The One of a Kind Countertenor; Alberto Montes De Oca Hernandez

Jasmine Sessoms

March 1

Feb. 27, 2024

SAN JOSE, CALIF. — Upcoming high school graduate, Alberto Montes De Oca Hernandez, is the loud and proud president of Silver Creek's choir.

Hernandez started singing when he was in second grade, but had his first real exposure to an audience at eight years old, where he sang at his local church. Eventually he grew out of singing at church to singing for Creek his sophomore year.

This year marks his three year commitment to choir. Hernandez says he was motivated to stay for three reasons: community, his passion for singing, and a solution to his breaking-out-in-song habit.

Alberto Montes De Oca Hernandez (in the pink sweater) and his choir peers singing for the annual Valentine Grams in various classrooms throughout 4th period on Valentine's Day. Photo Collage Credit: Jasmine Sessoms

"I felt like I kind of had this problem. Like beforehand I would always sing in other classes or something or in my head, and I think ever since I got into choir I kind of just stopped doing that because now I have a specific time to sing throughout the day," said the senior.

Another reason is there was an admirable figure in his sophomore year choir class, who really influenced Hernandez to improve his singing and to build his skillset. Although he heavily admires celebrity singers like Ariana Grande, Whitney Houston, and Mariah Carey he highlights this inspiration of a singer in his very own class.

"She was like the soprano, so the highest voice. And she sang like really good and ever since then she was an inspiration. Like I would love to sing as high and as loud as her." he says.

And although he wasn't close to her he felt "she was someone I was mesmerized [by], like WOW."

Especially when it came to his first year of choir, like many he felt more nervous than courageous. During this time, he mentions how his voice was going through changes and the challenges that came with it, like learning control and how to make self corrections with his voice.

Also emphasizing the lack of resources there are for countertenors (male sopranos) that he would've loved to have as an aspiring singer. Before, his nervousness also rooted in what others would think about a guy being a part of the soprano side, a role primarily seen in women, "but eventually I just learned to like [be] like whatever, like people don't really care."

From great amounts of practice over his years of singing, he formed his charismatic and confident personality through the impact of his idols and choir in general.

After one year with choir, he built this sincere confidence that led him to run for presidency in his junior year, where he was selected by his teacher. In his senior year, he is still active as the president of choir.

While highlighting the valid fears of being judged or having some sort of stage fright, Hernandez stresses that choir is a community, not a solo performance. To those who are interested, but hesitant to join choir, Hernandez advises, "Just do it. The people in there are very nice, nobody is going to make fun of you, nobody is going to do anything. When I would voice crack, people wouldn't start laughing like I thought they would."

And so to Hernandez, choir had such a significant role in shaping him as an individual.

"It has helped me be a better performer, I'm a lot more confident performing on stage. And I think cause of choir I have more of a stage presence, so whenever I'm doing a presentation or something I'm confident, I'm loud, I'm not as nervous. And I just have fun and be me."