Iranian Mezzo-Soprano Steals The Show Every Time
By Pantea Izadi
The Bay Area is notorious for its diversity. People from all walks of life can find a niche here, especially in the performing arts where type-casting usually shuts out ethnic minorities from roles they would otherwise be perfect for. In an interview with The Bay Today, Iranian-American mezzo-soprano Raeeka Shehabi-Yaghmai speaks about how she was discovered and how she transitioned from a girl in Tehran, Iran who simply loved music to a professional opera singer in the Bay Area.
TBT: First of all, would you please fully introduce yourself and tell us about your background: where were your born, your family, your migration to United States, and your title as a performer?
RSY: I am Raeeka Shehabi-Yaghmai. I was born in an Iranian family in Tehran, Iran and lived there during the revolution and the 8-year Iran/Iraq war all through my teenage years. I moved to the United States in the early ‘90s and I settled in Los Angeles, Calif. before moving to the Bay Area. I am a classically trained singer and my voice type is called mezzo soprano, which means I am comfortable on lower notes than Sopranos and higher notes than Contraltos.
TBT: When was the first time that you actually realized you had a good voice and chose to be an opera singer and musician?
RSY: I remember I always enjoyed music and singing. When I was a kid I would find any opportunity to find a piano and play a melody by ear. When I moved to the States while majoring in architecture, I enrolled in a group voice class at Santa Monica College since all the piano classes were full. It was in that class that the teacher noticed my talent and casted me as the title role in Bizet's Carmen. As soon as the production of Carmen was over, I knew there is no turning point for me, and despite my acceptance to UC Berkeley's architecture school, I changed majors and pursued a career in music.
TBT: Did you have any role models that you always wanted to follow in their footsteps?
RSY: I can't say that I always had a role model in the music industry since I was raised in Iran and singing was not an option for women, so my major role models were my parents and I always wanted to be a combination of both of them. However after coming to the States and choosing to study opera, I fell in love with Frederica Von Stade one of the greatest mezzo soprano's of our time and I was lucky enough to get to know her personally, and she is the reason I found the best voice teacher who teaches Flicka as well. Her name is Jane Randolph.
TBT: When was the first time that you went on the stage and started singing professionally? And how old were you then?
RSY: Well, professionally my first job was early in my school days singing the small role of Anina in Verdi's La Traviata for L.A. Hanmi Opera Company. That was my first pay check as a singer. But as a student I had performed a couple times before that. I was about 21 years old.
TBT: Did your family and friends encourage you to pursue music?
RSY: Absolutely...to get started as a musician and go through my transition as an architecture student to a music student my parents and my sister were very supportive and encouraging, as were my one of my uncles and one of my aunts (I have about 14 of them). I have been so lucky and blessed with the friendship, love and support of so many different individuals and family members while pursuing my dreams. It is not an easy task by any means and you need all the love and support you can get.
TBT: Could you please tell us about your education in music? Where did you go to school? Also would you please tell us a briefly about your work?RSY: I got a Bachelor’s of Music degree (Magna Cum Laude) from California State University of Northridge and a Master’s Degree and Post graduate artist diploma from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. Thereon, I continued auditioning for different companies and summer programs and have had a chance to build a résumé of different roles and experiences and I continue to do so. I also have a private voice studio of about 20 individual students that I teach singing in various styles...i.e. opera, jazz, Broadway, etc.
TBT: When did you leave Iran and did you sing in Iran at all, or not?RSY: I left Iran in the early 90s and I didn't sing in Iran. However I was the accompanist, and by accompanist I mean I would make up the piano parts by ear—I didn't really read music at that time—to the choir we had in school when we would perform in celebration of the Iranian Revolution. That was the only type of music that was allowed to be performed at the time I went to school and only for an audience of women. However, things have changed tremendously in Iran. I hear women are much more active in the music scene these days.
TBT: As a professional opera singer, how do you see the future of opera and the music industry?RSY: I believe with the growth of Hollywood and the T.V. industry, visual effects of Opera are definitely very important. The business itself is becoming more and more competitive each year and that is why I believe that each musician should really know their craft inside out. I also think that to keep this beautiful artwork alive we must educate our children from a very early age and familiarize them with this art form. The love of opera is an acquired taste. Not to get off the subject, but I believe that if only our presidents would talk in the language of music, perhaps war would have not been an option.
