I
was born in Bogota,
Colombia in 1991 and moved to the United
States when I was 3 years old (see photo above). I presently
live in Weston, Florida ... just west of Ft. Lauderdale.
I was dancing almost from the time I began walking; you should
have seen me ... I even danced to "elevator music"
at shopping malls. My parents were convinced that I would
eventually become a professional dancer so, at age 5, they
enrolled me in ballet and jazz classes. However, when I was
9, I saw a touring production of Annie and began singing "Tomorrow"
in the shower. My dad immediately dressed me up as an orphan
... he even put soot on my face .. and entered me in a local
talent show ... my singing career was launched. Two days later
I began taking singing lessons with Wesley B. Wright, a former
guitarist of the "Miami Sound Machine."
Wesley encouraged me to experiment with all types of music
... popular, classic rock, country, Broadway, oldies, and
jazz. I learned to emulate the styles of Christina Aguilera,
Shakira, Bette Midler, Barbra Streisand, Shania Twain, Faith
Hill, Judy Garland, Liza Minnelli .... even jazz greats such
as Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald.
I had only been studying with Wesley for three months when
I went with my parents on vacation to Paris. It was then that
I first heard the magnificent voice of Edith Piaf .... I heard
her on the radio singing "Hymm D'Amour" and I got
chills. My parents then purchased a documentary video about
her life and many of her CDs. She was an amazing performer.
I was in awe when I watched the video ... her face, her expression,
her hands .... especially her hands! What emotion! She sang
from the heart. In Spanish we would say that she sang with
"Alma y Corazon."
I was convinced .... I wanted to become the American Edith
Piaf. However ..... one day, while riding in the car, my dad
was playing a Mozart selection on the radio, "The Queen
of the Night" aria from "The Magic Flute."
Much to the amazement of my parents, I began singing along
with the soprano soloist. Sooooooooo .... the next day we
contacted Ed Pierson, an opera teacher from Florida International
University. I then began studying opera ... learning from
the singing styles of Sarah Brightman and Charlotte Church.At
age 10 .... I was studying pop/rock/Broadway with Wesley on
Fridays and opera from Ed Pierson on Wednesdays .... but on
my own, I was listening to Edith Piaf.
Then ....at age 11 my mom convinced me that I should also
start singing Spanish songs .... So, we contacted Pedro Pablo
Rodriguez, a Colombian guitarist who lives in Weston. Now,
when I'm not singing pop, Broadway, jazz, or opera ... I sing
songs from Selena, Celia Cruz, and other great Spanish vocalists.
I also started studying guitar with Pedro … but so far,
I’m not ready to perform in public. That takes a lot
of practice!
I love singing in many languages .... in addition to English
and Spanish ... I also know a few songs in Italian, Hebrew,
French, Latin, and German ... I even made a demo CD of a beautiful
African song in Swahili, its called "O Sifuni Mungu."
I guess we all are supposed to have goals .... Every big star
says that when they were a kid they wanted to be like Barbra
Streisand or Arethra Franklin .... but, I'm not sure. I really
do love Bette Midler and Edith Piaf. Maybe someday they'll
do a musical biography of Piaf on Broadway ... and I can get
to play that part. Now, that would really be cool.
MY
HOBBIES
Of course, with singing, guitar, and
Spanish lessons... I don't have much time for hobbies. Oh
yeah! I also took Hebrew lessons from age 11-13 and had my
Bat Mitzvah on top of Mazada in Israel. You can watch me singing
"Yarushalaim Shel Shahov" on my website. That was
a fantastic experience.
I don't really have a lot of free time ... but, when I do
I love watching TV and going to movies with my friends and
my cousin Diana. I was on the girls soccer team at Tequesta
Trace Middle School in Weston. We have a really great team
(undefeated) .. but I was just an OK player .... so I didn’t
get into the games a lot ... at least, not until we had a
big lead. I'm fast, but I'm small and don't kick very hard
.... so the coach used me mainly on defense. Of course, by
the time I came into a game, we usually had a 5 goal lead
.... so there wasn’t a lot of pressure on defense. OK
.. I wasn’t a great soccer player ... but it was fun
...and we have cool maroon uniforms with shin guards. We just
beat our arch rival, "Falcon Cove Middle School"
5-2. Lots of my friends go to that school ... it was great
to beat them!
My dad yells at me and tells me that I'm too old to watch
cartoons on TV ... but when he isn't around I still love cartoons....and
"Sponge Bob." And, I rent a lot of videos at Block
Buster ... including many of the old Broadway Musicals like
"My Fair Lady" and "Funny Girl." I really
love "Fiddler on the Roof" especially "If I
Were a Rich Man." I know ... its a man's song and it
isn't in my key ... but its a great song ... especially Teveya's
"Di-dle di-dle dee" dance.
RECENT
DEVELOPMENTS
At age 11 I won the Starz of the Future
contest in West Palm Beach, then I went on to win the McArthur
Dairy “Amazing Kids” competition (my commercial
still appears frequently on TV). Then came the big win at
the Song-Delta national talent competition in New York followed
by guest appearances on Good Morning America (ABC) and Don
Francisco Presenta (Univision). At age 12 I reached the finals
of Star Search (CBS). I’ve also sung the national anthem
three years in a row for the Florida Marlins.
Now … at age 13, I have been signed to a record production
contract by Misha Segal, a famous Israeli composer who lives
in California. Misha, a brilliant composer, has written musical
scores for over 80 movies and TV shows. I hope to have my
first album released in 2006. For additional information about
Misha, please see his website: www.mishasegal.com and www.primavista-records.
Also, on my website, see the Miami Herald article covering
my signing with Misha.
ANECDOTES
When I was 5 our family went on a "Carnival
Line" cruise to Mexico and my parents entered me in the
ship's talent show. I did great in the afternoon rehearsal
.. singing "La Cucaracha" and "Pollito Chicken"
.. two Spanish songs. However ... that night, when I got up
on stage for the big show ... the room was really dark. I
looked out from the stage and saw nothing but a huge black
room ... I couldn't find my parents. So, I began to cry: "Where's
my Mommy?" Immediately, my dad ran up on stage and carried
me off. That was an awful beginning for my career as a singer.
Actually, I'd like to forget all about that incident ... but
my parents tell that story so often, that I guess I have to
include it here as one of the early anecdotes of my life.
When I was 8 our family took a trip to Rome...it was during
Easter Break. As our group of touring Americans entered St.
Peters Bascilica, we were informed that the Pope would be
conducting Mass that day. That was really exciting! But ..he
looked like a little white dot ... way off in the distance.
It is a huge building and we were stuck in the "standing
room only" section, way back by a remote exit.. However,
when the Papal entourage left the building, my dad held me
up on a railing, so that I could get a better view of the
Pope. Just before he reached the door, he stopped, turned
toward me (I was wearing a red Looney Tunes sweatshirt ...
I still have it) ... and he put one hand on my head and another
hand on my shoulder ... he gave me a special blessing. WOW
... that was super exciting. And, you know what .... it wasn't
long afterward that I saw "Annie" and began singing
....
WISH
LIST
To meet Liza Minnelli ...... to get
my own laptop, a Hummer for my parents, and a Mini-Cooper
for me.
MY
PETS |
