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The Chilean soprano and voice teacher, Millaray Gonzalez Soto, holds a Bachelor of Arts degree (2016) with a specialization in Musical Performance from the Faculty of Arts, Universidad de Chile. She entered the university in 2009. She studied for five years with mezzo-soprano Claudia Godoy, and later for three years with soprano Patricia Cifuentes. She has participated in master-classes given by Johnathon Pape, a professor at the Boston Conservatory in the area of Opera Studies; in summer courses at the Instituto Superior de Artes del Teatro Colón (ISA) in Buenos Aires, Argentina, deepening her understanding of operatic roles; and has taken private lessons with soprano Claudia Pereira.
Millaray Gonzalez has performed as a soloist in various venues in Santiago, including: Sala Isidora Zegers, Espacio Matta, GAM, Centro Cultural CorpArtes, Teatro Municipal de Ñuñoa, Centro Cultural de España, Fundación Cultural Providencia, Liga chileno-alemana (DCB), among others. She was a member of the Ensamble Libre choral group, directed by Paula Elgueta, for three years, with which she made her debut as a soloist in 2016 in W.A. Mozart's Coronation Mass with the Orquesta de Cámara de Chile and its principal conductor, Alejandra Urrutia, during the Easter concert season. That same year, she also made her international debut, performing at the "Festival 24 hrs. Mozart" with the Orquesta Sinfónica Provincial de Santa Fe, Argentina. She participated in the "Mujeres en la Música" competition, reaching the final round of the contest organized by the National Museum of Women in the Arts and the Department of Culture (Faculty of Arts, Universidad de Chile). In December, she sang as a guest soloist in a Christmas concert organized by the Municipalidad de Ñuñoa, alongside the Orquesta de Cámara de Chile and conductor Nicolas Rauss, performing works by W.A. Mozart once again.
At the beginning of 2017, Millaray Gonzalez participated twice in master-classes given by Verónica Villarroel at her academy. She also received the Honorary Scholarship from the Corporación Amigos del Municipal de Santiago and the Beca de la Fundación Verónica Villarroel to further her studies at the Academia Verónica Villarroel. In November of the same year, she gave a final recital to obtain her Professional Degree in Vocal Performance from the Facultad de Artes de la Universidad de Chile, which she completed with highest distinction.
At the beginning of 2018, Millaray Gonzalez gave an opening concert as a soloist alongside Alejandra Urrutia and the Orquesta de Cámara de Chile at the Quinta Vergara (Viña del Mar) during the city's Festival de Verano; and participated in the fourth edition of the Opera Laguna Mágica competition in San Pedro de la Paz, Concepción, reaching the semifinals. At the end of that year, she attended the Opera Studio at Opera Naples Academy (Naples, USA) to further her studies with internationally renowned teachers, including Sherrill Milnes and Manny Perez.
Until 2020, Millaray Gonzalez was a voice teacher at the Verónica Villarroel Academy. Since 2021, she has participated in the development of the Fondart project " Poética, creación y Canto Coral: Obras Vocales del Chile de hoy," awarded in 2020, which recently concluded with a series of performances with the Ignis Camerata Vocal ensemble.
Her academic background encompasses a broad and comprehensive musical and stylistic foundation. Her experience in popular and folk music is also extensive, enabling her to adapt to the specific musical tastes of each student, from beginner to intermediate and advanced levels in their vocal training. |
