5 QUESTIONS WITH ILA ALUMNUS DANIEL MONTENEGRO PERSPECTIVES

Inetrviewed by Ashley Johnson Lam

Lyric tenor Daniel Montenegro, a graduate of the prestigious Merola Opera Program and an ILA ’99 and ’00 alumnus, has an active career singing around the U.S. today. And though there are many factors that play into the making of a successful singing career, we were able catch up with Daniel on how the ILA helped shape his accomplished path.

AJL: We often think of successful artists as being involved in their craft from a very early age. Was this this case for you, Daniel?

DM: It couldn’t be any more opposite! I did not come from a musical family and only joined choir in middle school because I was recruited by a buddy. My first exposure to opera was with the Three Tenors. My senior year in high school, I happened to get comp tickets to see Pagliacci with Plácido Domingo and that’s when the bug really hit. I ended up studying at San Francisco Conservatory of Music with Herman LaRoux and Marilyn Tyler.

AJL: Like many eager young singers, you sought out summer opportunities, including the ILA. What did your two summers of ILA offer your artistic development?

DM: The ILA was my first true introduction to a real opera conductor. If you’re in the music world, you know it takes a special skillset to conduct opera. Maestro Vignati was an amazing conductor to have this experience with. He (and everyone else with the program) showed me what an authentic opera experience was and the true professional demand the artform requires. It shaped my mindset toward what I expected of myself. Being able to study and perform on master classes with legends like Fedora Barbieri was also invaluable.

AJL: Such a rich experience during your musically formative years. Do you see that experience showing up today in your professional career?

DM: Definitely. My approach to professional expectations, like the level of preparedness and ability to deliver, and how to learn a role was established through my ILA experiences. These are things I lean on every time I take a role with a company, whether new or not. And the volume of performance opportunities during ILA helped prepare me for the pace and variety that is the professional singing life.

AJL: It’s an amazing career path and way to experience life. What do you love most about being a professional singer?

DM: There’s something so special about the ephemeral and creative nature of performing – makes you truly take in every moment. And the camaraderie you share with cast mates and travel to new places can’t be beat. These are all things I was fortunate to experience at ILA and continue to experience in my career today.

AJL: Here we are, 20-something years after your ILA days. As a seasoned professional, what advice would you give today’s young singers?

DM: I don’t say this to be negative or scary: a career as a professional singer is not for the faint of heart. Make sure that you are willing to be all in in all ways. I love what I do but some days it’s tough to be away from family. Singing has to be a career that you know no other careers will satisfy, and you have to keep that in your mind and heart. The ILA is a great way to test and experience the professional world on a small scale.