelling and emotional honesty.