"Introducing Kim Mendez, the Speaker at the 2022 Graduation Ceremony"
Kim Mendez, a rising star in the world of opera and music education, has been making waves with their recent achievements in the field. Hailing from Chico, California, Mendez has come a long way since their early days, initially not considering music as a career path.
After moving to Los Angeles, Mendez enrolled at Pasadena City College before completing a bachelor of music degree at UCLA and later pursuing a master's degree in vocal performance. Mendez's journey in the world of opera began when they were given the role of Baba the Turk in Igor Stravinsky's opera The Rake's Progress.
However, Mendez's portrayal of Baba was initially met with criticism, with Kim Mendez's initial perceived as a mash-up of bad gay stereotypes by some. Mendez, who identifies as a queer Latine fat liberationist, found this portrayal problematic and worked with the opera director to reinterpret the character. Baba was portrayed as a gender-fluid character, with Mendez wearing a glitter beard and the character's pronouns changed to they/them. Moreover, Mendez's arrangement of the character saw the character's real name, Georgia, used instead of Baba.
Mendez's final master's recital was a showcase of their vocal talent, family history, and identity. The recital included a song cycle by Dylan Tran titled Elogio de Mi Cuerpo (In Celebration of My Body), as well as a mashup of Benjamin Britten's "Funeral Blues" with William Bolcolm's "George." Mendez's work on the recital underscores their commitment to the art form and their ability to push boundaries and challenge traditional norms.
In addition to their work in opera performance, Mendez has been actively involved in music education and LGBTQ+ advocacy. Mendez collaborated with the Trans Wellness Team to make the Trans@UCLA website language welcoming to all, and worked on outreach to the LGBTQ+ community. Mendez also served on the UCLA LGBTQ+ student advocacy committee, demonstrating their dedication to promoting inclusivity and equality in the arts.
After the Aspen Music Festival with the Seraphic Fire Professional Choral Institute, Mendez will gear up for the fall audition season. With their talent, dedication, and commitment to promoting inclusivity, Mendez is sure to continue making a significant impact in the world of opera and music education.
During their time at UCLA, Kim Mendez enjoyed both personal growth through education and self-development, and took an interest in music beyond opera as a means of entertainment. As part of their final master's recital, Mendez showcased a mashup of Benjamin Britten's "Funeral Blues" with William Bolcolm's "George," demonstrating their versatility in music. In line with their commitment to the arts, Mendez also took part in music education and LGBTQ+ advocacy, collaborating on projects to promote inclusivity and equality, such as language-welcoming the Trans@UCLA website.
