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Filipina-Spanish
coloratura, Antoni Mendezona, is rapidly gaining international success
and acclaim for her unique and stunning voice and captivating stage
presence. She made her European debut, stepping in at the last minute
to perform the international debut of Tobias Picker’s Emmeline as
Sophie with the Armel Mezzo Television Festival in Szeged, Hungary. The
performance was broadcasted live on Mezzo television throughout 36
different countries in Europe and South America. Antoni also stepped
in, informed only hours before curtain, to sing the role of Veronique
in the New York City premier of Thomas Pasatieri's The Hotel
Casablanca, which garnered rave reviews from the New York Times saying
“Antoni Mendezona, a last-minute substitute as the hotel clerk
Veronique, stole scenes with her pealing voice and bubbly personality”.
Most recently, Antoni sang Dorinda in Handel’s Orlando with Sacramento
Opera in which she was praised as giving a “bold and emotionally deep
account of Dorinda” and offering “some of the best dramatic singing”.
Her other operatic roles include Amore in L'incoronazione di Poppea,
Zerlina from Don Giovanni, Le Rossignol from L’enfant et les
sortilèges, Flora from The Turn of the Screw with Sacramento
Opera, Elisa from Il Re Pastore, Frasquita from Carmen with Connecticut
Grand Opera, and La Princessa in El Gato con Botas with Gotham Chamber
Opera’s puppetry workshop under the direction of Moises Kaufman.
In addition to her operatic performance, Ms. Mendezona has been
featured as the Soprano soloist in the Fauré Requiem, Mozart’s
Vesperae Solennes de Confessore and Allegri’s Miserere Mei Deus with
the Sacramento Choral Society and Orchestra. Having an affinity for
Bach, she has also sung Cantata BWV 80 Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott,
his St. John Passion and the Ascension Oratorio with Maestro T. Herbert
Dimmock as part of the prestigious Bach Concert Series in Baltimore.
Antoni gave an extensive concert tour in the Philippines this past
January with a diverse program of major coloratura works, and Kundiman,
Filipino traditional art song. Upcoming concerts include Bach’s
Christmas Oratorio and the Messiah with the Harford Choral Society.
As a participant in competition, Antoni has earned first place in the
SJNATS district competition, second in the Fresno Young Vocalist
Awards, was a finalist for the Stewart Brady Competition and the
recipient of the Young Artist Incentive Award from West Bay Opera’s
Henry and Maria Holt Competition, and won the Little Italy Merchants
Association Honorable Mention award.
Antoni received her Bachelor of Music degree in Vocal Performance from
California State University of Sacramento and Masters of Music in Vocal
Performance and Pedagogy at Westminster Choir College of Rider
University. She currently studies voice with Kate Johnson.
8/18/11
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