I’m an opera singer and I’m a voice teacher and I love music and when I say
teacher and I love music and when I say
teacher and I love music and when I say I love music it’s so much deeper than
I love music it’s so much deeper than
I love music it’s so much deeper than that I own music a debt because it
that I own music a debt because it
that I own music a debt because it literally saved my life and when I tell
literally saved my life and when I tell
literally saved my life and when I tell you that it saved my life I have to
you that it saved my life I have to
you that it saved my life I have to expand a little bit more on that when
expand a little bit more on that when
expand a little bit more on that when people ask me my opera or why music I
people ask me my opera or why music I
people ask me my opera or why music I want to be able to tell them my story
want to be able to tell them my story
want to be able to tell them my story but I haven’t been able to tell them
but I haven’t been able to tell them
but I haven’t been able to tell them exactly what I mean about how I got my
exactly what I mean about how I got my
exactly what I mean about how I got my start in music and what music has done
start in music and what music has done
start in music and what music has done for me so let me tell you let me bring
for me so let me tell you let me bring
for me so let me tell you let me bring you on a journey and tell you how I got
you on a journey and tell you how I got
you on a journey and tell you how I got started in music and what it did for me
started in music and what it did for me
started in music and what it did for me so let me bring him back to good old
so let me bring him back to good old
so let me bring him back to good old early 90s I’m sorry for that visual so
early 90s I’m sorry for that visual so
early 90s I’m sorry for that visual so let’s so let’s remember when fanny packs
let’s so let’s remember when fanny packs
let’s so let’s remember when fanny packs ruled the world and there were jumpers
ruled the world and there were jumpers
ruled the world and there were jumpers which I pretty much owned all of them
which I pretty much owned all of them
which I pretty much owned all of them and dead 90s bangs I had those two I was
and dead 90s bangs I had those two I was
and dead 90s bangs I had those two I was an army brat and my dad was in the army
an army brat and my dad was in the army
an army brat and my dad was in the army my mom is in the government and that
my mom is in the government and that
my mom is in the government and that meant that we moved around a lot I mean
meant that we moved around a lot I mean
meant that we moved around a lot I mean you can say that I was pretty fortunate
you can say that I was pretty fortunate
you can say that I was pretty fortunate to move around to a lot of really great
to move around to a lot of really great
to move around to a lot of really great places I mean we lived in Germany
places I mean we lived in Germany
places I mean we lived in Germany Virginia New Hampshire Arizona later on
Virginia New Hampshire Arizona later on
Virginia New Hampshire Arizona later on in life Hawaii don’t be jealous
in life Hawaii don’t be jealous
in life Hawaii don’t be jealous but in this timeframe I lived in
but in this timeframe I lived in
but in this timeframe I lived in Virginia and I was about well they saved
Virginia and I was about well they saved
Virginia and I was about well they saved seven or eight years old so when you’re
seven or eight years old so when you’re
seven or eight years old so when you’re a military brat you don’t get to lay
a military brat you don’t get to lay
a military brat you don’t get to lay down solid roots so you spend a lot of
down solid roots so you spend a lot of
down solid roots so you spend a lot of time with your parents or other military
time with your parents or other military
time with your parents or other military kids or adults and I would say that I
kids or adults and I would say that I
kids or adults and I would say that I was pretty mature for my age I wasn’t it
was pretty mature for my age I wasn’t it
was pretty mature for my age I wasn’t it wasn’t goofy but I was I was different
wasn’t goofy but I was I was different
wasn’t goofy but I was I was different and that meant that I was teased and I
and that meant that I was teased and I
and that meant that I was teased and I was made fun of a lot
was made fun of a lot
was made fun of a lot and back in the 90s there was no
and back in the 90s there was no
and back in the 90s there was no anti-bullying program so if you had
anti-bullying program so if you had
anti-bullying program so if you had something like that going on there
something like that going on there
something like that going on there wasn’t much you can do without it I mean
wasn’t much you can do without it I mean
wasn’t much you can do without it I mean I went to my parents and I went to my
I went to my parents and I went to my
I went to my parents and I went to my teachers but you really kind of had to
teachers but you really kind of had to
teachers but you really kind of had to suck it up and my dad was in Korea at
suck it up and my dad was in Korea at
suck it up and my dad was in Korea at the time so my mom was the one who
the time so my mom was the one who
the time so my mom was the one who really just had to figure it out with me
really just had to figure it out with me
really just had to figure it out with me but if you can imagine if you’re told
but if you can imagine if you’re told
but if you can imagine if you’re told every day that you’re ugly that you’re
every day that you’re ugly that you’re
every day that you’re ugly that you’re stupid or that you’re just not good at
stupid or that you’re just not good at
stupid or that you’re just not good at anything that just starts to wear a hole
anything that just starts to wear a hole
anything that just starts to wear a hole right here and I started to believe that
right here and I started to believe that
right here and I started to believe that but I just wasn’t good at anything what
but I just wasn’t good at anything what
but I just wasn’t good at anything what was I good at it nothing really and I
was I good at it nothing really and I
was I good at it nothing really and I went to my mom I said that to her mom
went to my mom I said that to her mom
went to my mom I said that to her mom I’m not good at anything and that broke
I’m not good at anything and that broke
I’m not good at anything and that broke her heart and you know what she said
her heart and you know what she said
her heart and you know what she said nope not my daughter not today and she
nope not my daughter not today and she
nope not my daughter not today and she got to work as my advocate and she
got to work as my advocate and she
got to work as my advocate and she didn’t want to have me slip through the
didn’t want to have me slip through the
didn’t want to have me slip through the cracks so she wanted to make sure that
cracks so she wanted to make sure that
cracks so she wanted to make sure that she found something that would make me
she found something that would make me
she found something that would make me feel whole so she got me into tap dance
feel whole so she got me into tap dance
feel whole so she got me into tap dance and I was really bad I mean I mean
and I was really bad I mean I mean
and I was really bad I mean I mean terrible but I tried really really hard
terrible but I tried really really hard
terrible but I tried really really hard because I had something to fill and me
because I had something to fill and me
because I had something to fill and me to be honest with you there were 12 of
to be honest with you there were 12 of
to be honest with you there were 12 of us in that group and all of us were
us in that group and all of us were
us in that group and all of us were pretty bad but eventually I threw out
pretty bad but eventually I threw out
pretty bad but eventually I threw out those metal shoes and I looked at my mom
those metal shoes and I looked at my mom
those metal shoes and I looked at my mom with those big doe eyes and said
with those big doe eyes and said
with those big doe eyes and said anything else I could try so she put me
anything else I could try so she put me
anything else I could try so she put me in ballet and you know I wasn’t half bad
in ballet and you know I wasn’t half bad
in ballet and you know I wasn’t half bad but I wasn’t gonna become a ballerina
but I wasn’t gonna become a ballerina
but I wasn’t gonna become a ballerina any time soon and the time came from my
any time soon and the time came from my
any time soon and the time came from my first performance and we were dressed up
first performance and we were dressed up
first performance and we were dressed up as these cutest little I think
as these cutest little I think
as these cutest little I think Froggy’s you can ever think of
Froggy’s you can ever think of
Froggy’s you can ever think of and I was one of the lead leapfrogs we
and I was one of the lead leapfrogs we
and I was one of the lead leapfrogs we were supposed to leapfrog over each
were supposed to leapfrog over each
were supposed to leapfrog over each other and I didn’t tuck myself in
other and I didn’t tuck myself in
other and I didn’t tuck myself in appropriately and I had my arm stuck out
appropriately and I had my arm stuck out
appropriately and I had my arm stuck out and all the little leap frogs fell over
and all the little leap frogs fell over
and all the little leap frogs fell over me so needless to say I set it my
me so needless to say I set it my
me so needless to say I set it my teacher and I wasn’t asked back yeah I
teacher and I wasn’t asked back yeah I
teacher and I wasn’t asked back yeah I was kicked out of ballet so I was back
was kicked out of ballet so I was back
was kicked out of ballet so I was back to not being good at anything so my mom
to not being good at anything so my mom
to not being good at anything so my mom put me in Taekwondo and I was okay but
put me in Taekwondo and I was okay but
put me in Taekwondo and I was okay but you know let’s be honest without these
you know let’s be honest without these
you know let’s be honest without these shoes I’m 4 foot 11 and 3/4 as an adult
shoes I’m 4 foot 11 and 3/4 as an adult
shoes I’m 4 foot 11 and 3/4 as an adult at 8 years old I was probably 4 foot – I
at 8 years old I was probably 4 foot – I
at 8 years old I was probably 4 foot – I wasn’t gonna become a ninja anytime soon
wasn’t gonna become a ninja anytime soon
wasn’t gonna become a ninja anytime soon so I tried really hard at that but it
so I tried really hard at that but it
so I tried really hard at that but it wasn’t wasn’t my calling so around that
wasn’t wasn’t my calling so around that
wasn’t wasn’t my calling so around that time my school was holding a talent show
time my school was holding a talent show
time my school was holding a talent show and I don’t know what possessed me to do
and I don’t know what possessed me to do
and I don’t know what possessed me to do this but I decided to try out for my
this but I decided to try out for my
this but I decided to try out for my school talent show so without telling my
school talent show so without telling my
school talent show so without telling my mom I decided that I was going to go do
mom I decided that I was going to go do
mom I decided that I was going to go do that ok and I was going to do something
that ok and I was going to do something
that ok and I was going to do something that I liked to do and that was to sing
that I liked to do and that was to sing
that I liked to do and that was to sing so for the school talent show you have
so for the school talent show you have
so for the school talent show you have to provide your own items so if you’re a
to provide your own items so if you’re a
to provide your own items so if you’re a cheerleader you bring your own pom-poms
cheerleader you bring your own pom-poms
cheerleader you bring your own pom-poms if you’re doing magic tricks you bring
if you’re doing magic tricks you bring
if you’re doing magic tricks you bring you know your magical bunny whatever
you know your magical bunny whatever
you know your magical bunny whatever that is
that is
that is since I was gonna be singing I was gonna
since I was gonna be singing I was gonna
since I was gonna be singing I was gonna bring my boombox and when I mean boom
bring my boombox and when I mean boom
bring my boombox and when I mean boom box I mean cassette player this is the
box I mean cassette player this is the
box I mean cassette player this is the 90s so I thought it was really cool with
90s so I thought it was really cool with
90s so I thought it was really cool with my boombox it was a big red boombox with
my boombox it was a big red boombox with
my boombox it was a big red boombox with an antenna so cool so I walked in with
an antenna so cool so I walked in with
an antenna so cool so I walked in with my big boom box and it was in an
my big boom box and it was in an
my big boom box and it was in an auditorium or no it was actually in in
auditorium or no it was actually in in
auditorium or no it was actually in in the cafeteria and there were three
the cafeteria and there were three
the cafeteria and there were three teachers there now I want you to think
teachers there now I want you to think
teachers there now I want you to think about
about
about this being an elementary school talent
this being an elementary school talent
this being an elementary school talent show I just assumed that they were gonna
show I just assumed that they were gonna
show I just assumed that they were gonna say oh yeah you’re great you’re fifth in
say oh yeah you’re great you’re fifth in
say oh yeah you’re great you’re fifth in line and you’re good to go
line and you’re good to go
line and you’re good to go that wasn’t the case I didn’t know I was
that wasn’t the case I didn’t know I was
that wasn’t the case I didn’t know I was going in to be judged so I chose to sing
going in to be judged so I chose to sing
going in to be judged so I chose to sing colors and the wind from Pocahontas so I
colors and the wind from Pocahontas so I
colors and the wind from Pocahontas so I went in there with my big red boombox
went in there with my big red boombox
went in there with my big red boombox and I placed it down and I sang my heart
and I placed it down and I sang my heart
and I placed it down and I sang my heart out and I was so proud of myself because
out and I was so proud of myself because
out and I was so proud of myself because I thought I did so good and when I was
I thought I did so good and when I was
I thought I did so good and when I was done the first teacher I’ll look on her
done the first teacher I’ll look on her
done the first teacher I’ll look on her face said it all oh honey singing oh
face said it all oh honey singing oh
face said it all oh honey singing oh it’s not for you second teacher oh do
it’s not for you second teacher oh do
it’s not for you second teacher oh do you have any other talents um can you
you have any other talents um can you
you have any other talents um can you dance or Kenya chuckle or can you do the
dance or Kenya chuckle or can you do the
dance or Kenya chuckle or can you do the ABCs backwards what okay so the third
ABCs backwards what okay so the third
ABCs backwards what okay so the third teacher she was like yeah anything else
but I realized I had to say out loud
but I realized I had to say out loud what I had been told and what I had been
what I had been told and what I had been
what I had been told and what I had been thinking all along no ma’am I’m not good
thinking all along no ma’am I’m not good
thinking all along no ma’am I’m not good at anything and I picked up my little
at anything and I picked up my little
at anything and I picked up my little red boombox and I walked out so I went
red boombox and I walked out so I went
red boombox and I walked out so I went home and I told my mom mom I tried out
home and I told my mom mom I tried out
home and I told my mom mom I tried out for the talent show
for the talent show
for the talent show oh honey that’s great tell me all about
oh honey that’s great tell me all about
oh honey that’s great tell me all about it I didn’t make it
it I didn’t make it
it I didn’t make it they told me I can’t sing my mom said oh
they told me I can’t sing my mom said oh
they told me I can’t sing my mom said oh what I think you have a very pretty
what I think you have a very pretty
what I think you have a very pretty voice nobody in our family can sing just
voice nobody in our family can sing just
voice nobody in our family can sing just the thought of you being able to sing at
the thought of you being able to sing at
the thought of you being able to sing at all it’s just amazing I’m like what are
all it’s just amazing I’m like what are
all it’s just amazing I’m like what are you talking about I they just told me I
you talking about I they just told me I
you talking about I they just told me I can’t sing I’m not good at anything she
can’t sing I’m not good at anything she
can’t sing I’m not good at anything she said well you know what I’m gonna get
said well you know what I’m gonna get
said well you know what I’m gonna get you a voice teacher I’m gonna call right
you a voice teacher I’m gonna call right
you a voice teacher I’m gonna call right now and at this point I just thought
now and at this point I just thought
now and at this point I just thought great another thing for someone to tell
great another thing for someone to tell
great another thing for someone to tell me I’m not good at but you know what I
me I’m not good at but you know what I
me I’m not good at but you know what I let her do it cuz
let her do it cuz
let her do it cuz I just had this big gaping hole so she
I just had this big gaping hole so she
I just had this big gaping hole so she called this place called dance etc and
called this place called dance etc and
called this place called dance etc and they did everything from pottery to
they did everything from pottery to
they did everything from pottery to voice and they said that yes they had a
voice and they said that yes they had a
voice and they said that yes they had a voice teacher so they called so we
voice teacher so they called so we
voice teacher so they called so we called the voice teacher and her name
called the voice teacher and her name
called the voice teacher and her name was Virginia Alonso and she was an opera
was Virginia Alonso and she was an opera
was Virginia Alonso and she was an opera singer
singer
singer fancy but she doesn’t take kids but she
fancy but she doesn’t take kids but she
fancy but she doesn’t take kids but she would be happy to take me and and she
would be happy to take me and and she
would be happy to take me and and she would be happy to listen because she
would be happy to listen because she
would be happy to listen because she knew all the voice teachers in the area
knew all the voice teachers in the area
knew all the voice teachers in the area which was which was great she would be
which was which was great she would be
which was which was great she would be able to place me with the best one in
able to place me with the best one in
able to place me with the best one in the area and you know that would be that
the area and you know that would be that
the area and you know that would be that so my mom said great and we would see
so my mom said great and we would see
so my mom said great and we would see her tomorrow so she hung up the phone
her tomorrow so she hung up the phone
her tomorrow so she hung up the phone and we went to go see her the very next
and we went to go see her the very next
and we went to go see her the very next day she was an hour away from our home
day she was an hour away from our home
day she was an hour away from our home and I was very excited just to see what
and I was very excited just to see what
and I was very excited just to see what would happen so we went to this woman’s
would happen so we went to this woman’s
would happen so we went to this woman’s house and we got to work right away and
house and we got to work right away and
house and we got to work right away and the first thing she wanted to do was do
the first thing she wanted to do was do
the first thing she wanted to do was do scales to see how high and low I could
scales to see how high and low I could
scales to see how high and low I could sing and then she said let’s do lip
sing and then she said let’s do lip
sing and then she said let’s do lip trills and I didn’t know what those were
trills and I didn’t know what those were
trills and I didn’t know what those were so she said can you go and I went like a
so she said can you go and I went like a
so she said can you go and I went like a horse and she said well that’s great I’m
horse and she said well that’s great I’m
horse and she said well that’s great I’m Michael yeah okay lady I thought she was
Michael yeah okay lady I thought she was
Michael yeah okay lady I thought she was weird
weird
weird but you know when you’re eight it’s just
but you know when you’re eight it’s just
but you know when you’re eight it’s just new stuff you just don’t know and then
new stuff you just don’t know and then
new stuff you just don’t know and then the next thing she wanted me to do sing
the next thing she wanted me to do sing
the next thing she wanted me to do sing any song any song I could possibly think
any song any song I could possibly think
any song any song I could possibly think of and the first song I could I could
of and the first song I could I could
of and the first song I could I could think of was always be my baby by Mariah
think of was always be my baby by Mariah
think of was always be my baby by Mariah Carey which is the most inappropriate
Carey which is the most inappropriate
Carey which is the most inappropriate song and eight-year-old could sing so
song and eight-year-old could sing so
song and eight-year-old could sing so great and then the last thing she had me
great and then the last thing she had me
great and then the last thing she had me do was lay on the floor and she put a
do was lay on the floor and she put a
do was lay on the floor and she put a big book on my stomach now I’m a voice
big book on my stomach now I’m a voice
big book on my stomach now I’m a voice teacher now so I know what she was doing
teacher now so I know what she was doing
teacher now so I know what she was doing she wanted to check for my breath
she wanted to check for my breath
she wanted to check for my breath control but I want you to imagine how
control but I want you to imagine how
control but I want you to imagine how weird that was when I yeah I never met
weird that was when I yeah I never met
weird that was when I yeah I never met this woman before
this woman before
this woman before why was I laying on the floor just
why was I laying on the floor just
why was I laying on the floor just imagine how weird that was
imagine how weird that was
imagine how weird that was so right exactly after that she made me
so right exactly after that she made me
so right exactly after that she made me leave the room so all I could think of
leave the room so all I could think of
leave the room so all I could think of was I must have been so bad that she
was I must have been so bad that she
was I must have been so bad that she didn’t to tell me to my face she had to
didn’t to tell me to my face she had to
didn’t to tell me to my face she had to tell my mom how bad it was
tell my mom how bad it was
tell my mom how bad it was so I left and I had to go sit in her for
so I left and I had to go sit in her for
so I left and I had to go sit in her for yang on the chair and it took forever
yang on the chair and it took forever
yang on the chair and it took forever and all I could think of was oh my god I
and all I could think of was oh my god I
and all I could think of was oh my god I must be so bad she’s recommending like
must be so bad she’s recommending like
must be so bad she’s recommending like 12 voice teachers right now
12 voice teachers right now
12 voice teachers right now and then it took even longer and then I
and then it took even longer and then I
and then it took even longer and then I thought oh my god what if she’s
thought oh my god what if she’s
thought oh my god what if she’s recommending no voice teachers and then
recommending no voice teachers and then
recommending no voice teachers and then it took even longer No 12 teachers no
it took even longer No 12 teachers no
it took even longer No 12 teachers no voice teachers maybe eighty-seven voice
voice teachers maybe eighty-seven voice
voice teachers maybe eighty-seven voice teachers oh my god so bad
teachers oh my god so bad
teachers oh my god so bad finally my mom comes out nobody says
finally my mom comes out nobody says
finally my mom comes out nobody says anything to me
anything to me
anything to me and then we leave we get in the car my
and then we leave we get in the car my
and then we leave we get in the car my mom starts crying hysterically and I’m
mom starts crying hysterically and I’m
mom starts crying hysterically and I’m thinking and she goes Angela stop it’s
thinking and she goes Angela stop it’s
thinking and she goes Angela stop it’s not like that honey
not like that honey
not like that honey Virginia wants to take you that’s her
Virginia wants to take you that’s her
Virginia wants to take you that’s her youngest student and then everything
youngest student and then everything
youngest student and then everything changed I said cuz I’m good and she said
changed I said cuz I’m good and she said
changed I said cuz I’m good and she said cuz you’re that good honey I started a
cuz you’re that good honey I started a
cuz you’re that good honey I started a voice lessons with her the very next
voice lessons with her the very next
voice lessons with her the very next week and I remember Virginia saying to
week and I remember Virginia saying to
week and I remember Virginia saying to me I know this sounds really scary
me I know this sounds really scary
me I know this sounds really scary Angela but I want to teach you opera
Angela but I want to teach you opera
Angela but I want to teach you opera because if you can sing opera can sing
because if you can sing opera can sing
because if you can sing opera can sing anything you want because I believe in
anything you want because I believe in
anything you want because I believe in you because I know you can do it and you
you because I know you can do it and you
you because I know you can do it and you know what she was right I could do it
know what she was right I could do it
know what she was right I could do it cuz I was that good she took a child
cuz I was that good she took a child
cuz I was that good she took a child that didn’t believe in herself and
that didn’t believe in herself and
that didn’t believe in herself and filled that hole it was amazing and you
filled that hole it was amazing and you
filled that hole it was amazing and you know it didn’t it didn’t fix the
know it didn’t it didn’t fix the
know it didn’t it didn’t fix the bullying but there was something that no
bullying but there was something that no
bullying but there was something that no one could take away from me I had some
one could take away from me I had some
one could take away from me I had some that made me feel whole and I owe my
that made me feel whole and I owe my
that made me feel whole and I owe my mother and all of my teachers and music
mother and all of my teachers and music
mother and all of my teachers and music a debt that I can’t explain to you and
a debt that I can’t explain to you and
a debt that I can’t explain to you and that’s why I love music and that’s why
that’s why I love music and that’s why
that’s why I love music and that’s why opera and that’s why music and that’s
opera and that’s why music and that’s
opera and that’s why music and that’s why I teach today as well too I started
why I teach today as well too I started
why I teach today as well too I started about 17 or 18 years old to become a
about 17 or 18 years old to become a
about 17 or 18 years old to become a music teacher because I wanted to fill a
music teacher because I wanted to fill a
music teacher because I wanted to fill a gap for other people as well because I
gap for other people as well because I
gap for other people as well because I knew that there were children and
knew that there were children and
knew that there were children and teenagers and adults that had that same
teenagers and adults that had that same
teenagers and adults that had that same aching feeling that I had so that’s why
aching feeling that I had so that’s why
aching feeling that I had so that’s why today I go out and I continue to teach
today I go out and I continue to teach
today I go out and I continue to teach and I perform so that I can show people
and I perform so that I can show people
and I perform so that I can show people what music really truly means to me
what music really truly means to me
what music really truly means to me so today what I’d like to do for you as
so today what I’d like to do for you as
so today what I’d like to do for you as a thank you for letting me share what
a thank you for letting me share what
a thank you for letting me share what music really truly means to me is I want
music really truly means to me is I want
music really truly means to me is I want to show you what I feel is fitting is my
to show you what I feel is fitting is my
to show you what I feel is fitting is my very first song that I learned as a
very first song that I learned as a
very first song that I learned as a student the first song that I ever
student the first song that I ever
student the first song that I ever learned was called koala Emma and it’s
learned was called koala Emma and it’s
learned was called koala Emma and it’s an Italian Aria that I learned with
an Italian Aria that I learned with
an Italian Aria that I learned with Virginia it’s called this the flame that
Virginia it’s called this the flame that
Virginia it’s called this the flame that burns within me and I felt that it would
burns within me and I felt that it would
burns within me and I felt that it would be fitting to be able to sing that song
be fitting to be able to sing that song
be fitting to be able to sing that song for you to see this afternoon so without
for you to see this afternoon so without
for you to see this afternoon so without further ado thank you for giving me that
further ado thank you for giving me that
further ado thank you for giving me that opportunity
[Music]
[Music] [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
[Music]
[Music] [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
[Music]
[Music] [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
[Music]
[Music] [Applause]
”
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