Undiscovered Singer Surfaces at HCC
May 15, 2008
HOUSTON, TX (May 9, 2008) – HCC student Federico Flores, 20, received a full scholarship totaling over $45,000 to the University of Southern California. He will enter the Thorton School of Music at USC in the fall to complete his Bachelor's of Music in Vocal Performance. After auditioning in January to a panel of world renowned judges at the USC campus, Flores was delighted by his acceptance and scholarship award in late April. The panel included mezzo-soprano Cynthia Munzer, sopranos Elizabeth Hynes and Shigemi Matsumoto, and tenor Gary Glaze, all leading performers with the Metropolitan Opera and New York City Opera companies.
Flores will return to his roots when he makes the transition to USC. As a child, he remembers living four blocks from USC and walking around the campus, but he never felt he would have the means to attend.
Raised by his father, Salvador, and mother, Dolores, both originally from Mexico, Flores had a very modest beginning. His father decided to raise his family in the United States to ensure a better quality of life. To do so, however, Salvador worked two jobs demonstrating to Flores the importance of persistence through hardship.
Flores moved from southern California to west Houston in 2006 so that his sister could have better educational opportunities than he had in high school. Unbeknownst to Flores, this move would lead to remarkable opportunities for him as well.
After taking a music class at the Town & Country Campus during the fall 2006 semester, Flores learned that he had a gift for singing.
"When I took my first voice class, I knew I was hooked. I listened to how characters expressed themselves through the universal language of music. As a native Spanish speaker, the music was able to break though any communication barriers I felt," Flores said.
Flores, a bass-baritone singer, began studying with Frances Fenton in the spring semester of 2007. Since that time, he has been a winner in two competitions, received a contract with Houston Grand Opera at his first professional audition, three scholarship offers from major universities, and will be a guest singer for Opera Vista. He has also taken opera workshops with professors Betty Shine and Lucy Hargis at HCC.
As a child, Flores listened to traditional Mexican music such as mariachis and rancheras so the dominance of classical music greatly surprised his parents. Although, Flores admitted that he is no stranger to performance. He recalls putting on talent shows for his parents with the accompaniment of his sister. They would both sing mariachi and Mexican folk songs.
Transitioning from kid play to the classical world of opera, Flores recently earned a role and performed in the ensemble for the Houston Grand Opera's production of Billy Budd, earning the praise "magnificent work" by a Houston Chronicle critic.
"This was my first time to see the behind the scenes workings of a production. It truly reaffirmed my desire to pursue opera as a career," Flores said.
While Flores does not begin classes at USC until August, he is unwilling to have any down time from his singing. He will participate as a guest singer in June for Opera Vista, a Houston-based organization which allows selected composers the opportunity to present their pieces. Flores will showcase segments from two original operas never heard by the general public, Gilgamesh and Anorexia Sacra.
Flores will also sing the National Anthem at the 2008 HCC Graduation Ceremony on May 17, 2008 at the Reliant Arena.
After finishing his Bachelor of Music with USC, Flores would like to attend Julliard and study opera. Following this major accomplishment, he would like to receive a Fulbright Scholarship to study in Europe.
Dr. Aubrey Tucker, HCC Northwest Fine Arts Department Chair, believes that while HCC opened doors for Flores, he will pave his own way because of his inherent ability.
"HCC was a great school for him. He is a very talented student that really blossomed here. We expect great things from him," Tucker said.
