Professor Jon English recognized Toni Brillantes’ talent immediately.

“From the first time I heard her, I knew she had ability,” said English, an assistant professor of voice in the Setnor School of Music.

But something was holding her back. English said he pushed her, knowing what she was capable of, but she needed to believe it. And then it happened.

One day, Brillantes came to class and decided she was not going to hold herself back anymore, he said. The result was a sound that not only shocked English but shocked Brillantes herself.

“It was her realization of her natural talent,” English said.

Brillantes, a Manila, Philippines native, graduated from Syracuse University with a linguistics degree in August. Since then, she has put her singing talent to use.

Brillantes finished recording her debut album, “Origins,” in January, under the name Toni B., and is releasing a single titled “Carnival” this month, with the promise of the release of the full album next spring in the Philippines. She is additionally working on a distribution deal with Universal/MCA studios.

For Brillantes, it is the achievement of a dream that dates back to her time in Syracuse.

When Brillantes arrived at Syracuse, music was just a hobby, she said. Her initial challenge was finding a place to pursue that hobby. Her quest to find a piano took her all over campus.  From the Sheraton University Hotel and Conference Center to the Goldstein Student Center, Brillantes said she would travel to wherever she could play. Brillantes also frequented Funk ‘n Waffles open mic nights, where she would perform with her ukulele.

“I was that mysterious ghost piano chick,” she said.

But it was not until taking English’s AMC 100 class in her junior year that she began to refine her vocal talent. The class forces students to sing in front of their peers and help one another improve.

Nina Pelligra, a junior music industry major, took English’s class with Brillantes. She said the class’ atmosphere was supportive and energetic.

Brillantes contributed to that atmosphere, English said, helping out her fellow students and offering moral support whenever necessary.

“She was everyone’s friend and everyone’s biggest champion,” he said.

Brillantes credits English’s teaching for her ability to sing “seriously.” Through the class, she said, English tapped the potential he saw in Brillantes from the beginning. She began paying attention to aspects of singing she had never thought about before.

“I did not know I could do things with my voice until I met that man. He changed my voice,” she said.

Despite her improvement, Brillantes said she never thought she would have a career in music until the summer after her junior year.

When she returned to the Philippines for the summer, she began doing open mic nights at bars near her home. At one bar, Brillantes impressed enough to be hired to sing on a regular basis.

One night at that bar, the mayor of Palawan in the Philippines heard Brillantes sing and asked Brillantes to perform at her birthday party at a five-star hotel — complete with a white baby grand piano. It was the biggest show Brillantes had played in her life.

At the party, she caught the interest of one of the mayor’s friends, whose family owns JB Music Philippines, one of the biggest music instrument retailers in the country. After the gig, she got a call from the vice president of sales and marketing at JB Music, who asked her a question that seemed strange.

“So how do you want to start your career?”

Brillantes did not understand.

“You’re going into music, right?” he said.

Brillantes was shocked, but later that summer she recorded a demo with JB Music, before heading back to Syracuse for her senior year. She said she remained in touch with a JB Music representative, who was interested in helping her record an album.

After graduating, Brillantes returned to the Philippines and soon found herself in a studio with musical legends from her home country. She signed to Lockdown Entertainment, a local record label, and recorded “Origins” from November to January.

For those who knew her at SU, her success is not surprising — just her career path.

“I’m very surprised and pleased,” said Pelligra, her classmate. “I knew that she was good and she has it all — she’s cute, multi-talented and has a unique voice. I just did not know she wanted a career in it.”

Published on March 5, 2014 at 2:00 am