Operatic stage beckons young singer
Jazz Vidamo is a young girl with a dream of being on the stage.
But it’s not the theatre Jazz has in mind, but as a famous New Zealand opera singer.
Jazz, named after the genre by music-loving parents Leigh and PJ Vidamo, has been singing since she was two.
‘‘I used to get my mum’s phone and video myself and start singing songs I made up.
‘‘I like music because there’s different genres and you can choose what type of song you like,’’ she said.
Jazz entered the Waipa Christian School Music Festival, placing first in vocals, and also winning first overall for her age group with Puccini’s O Mio Babbino.
She has only been training as an opera singer for a few months, under the guidance of her mother, an instrument and vocals tutor.
Music has been a big part of life for the family.
Jazz shares the passion for opera with Leigh and her grandmother Liyet, both former opera singers.
It is under her parents and grandmother’s tutoring that her voice is being nurtured.
Jazz has always favoured pop, and placed second in previous Waipa Music Festivals with the songs Yesterday’s Dream and In Moments like These.
But Leigh encouraged her daughter to try opera after she took an interest in an opera singer on the TV show America’s Got Talent.
‘‘She was fascinated by opera singing and then she found out I and her grandmother sang opera,’’ said Leigh.
‘‘We suggested she try opera at the festival.’’
After a few voice exercises, Leigh said it seems to be the genre where Jazz’s voice fits the best.
‘‘Music hasn’t been an easy journey, in finding her niche with the genre her voice would fit in. ‘‘We tried different ones. ‘‘Opera is where her voice is stronger and where her voice belongs to I think.
‘‘As a music teacher, I think she has something special.
‘‘Because I am her mum, I can be strict with her, I know what she is capable of.’’ Go online to visit our Neighbuorly.co.nz page to view the video of Jazz Vidamo.
Jazz said she has fallen in love with the genre, with it’s different languages and how high she can push her voice.
Puccini and Charlotte Church are among her favourite opera singers.
But it’s teenager Jackie Evancho that Jazz likes the most.
‘‘ Dream with Me is my favourite song of hers,’’ she said.
‘‘The first time I watched her she was still very young about eight-years-old, now she is 16.
‘‘I would like to be a singer when I am older, like her. I want to share my music with the world.’’
She is recording an album, performing covers of opera songs such as Puccini’s Nessun Dorma amd O Mio Babbino caro, Pie Jesu by Charlotte Church and Pokarekare Ana as performed by Hayley Westenra.