Granados, Ella Fitzgerald, The Clash, Joe Strummer, Luciano Pavarotti, Nina Simone, Montserrat Caballe, Placido Domingo, Teresa Berganza, Lily Allen, Amy Winehouse, Beck, Tom Waites, Lecuona, Boston, Dokken and the Scorpions (come on, they're operatic), Electric Light Orchestra (hello, classical), Puccini, Mozart, Messiaen, Elvis Costello, Agustin Lara, Bernstein, flamenco (Camaron, Jose Merce, Juan Habichuela, Nina Pastori, Paco de lucia, Vicente Amigo), Nati Mistral, Coltrane, Bird, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, the Police, Mompou, J. Rodrigo, Manuel de Falla, Orishas, Tom Jones, Peter Gabriel, John Coltrane, Barbieri, Sorozabal, Victoria de los Angeles, Django Reinhardt, Astor Piazzolla, Emmylou Harris, Cheb Mami, Torroba, Ruben Blades, Waylon Jennings, Mercedes Sosa, Buck Owens, Joni Mitchell, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Schubert, Strauss, Berg and so many more...
I'm an L.A. girl and most recently I sang in a workshop version of Daniel Catan's opera, Rappacini's Daughter (La hija de Rappacini) at College of the Canyons. Earlier this year, I had the pleasure of singing backup for the great singer/songwriter Linda Perry. We performed at a benefit event that was headlined by Christina Aguilera. That girl can sing! Last year I was the Musical Director for "Real Women Have Curves - the Musical" (written by Josefina Lopez with music by Joseph Julian Gonzalez). I studied music at the University of Southern California and have a BM and MM in Voice (Opera) from the Thornton School of Music. I also went to the Music Academy of the West in Santa Barbara. I've studied with Fred Carama, Martin Katz, Sherrill Milnes, Teresa Berganza, Dini Clarke, Pablo Zinger and many others. I've spent a lot of time in Spain and lived in Madrid for a year, many moons ago. Zarzuela is one of my great passions. Last year I gave zarzuela lectures for LA Opera. This wonderful music comes from Spain and is a cross between opera and musical theatre - operetta. I do concerts of zarzuela by myself or with my group, 'Canto Espanol.' I'm also an opera singer, voice teacher, music teacher and children's choral director. Among other roles I've done, I have sung Susanna in "The Marriage of Figaro," Nedda in "Pagliacci" (Intimate Opera), Pamina in "The Magic Flute," Paloma in "El Barberillo de Lavapies" (Santa Barbara Grand Opera), Susana in "La Verbena de la Paloma" (Santa Barbara Ctr Theatre). I have been a stage director for Lyric Opera of Los Angeles, "Goyescas," and Cal State Los Angeles, "La Verbena de la Paloma." I sang in the zarzuelas ("Agua, Azucarillos y Aguardiente" & "El Chaleco Blanco") with Opera Comica de Madrid in a tour of Spain. In Italy I sang Medea for Opera Theatre of Lucca and have sung with Opera Pacific in Orange County at the Orange County Performing Arts Ctr and the Hollywood Bowl, since 2000. Some of the operas I've sung in with Opera Pacific include Aida, La Boheme, Turandot, Madame Butterfly, Pagliacci/Carmina Burana, Carmen, Samson & Delilah, Elixir of Love, Porgy and Bess (concert version), Candide, Eugene Onegin, Susannah and many more... I get my rock on as one of Abe's Babes singing backup with the Abe Lincoln Story (Steve Moramarco-vocals, George Alexander-guitar, Gary Viggers-bass, Evan Urkofsky-drums, Kristian Hoffman-keys, Deena Rubinson and Me-backing vocals, Paul Litteral-trumpet, Rial Gallagher and Damon Zick-sax, John Poddy-trombone). I can be heard on their "Dance Party" and "Kings of the Soul Punk Swing" cd's too. Some of the places we've played are the House of Blues, the El Rey, Spaceland, Silverlake Lounge, Mr. T's Bowl, Safari Sam's, the Casbah, and in the past we toured with Neil Hamburger. Sang with Eric McFadden as part of the opening act for Joe Strummer and the Mescaleros at the Troubadour in Hollywood. 2 years ago I sang with Zander Schloss in a memorial concert for the late great Joe Strummer (The Clash). It was a powerful evening of song in remembrance of such a dear and giving soul. For the Bilingual Foundation of the Arts I was the featured Soprano in zarzuela concerts at the Ricardo Montalban Theatre and the BFA Theatre (Intro to Zarzuela & Zarzuela under the Stars) and have sung many, many times at the Steve Allen Theater for The Idiots (Craig Anton and Ron Lynch) and Tomorrow shows and have sung in Comedy Central's Sit 'n' Spin. I love salsa and Latin jazz and boleros, too, and I've been a soloist and sang coro in the Latin Jazz Ensemble at Cal State L.A. directed by my friend, Paul de Castro. That's a hot group! I sang in "Cesar and Ruben," a musical about the life of Cesar Chavez written and directed by Ed Begley, Jr. I was first in this show 6yrs ago at the El Portal Theatre and we had a run of 2 months. It was such a wonderful experience and I met some incredible people that I am still in touch with. Last year I was asked to join the new and improved "Cesar and Ruben" production at the NoHo Arts Center to fill in for a few shows. Wow, did that show rock! I've sung on some film tracks and done some demo work for various people and last year I recorded vocal music for a video game that will be out sometime in 2009. I'm a soprano, but I have a wide range, so I dip into mezzo/chest territory too. I love performing, creating and teaching music.
As a voice teacher I'm different than most, because my background is pretty varied. I've got students who study opera, mariachi, rock, musical theatre and more with me. Many of them are in bands and many have won awards and sing lead roles in shows. I have taught at USC, Cal State L.A. Mount St. Mary's College and currently teach at College of the Canyons.
Hi Meloddee, glad you like the tunes. It's nice to hear it from someone who can really sing. And you have a fantastic voice! And some cool friends in Andalucia, too!! Would love to come over to L.A. one day. Hope to see you there. Kind regards Pascal
I'm seein' another BEAUTIFUL face up on my screen!!! HOLLA! Hey Couz!Sheesh, been waitin for ya!! Come on now, gimme some of that "Besame Mucho" with that great voice of yours! luv it! Good to see you Mel.
New dances- Ghost Frog, music by Parisian guitar wizard Pascal Vaucel; RQ 21, set to Mozart's Requiem, Aida Fire, set to Verdi's ballet music from Aida, Strange Visit, set to the Allegro con Spirito from Rodrigo's Concierto de Aranjuez, and much more. Special guest performers from top LA area performing arts high schools- the Los Angeles County High School of the Arts and Santa Susana High School
The Unknown Theater is at 1110 Seward Street in Hollywood (near Highland and Santa Monica). Showtimes: Thurs-Fri-Sat at 8, Sundays at 6 Tickets $18 in advance at Unknown Theater $24 at the door, special group rates available, contact the theater by phone at (323) 466-7781 or by email at Unknown Theater
