Today we’d like to introduce you to Edgar Miguel Abréu.
Edgar Miguel, we’d love to hear your story and how you got to where you are today both personally and as an artist.
My story starts back in Massachusetts in a town called Haverhill (pronounce HEI-VRIL). I was ten years old when I started taking piano lessons wanting to be the next Raul di Blasio. He’s a famous contemporary Argentinian pianist still performing to this day. I remember playing piano and winning my first talent show back in 8th grade at Consentino Middle School. This was the first taste of audience adulation I received, and I loved it.
As I prepared for college, I knew I had to do music and applied to Berklee College of Music and got accepted (I still have the acceptance letter to this day). However, my family was moving to Florida, and I didn’t want to stay behind, so I followed. At this moment music went on the back burner for about two years while I worked at Radio Shack striving to be a Manager. However, music kept calling me, and I was not living a complete life.
I started as a music major in piano performance at Florida Atlantic University. It was here that I signed up for Men’s Chorus and learned that I had somewhat of a singing voice. I soon found myself at a crossroads. I loved playing piano, but I had found a new passion, singing. I had played piano for half my life at this point switching over didn’t seem plausible. And of course, the real question, what would my parents say? However, after much deliberation, I decided to dedicate my energy on singing. After graduation, I continued to taking voice lessons and vocal coaching’s while participating in many masterclasses. I soon decided to start my master’s degree at Florida International University. It was here that I took part in my first real full opera production. The role of Lippo Fiorentino from Kurt Weill’s Street Scene taught me how to develop a character from start to finish. Through FIU I also had the privilege of performing at the Latin Billboard Awards with some fantastic colleagues back in 2015.
After graduating from FIU, I was fortunate to have been accepted into Florida Grand Opera’s Young Artist Roster. A position where nearly 600 singers apply and only 12 are chosen. It was here that I face my truest challenges. Not only was it officially my first professional contract but it was here that I realized how much work I still had in front of me and if I was willing to fight for it. Here I faced real self-doubt. I had two options – quitting or working harder than ever. If I think about my family’s upbringing quitting was not a recourse. So, I buckled down and put myself to the test, and it paid off in every which way. I was a stronger musician, with a stronger voice, and a stronger sense of self!
So, what has happened since you may ask? As a first-generation graduate and the first professional musician in my family, I continue to perform in opera and do recitals and concerts all year round. On my “off” time I teach voice and piano lessons. Teaching and instilling confidence in my students is as rewarding as taking on the stage. I have accepted change and embraced it fully.
We’d love to hear more about your art. What do you do you do and why and what do you hope others will take away from your work?
I’m ultimately an interpreter of music. I take others compositions and do my best to bring their pieces to life per their suggestions and my current state of mind. I’m always evolving mentally and emotionally, and I try to add some of those elements towards my music. I guess you could say performing music for others is therapeutic. I hope audiences can find authenticity and accessibility in my performances. I want everyone to allow themselves to forget about the stresses of their lives when they come and see me. Escape with me.
What do you know now that you wished you had learned earlier?
First piece of advice is work hard. Work every day harder than yesterday. The school systems at any level don’t equip you with the reality of what the world is like. It’s not all as glamorous as it seems. It takes hard, relentless work to even scratch the surface and it takes even harder discipline to remain.
Next, throw self-doubt into the trash! There is no room in this profession, quite frankly in life, to let one’s’ insecurities show. Yes, we all have them but the world and powers to be will always want to use those against you. Work those fears out and don’t bring them to the forefront. Plus, if you don’t like yourself or the job you’re doing how do you expect to convince others of your talent?
Ultimately for me, it’s not about my fears or doubts it all about the music, my unhealthy ego must disappear and take back to seat to the music and emotions being expressed. The effusive manner in which music has enamored me is what I hope to emit to others. Let the best of you be what the world sees at all times.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.edgarmiguelabreu.com
- Phone: 239.734.7228
- Email: edgarmiguelabreu@gmail.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/emusicala
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/edgarmiguelabreu
Image Credit:
Kristin Pulido, Manny Perez, Daniel Zaoulay Studio, Hank Henley, and FIU Opera Theater
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