Good News About Polk County Public Schools

“Aside from singing at master classes where I was able to sing for world renowned vocal teachers, and work on technique, breathing and expression, I think that being able to meet and speak with the different representatives of prospective colleges was the best part,” says 16-year-old Lyudmilla Fuentes. The teenager recently returned from Chicago, where she was invited to compete at the Classical Singer Convention held May 24 through May 27. Earlier this year, she won her First Round at Eastman School of Music located in Rochester, New York.

In the Windy City, she competed against other operatic high school singers. There she made it all the way to the Second Round, beating out thousands from across the country. As part of the Classical Singer Convention, Ms. Fuentes was also given an opportunity to participate in the event’s College Expo, a recruiting fair where more than 60 of the nation’s top universities, colleges and conservatories speak to students about undergraduate and graduate programs.

If you haven’t already guessed, she’s unlike the typical teenager who spends summers lazily passing the time.  She regularly trains to become a diva by expanding her vocal range and polishing her vocal skills. Here, the word “diva” is in reference to a distinguished female singer of opera.

Her talent has afforded her an uncanny amount of opportunities throughout the years. But through it all she has remained grounded and focused. Always delightful, Ms. Fuentes is a joy to be around. And she is and will always remain a devoted music enthusiast. She explains, “I love music, singing and playing cello.”

Later this summer she will be flying to New York City for New York University’s Summer Vocal Intensive Program. There she will study with Rosa Vento, a world famous opera singer, alongside a long list of distinguished music faculty members at NYU.

Ms. Fuentes just finished her sophomore year with high honors at the Central Florida Aerospace Academy of Kathleen High School.