Milwaukee music teacher competing on ‘La Voz’
Concerts are on on hold around the world because of the coronavirus, but singing shows can still continue for now, including “La Voz,” the Spanishlanguage American version of “The Voice” on Telemundo.
And on Sunday’s episode, one of Milwaukee’s own is competing for a slot in the live playoffs.
Flamenco artist Marija Temo, guitar chair for the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music, is competing in the battle rounds on Sunday’s episode.
She wowed the judges during with her blind audition of David Bisbal’s “Bulerı́a,” choosing to compete on Colombian superstar Carlos Vives’ team. (The episode aired last month.)
Temo, 51, actually grew up in Akron, Ohio. Her father has Albanian and Greek heritage, and her mother is Serbian-American, but Temo fell in love with the Spanish style of music when she was 6, dedicating her life to mastering the craft.
“I’ve been waiting for this opportunity for more than 20 years,” Temo said in a statement. “If my story can be an inspiration to other women and others, that would be great.”
She’s had many great accomplishments leading up to “La Voz,” earning her master’s degree in music from the Peabody Institute at John Hopkins University, and performing for former Vice President Al Gore, former Spanish Ambassador Don Jaime de Ojeda and other dignitaries.
She is the guitar chair at the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music, where she has taught flamenco and classical guitar for five years.
“We are incredibly proud of Marija and her talents,” Shalisa Kline Ugaz, executive vice president of the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music, said in a statement. “It’s great to see her inspiring so many people on an international stage.”
Temo will appear on Sunday’s episode of “La Voz,” airing at 8 p.m. Central Time on Telemundo. If she makes it to the live playoffs, it will be awhile until we get to see her — or the show — again. Production for “La Voz” is on hold indefinitely due to the coronavirus pandemic.
“We will continue to monitor the situation to determine an appropriate date to finalize the competition and provide both contestants and viewers the finale they deserve,” producers said in a statement.