MELANIA MALDONADO / Mezzo-Soprano

Melania is an Ecuadorian lyric singer, vocal coach, and founder of Melania Music School. She began her professional career at Instituto Superior de Arte (ISA) in Havana, Cuba where she studied voice and completed her degree achieving the highest scores.

She gives private and group voice lessons sharing her experience and knowledge with students from all over the world, and is actively performing involved with the Ecuadorian, Hispanic Community in New Jersey, New York, and more.

Dream it Build it Achieve it

Experience

Studied voice at the Institute Superior of Arts in Havana, Cuba. While in Cuba, Melania performed as a soloist in halls, theatres, radio and on television.

In 1995 Melania founded THE VOICE INSTITUTE in Ecuador, and worked as General Director and instructor until her departure to the United States in 2001.

In 1993-1994 she was invited by the Cuban National Union of writers and Artists (UNEAC) to represent Ecuador in the IX and X GOLDEN BOLEROS festival in Havana, Trinidad, Moron, Matanzas, Varadero and Santiago de Cuba.

In Quito and later on in 2001 in New York, she had her private practice as a professional voice instructor and singing teacher and founded the Bronx Latin Youth Educational “MUSIC FOR LIFE” Program and created her own curriculum with practical and theoretical methodology involving vocal domain and usage to develop techniques that enhance the natural vocal instrument. Melania created a music education program for children to develop aesthetic and artistic ability using the voice and music therapeutically as well as encouraging involvement in cultural activities; operating in this psychomotor system students open paths for comprehensive training support.

She has 23 years of experience as a voice instructor and works with students of all ages on different levels and musical genres.

Besides, she has performed on stages in South America, The Caribbean, Europe and the United States. As a singer, her main goal is to expose different aspects of Ecuadorian Culture and Latin America through performances, lectures and demonstrations, to generate a better perception of the identity.

In the United States, she has trained with master teachers Margaret Reynolds (soprano), Conchita Antūano (soprano), Arturo Callegari (tenor), Billie Recorded two CD’s. “CONTACTO TERNURA” and “VOLVER.”

Awards & Achievements

2017

Performing in Albany at Capitolio, New York “Tertulia Musical” with musicians from Israel, Germany, Argentina, Paraguay, Colombia, Ecuador, Perú, Dominican Republic; Hispanic Heritage Month and she received a Certificate of Appreciation for contribution to the Hispanic Heritage Program for the United States Food and Drug Administration in Jamaica, New York

2016

Receiving a distinguish for her participation in the “Fourth Annual Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration”, by The Federal Interagency Committee: Social Security Administration (SSA), US Army Corps of Engineers (USASE), Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), US Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Began “Youth Choir” with new generations of boys and girls from Latin American roots participating

Participating in special great night of Art and Culture event by invitation of President of the Republic of Ecuador when visiting to New York

2015

Coordinating concert “Best of 2015, Voice Teacher of the Year” with League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) at Carnegie Hall in Manhattan with the Argentine pianist Rosa Antonelli. Melania performed a cultural concert sponsored by Teatro SEA (Manhattan), with Ivan Alexander Bautista and 10 musicians from different countries, whose mission is to spread the Ecuadorian and Latin American music in the USA

2014

Receiving recognition in Huntington, on Long Island, by the Assembly of the State of New York as Distinguished Woman of the Year, for her excellent training techniques and complete dedication to her students

2013

Receiving recognition from Juventud Ecuadorian and the Assembly of the State of New York, for her work and supporting the Latin American community and Ecuador

2011

Receiving endorsement as “Exemplary Citizen”, by the President of the Republic of Ecuador and the National Assembly of Ecuador, for highlighting the values of the Ecuadorian and foreign community made in the USA through art and culture

Co-Organising concert, “United Latin America through Art and Culture” as Director of Culture with League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC)

2009

Receiving award of “Lyrical Female Voice of the Year” in the IV Delivery Hispano-American Art Prize

2007

Participating in filming the movie “The White Life”, which directed by American filmmaker Jack Hartwell and Mexican actress Blanca Soto

2006

Receiving a commendation from the former Mayor of New York City, Michael Bloomberg, for cultural contributions to the Latino community and the world

Distinctions

● Member of the Board of Directors of the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) Council 23047 a nonprofit organisation dedicated to serve the Latin American Community

● President and founder of the EcuaTimes Newspaper dedicated to fostering the unity and cooperation within the Ecuadorian Community 2003-2009

● Member of the Board of Directors of Ayazamana Ecuadorian Culture

● Assistant Director at Saphira & Ventura Art Gallery