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By jonathan, September 10, 2009 12:47 pm

Funsherpa NY features Antoni Mendezona, a rising star who just got accepted into the Dicapo Opera Young Artist Program.  Antoni moved to NYC soon after finishing her studies at the Westminster Choir College at Rider University.  She has performed in a variety of Operas and Concerts in California and tonight will be her New York debut in Tobias Picker’s Emmeline at the DiCapo Theatre.  Antoni currently resides in Washington Heights where she enjoys quiets walks and the rich Dominican culture.

F: Why did you move to New York?

I moved to New York to continue studying with my voice teacher and to be a Resident Artist with Dicapo Opera Theatre. Plus New York is the hub for auditions and it makes sense to be in the center of where everything’s happening.

F: What has been your most defining ‘welcome to new york’ experience so far?

Well… I have this neighbor who lives in the building across from mine and he apparently likes to hang out of his window and watch people. My roommates and I nicknamed him “Peeping Pablo”  when he decided to choose our apartment as his new found interest. Every now and then he puts on a cowboy hat, or a wrestling mask or plays with animal balloons. It’s always entertaining to come home and guess what he’s up to next!

F: When and how were you first drawn to opera / classical vocals?  Were you always musical as a child?

Piano was my first instrument and I took lessons for about 8 years in the Philippines. I always sang at church and in school – it just came naturally to me. So when it came time to decide what to major in for college, music was the only thing that made sense to me! The first time I saw an opera, it was La Boheme with Anna Netrebko at the San Francisco Opera. I immediately fell in love with it and auditioned for my college’s opera program as soon as I could!

F: How do you prepare for your roles ?

First I try to see what literary piece the opera is based on. It’s really important to me to know the historical aspect of the role I’m prepping. Then if it’s in another language, I first do a literal translation and then a poetic translation. Then I speak what I need to sing for a while to get the language in my head and flowing easier off my tongue. After I do all of that, then I learn the music. Since I play the piano, I like to learn the accompaniment first to understand the music aside from the vocal line and then I sing! I try to do all of this before I take the music to my teacher and coaches. It’s a lot of work but worth it in the end!

F: What’s been your favorite role to date?

I sang “Elisa” from Il Re Pastore last December and fell in love with her character. Not only was Mozart’s writing absolutely stunning, the strong personality appointed to Elisa made it so much easier to commit to the performance.

F: Tell us about your upcoming performance in Emmeline ?

Emmeline (written by American composer Tobias Picker), is a story about  a young girl from Maine who was sent to work in a factory in New Hampshire. She is seduced by the boss’s son-in-law and actually ends up having his child. The child was taken away from her and adopted and Emmeline never knows who her child is. She returns to Maine and lives with her family and falls in love with a young man new to the area. They marry and live happily until the truth about his identity is revealed in an extremely dramatic scene. It turns out that he is actually her child!

I am covering one of the leads and singing in the chorus as well. Our stage director is Hungarian and is a genius! We are taking the show to Hungary in November as participants of this competition and I hope we win!

F: How would you make opera appeal more to the younger generations? What do you think of an American Opera Idol?

That’s a really tough question, one which has been asked and discussed at length at most of the parties I go to with musicians! I think if we try and market opera the way the MET is doing right now, more drama, more mainstream advertising, then maybe it will appeal more to younger generations. The most important way I think to get younger generations to even begin to appreciate opera is music education and exposure at an early age.

I think an American opera Idol would be really cool!

F: Tell us about what “non-opera” jobs you have had or are currenty doing? What has been your favorite?  Which one sucked the most?

Well, I do LOTS of things. I temp, baby-sit, dog-sit, sometimes sing at a church …. what else?

I really can’t say which one has been my favorite and which one sucked the most. I am very grateful for all the jobs that I have! Some days are harder than others but I do enjoy them most of the time.

F: When not rehearsing, auditioning, performing or working you non opera jobs, how do you unwind and relax in the city?

I barely have any time to unwind! But when I do, I like to go for walks. The city is so beautiful in so many different ways that it is always interesting to me.

F: What are your top 3 songs you would choose when you go to karaoke?

That’s easy! Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen, Eternal Flame by the Bangles, and  Yesterday by the Beatles. I know…I’m sappy.

F: Have  you thought about what you might do when you stop singing?

I hope that the only reason why I would stop singing is because I decided to retire! (I’m not joking either!). When that happens, I think I’d like to direct some shows, maybe do some work with young artists.

F: How do you like living in Washington Heights ? Any spots you recommend in your neighborhood?

I love Washington Heights. I like the fact that when I get out of the subway, the air feels cleaner and I can actually breathe and hear my own thoughts! I would definitely recommend a restaurant called Plum Pomidor. They make most of their pastas at the restaurant and their duck confit is delicious and super inexpensive!

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By jonathan, July 15, 2009 8:00 am

Conchita concentrating before a performance

A funsherpa first! Interrogating the interesting is now in New York City!  Our first NYC feature is with singer/songwriter Conchita Campos. Having recently moved back to the Big Apple after a year of self discovery in San Francisco, Conchita brings back her unique sound and music talent back to the city.  If you’re interested in checking her music out, you can find her EP here and on iTunes

F: So what’s up with Conchita these days?

C: I am currently working hard on my first full-length album – it is quite exciting because it is about 75% done!

F: You seem quite talented in many things, what made you decide to create music?

C: I come from a musical family. My dad played the piano and my brother picked up the guitar in high school, so that’s how I got into playing music. When I got to college, I eventually decided to take it up as my major and have been playing ever since.

F: Who are your major influences on your sound/style ?

C: I grew up around a lot of jazz and Latin jazz and my dad collected a lot of records, so there’s a big jazz influence in there. As I got older, I started to listening to other styles, like soul, hip hop, indie rock, electronic – I think there’s a little bit of all of that in there.

F: Has NY influenced your music much?

C: Definitely!  I think the dark, grittiness that comes out in my music is a NY thing. I noticed the songs I’ve written in California are significantly more upbeat, at least in melody.

F: I’ve thought of becoming a singer…any advice to the aspiring singer/songwriter?

C: Like most things, there will always be ups and downs and you’ll always have doubts. As long as you remain sincere and passionate, you’ll be able to push through it. Keep creating and dreaming.

F: So you mentioned that you have an upcoming album…can you spill the beans on it?

C: It’s a big departure from the purely organic, acoustic sound of the EP.  It’s heavy on the jazz and soul, with some elements of my roots in acoustic music. I worked with really amazing people (The Park, Rachel Lastimosa from Dirty Boots, Nino Moschella) to create the sound I envisioned for the album.  Hopefully, people see the fruits of our labor in this collaborative endeavor.

F: Aside from the finance world, NYC has an awesome arts scene.  How do you feel about the current music scene in NYC?

C: The NYC music scene is diverse and always evolving, just like the city itself. My biggest gripe with it is that it’s so extremely competitive, so there isn’t as much of a sense of community in the music scene, unlike that in San Francisco. On the other hand, it’s good in the sense that it forces you to stay motivated and driven and passionate.

F: Why did you decide to move back to NYC after moving back to San Francisco for a year ?

C: I went to San Francisco to record the album. It made absolute sense to do it in there because I could work with people I admire and respect, who would be able to achieve my vision for the album. I was surrounded by amazing musicians who were also my friends. It made everything easier and more enjoyable. Now that the album is pretty much done, I felt like it was time for me to go home. One of my favorite artists, Alana Davis, said that as an artist, you must be where you feel most inspired. Being in the Bay Area for a year made me realize that NY is now home. It’s where I’ve been inspired to write and constantly evolve and create.

F: Where do you go in the city when you need inspiration for writing your music?

C: I watch a lot of shows, whenever and wherever I can.

F: Can you tell us where Conchita hangs out in the city to listen to live music?

C: The summer is awesome because you have all these great free concerts. I love jazz shows, so there’s Smoke and Sweet Rhythm.

F: Favorite place in the city to perform?

I have a soft spot for The Bitter End, since it’s where I played my first NY gig.

F: We love summer – any suggestions for things to do in the city during this time of the year?

Summerstage, the music festivals, food festivals – so much to do really!