Opera Singer Makes Pit Stop at Schools Before Big Concert

Opera singer Mario Arevalo made sure to arrive in Hampton a couple days before his big performance at the “We the Many Concert II” on Saturday, March 2, to work with students in the county. 

On Friday morning, he went to West Fork Middle School, where he performed for students and answered any questions they had about his life and career. After that, he made his way to Cal Elementary, where he put on a show in their auditorium before taking questions from students. The young students asked him a wide range of questions: what was his favorite cartoon as a child? How long did his mom leave him for when she immigrated to the United States before him? Who was his favorite singer? Why did he decide to become an opera singer? And so on and so forth. He answered each question with candor and often with humor. The students let out a cheer when he said his favorite cartoon as a child was “Looney Tunes.” 

His next and final stop for the day was at Hampton-Dumont High School, where he taught master classes to a group of choir students who were preparing for regionals. He worked with six students. Each performed a song for him, which he then critiqued and provided feedback on. Some students needed to work on their breathing. One needed to “sing taller.” One needed to “sing ugly” before “singing pretty” again. One needed to shake her foot while singing. One needed to stop singing into the back of her throat, and swallowing her words. One needed to crouch down and then stand back up to open up his lungs. 

The students took the feedback they were given and ran with it all, improving by the end of their short sessions with Arevalo.