Young Voices to perform free concert on March 2

Kathaleen Roberts, Albuquerque Journal, N.M.
·2 min read

Feb. 27—The Young Voices of the Santa Fe Opera will join students from Florida International University for "¡Voces Unidas!"

Slated for 2 p.m. Saturday, March 2, at St. Francis Auditorium in the New Mexico Museum of Art, the free concert will feature 21 young musicians.

The Santa Fe program was created in 2008 to encourage, nurture and guide high school students showing talent, desire and potential for singing classical music.

For the second year in a row, the SFO has partnered with the young musicians from Florida International University in residency.

"There was a desire to cross-pollinate a creative and cultural exchange," said Amy Owens, Young Voices director. "Education is the main goal."

"We'll be doing workshops about auditioning, about careers," she continued.

Program participants receive voice lessons and musical coaching by the Santa Fe Opera's music staff, as well as training in diction, music theory and basic acting. Students also participate in master classes by visiting guest artists, attend cultural events and have multiple opportunities to gain performance experience through studio classes, community engagement activities and public performances.

"With my students, it became clear that collaboration with the Young Voices program was the best step forward," Owens said. "It was a great opportunity for peer mentorships, opportunities for students singing with persons one level above them."

The concert program features arias by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Domenico Scarlatti and Antonín Dvoräk and choral music by Giuseppe Verdi and Mozart.

The Young Voices students are selected by application and auditions, Owens said. Staff members choose a maximum of 18 students in ninth through twelfth grade from September through May.

A former Santa Fe Opera apprentice, Owens starred in "Sweet Potato Kicks the Sun" in 2019.

"I was Sweet Potato," she said with a laugh. "Santa Fe and the city of Santa Fe has invested a lot in me and by bringing this to a full circle moment for me to be able to contribute back to the community."