Niño Borromeo Tiro started piano lessons when he was five years old, so it is no wonder he developed a passion for music early on. He further fuelled this passion as a teenager when he joined a band. Playing the piano and bass, he performed to diverse audiences, even in an orchestral setting.
In 2003, Niño completed his Bachelor of Music degree at Lourdes College, majoring in Music Education. He went on to teach at Lourdes for 12 years. While teaching, he spent a year in Guam as the Music Minister of the Sta. Barbara Catholic Church. He also taught music at St. Mary’s School for over a year.
Throughout these years, Niño’s passion for music never waned. He kept performing, learning, sharing his talent, and making music. In 2020, he graduated Magna cum Laude at Liceo de Cagayan University with a Bachelor of Music major in Music Composition. By then, he was already a faculty member of Liceo U’s Conservatory of Music, Theater, and Dance. Two years later, in December 2022, Niño added another entry to his list of accomplishments: his Master of Music major in Music Composition, also from Liceo U.
These achievements are only the tip of the iceberg, though, as Niño has had numerous other successes over the years.
Awards & Recognitions
A former Academic Chair at Liceo U’s Conservatory of Music, Theater, and Dance, Niño is a recipient of various awards and recognitions. His works are also included in the 2022 publication of Universal Edition (UE), which has published more than 30,000 world-class works by acclaimed musicians, such as Georg Friedrich, Gustav Mahler, and Wolfgang Rihm.
Niño’s works are also found in the University of California in Los Angeles (UCLA)-backed open-access publishing platforms eScholarship Contemporary Music Score Collection. These compositions are Sonata for Clarinet and Piano, Soundtrack for the Lucid Dreamer, and Concerto for Piano and Orchestra in D Minor.
His exceptional composition skills have opened up opportunities for him to work on major musical projects, such as the restored Pinocchio silent movie of 1911, for which he co-wrote the soundtrack alongside Tullio Vidmar, an Italian violinist.
ANI NG DANGAL
One of Niño’s award-winning compositions of Phantasie für Ludwig gave him an Ani ng Dangal, a prestigious award presented by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA). The award is given to Filipino artists who are recognized for bringing honor to the country, specifically those who have won major awards in legitimate festivals and competitions. Ani ng Dangal or Harvest of Honors is awarded annually at the end of the Philippine Arts Festival.
Phantasie für Ludwig premiered (publicly) in August 2019 when Susanne Kessel played it at the Beethoven Monument at Münsterplatz in Bonn. Niño describes Phantasie as a piece based on the Classical Romantic style of Beethoven. It is a musical depiction of the life of a composer, focusing on Beethoven’s life, particularly his physical and mental struggles.
Niño’s Ani ng Dangal is not the only major accomplishment in his list; there are many others. His original compositions are on Spotify, where his number of monthly listeners keeps growing. (My personal favorites are Octurnals – Eight Night Tales for Piano album and Late Night Excursion.)
His composition was also featured in a concert that recently took place at the Malacañang Palace.
The Goldenberg Concert Series: Ang Tselista
The Goldenberg Concert Series features Filipino culture and the arts, including artists and musicians. One of its goals is to encourage the youth to embrace Filipino heritage. It is presented by the Office of the President and the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) and held at the historic Goldenberg Mansion. Niño’s composition, Romance for Cello and Piano, was featured and highlighted in Ang Tselista, the 7th iteration of the concert series.
Originally titled Romance and Allegro for Cello and Piano (or Two Piece for Cello and Piano), it combines the romantic styles of Brahms, Schumann, and Schubert. Niño wrote the Romance part in 2003, when he was about to graduate from college. It was intended for Solace, a piano piece that elicits loneliness and resolution. The powerful and passionate Allegro part, on the other hand, was written in 2018 as an “unpredictable fantasy” that depicts emotions, mood shifts, and conflict.
Niño’s composition was also used as the soundtrack for the event’s official video, which was released by the Malacañang Press, as well as the Social Secretary’s office.
The show featured Damodar Das Castillo, a cello prodigy, and pianist Heliodoro Fiel II. Like Niño, Damodar is an Ani ng Dangal for music recipient.
Former First Lady Imelda Romualdez Marcos and current First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos were among the esteemed guests. The former First Lady, a supporter of the arts and a music lover, was deeply touched by the captivating musical storytelling.
The Goldenberg Series is dedicated to and inspired by Stella Goldenberg Brimo, the daughter of Michael Goldenberg, the French-Jewish businessman who owns Goldenberg Mansion in Manila.
Despite this recognition and all his accomplishments, Niño continues to work on his artistry. He continues to share his talent. And he continues to create music.
New Music
Today, October 25, Niño’s newest composition, Paper Flight, debuts on Spotify, YouTube Music, Apple Music, and other similar digital platforms. You can check it out here. I’ve listened to it and it’s a sweeping musical piece that’s an ideal soundtrack for an epic film. I allowed my imagination to play around while listening to it.
With everything that he has accomplished and all the awards and recognitions he has received, it’s easy to say that Niño has definitely done more than fuel his passion for music. He breathes life into his music, and his music has added meaning to many people’s lives. Truly, he is a world-class Kagay-anon musician extraordinaire.
Carry on, Niño!
*With information from https://www.metrocagayandemisamis.com/2024/10/21/kagay-anon-composers-romance-for-cello-piano-featured-in-7th-goldenberg-concert-series-in-malacanan/
Check out these links for more of Niño’s music:
The Event Video by The Social Secretary: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/aUPAkKRZq6FoH8ZK/
A short clip of the performance in Malacañang: https://youtu.be/5c_aKQ29-a4
A rehearsal video before the concert in Malacañang: https://youtu.be/QWtioW94C4Q
Niño’s YouTube channel: https://youtube.com/@ninotirocomposer?si=MXCZNaITRdO-rTio
(Photos from Niño Tiro’s Facebook page. Used with permission.)