BARBADIAN OPERA SINGER Shantal Martin had her final curtain call at the Manhattan School of Music, but the soprano’s act has definitely not ended.
After four years at the renowned United States-based music conservatory, the 23-year-old graduated with a Bachelor of Music degree, and come August she will be pursuing a masters at the same institution.
Martin entered the school with about 24 other musicians and during that four-year period she saw some classmates leave the course without finishing, but despite the pressures of college, she was steadfast in her pursuit.
From a very young age Shantal could out-sing most, but she said it was not until she took a trip to Toledo with the Catholic Youth group that she finally heard what others were hearing. She brought the audience to tears.
She later took up vocal training with Andrea Thorne and Norma Bowen and eventually enrolled in the Barbados Community College.
Despite how unpopular her style of singing was, her talent was too strong to hide.
“I didn’t know I wanted to sing. I knew it was something I was good at but my style of singing was not the traditional stylings we grew up with. Opera found me by sneakily wafting out through a neighbour’s window and into my heart,” she recalled.
“I have always loved being on stage from all of my years of dance, but I quickly realised I found comfort in being in an ensemble. That’s what drew me to opera to the point I yearned to study it. The relationship that blossoms in a show from the cast to the crew to the orchestra is fantastic,” she said.
So it was only fitting that her junior year and senior year in college, she was cast as lead in two productions.
In 2016 she was cast in the Italian opera L’incoronazione di Poppea (The Coronation Of Poppaea) in which she played Poppea.
And in 2017 she purred her way into hearts of critics in the role of Vixen Sharp Ears in the Cunning Little Vixen production.
Critics praised the Bajan gal for her vocal ability and acting skills, all the while describing her as the “anchor” of the show.
While speaking to EASY from her New York apartment, Shantal humbly reflected on how she made the cut for the conservatory and the productions.
To get into the conservatory she had to send in an audio recording of her singing songs in Italian and German, along with her native tongue.
“In order to get a lead for these productions we have to audition against everybody in our class and I’m a soprano so we’re a very common voice type, and I’m not necessarily thinking we’re going to get the lead role. I just audition.”
“And the directors decide who they think would be better suited for a leading role,” Martin said.
Being the only black girl, she automatically stood out among the predominantly white and Asian school body, but she said surprisingly many teachers were “fascinated” that she had manners.
The former Combermere student said, that while growing up, being mannerly for her, like most Barbadians was a must and she was taught to always hold herself to a higher standard.
“When you get to these places . . . it’s kind of like a free-for-all . . . so that kind of mentality keeps you grounded and it’s easier to focus that way. “
“And I think growing up in Barbados we are very aware of how to pick people. You know the people that you should be with and the people you shouldn’t be with and that becomes even clearer when you come to a place like this,” she said.
“We are musicians, so obviously there is a large party culture but we’ve been through that, so it’s not an attraction for me at all,” Martin added.
So most of the time she could be found at home “chilling” rather than spreading herself thin with what the city has to offer.
“But everybody that I come into contact with here know, that I am from Barbados. They are aware of how I am as a person and a lot of that is about how I was taught at home. They know something about Barbados. They [my friends] are either taking away my food from me or singing some song that is particularly Bajan,” she said.
When she isn’t performing at events, she is avidly practising other hobbies such as dance, make-up and wig making – which she showcases on her YouTube channel Hairaconda.
To get to grad school, it’s hard to forget the price tag attached.
Tuition for the two-year master’s programme is US $45 750; the school covers $20 000 per year and she said she is hoping a public appeal could help her parents, Ann and Kelvin Martin.
After she completes grad school she hopes to audition for some vocal competitions to push her brand and take part in a Young Artiste Programme in the US which helps to mould the careers of budding artistes. (TG)