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Biography

Dr. Juanita Ulloa

“an elfin woman with an outsized voice”

-Leo Stutzin, Modesto Bee, California

Operachi Singer San Leandro, CA

Dr. Juanita Ulloa is a Professor of Voice and a rising star Operachi[KM1]  singer in San Leandro, CA with unparalleled knowledge of song and vocal production in Mexican and many other diverse folkloric and classical vocal traditions. Her huapango singing in mariachi style along with boleros and ballads have a unique Operachi twist, reminiscent of early 20th century mariachi singing styles originally dominated by men. She is described alongside Santana as “artists in a class all their own” by Mark Halstern in Hispanic Magazine (www.operachi.com).

With every project, Dr. Ulloa works to leave a legacy that aims to inspire, educate and promote the richness, beauty, and excellence in mariachi and other Hispanic vocal styles, most of them underrepresented. She also champions the works of women, children, and bridging cultural and linguistic gaps as seen in her Operachi CD recordings. Ulloa’s solo vocal career has spanned four decades in both performance and academia at national and international live concerts performances, Latin Pops symphonic stages, Olympic and major athletic events, festivals, universities, and centers. Some events include solos at Masonic Auditorium Olympic Boxing Finals (San Francisco,CA), Ateneo Hall in Madrid, Las Vegas National NATS Conference Recital (2018), Jaca Festival, Spain, Sala Xochipili at UNAM’s Facultad de música, Mexico City (2017), and serving for years as a Mexican musical ambassador for numerous consulates. She has performed in fourteen languages yet is especially passionate about Spanish. As a recording artist Ulloa has seven Mexican music CDs, many of them award winners. In 2018 she became the first to publish  3 volumes of operachi[KM2]  sheet music of Mexican art song in the USA (www.classicalvocalrep.com). A former opera singer, Ms. Ulloa is also a regional NATS competition winner and a six-time winner of the Festival de la canción latinoamericana.

She uses her unbridled passion to train and build future singers for careers in classical and Contemporary Commercial styles. Many are competition finalists and national winners (www.voicetrainerdr.com). She has also published numerous operachi songbooks with major publishing houses. (www.amazon.com; (www.melbay.com).  Her upcoming chapter “The Mariachi Vocal Tradition” in the “So You Want To Sing World Music” Series (www.rowman.com/RLPublishers), and is currently finishing a book for Oxford University Press "The Mariachi Voice" (2020). Ms. Ulloa also adjudicates and offers master classes internationally.

 Dr. Ulloa holds advanced music degrees from Yale University, UC Berkeley, and a doctorate in vocal performance from the University of Northern Colorado (2015). In addition to music lessons and Live concert performance Dr. Ulloa has served as a voice and music professor at University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP), Austin Community College, Texas State University, Community Music Center (San Francisco), Mariachi Media luna Voice specialist for Ayudando latinos a soñar in Half Moon Bay (ALAS),and Harlan Voice Studio, the last two in Northern California. Ms. Ulloa currently serves on the board for San Francisco Bay Area Chapter of National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS), national presents for NAJIT (National Judicial Interpreters), and was previously a board governor for the Grammys (NARAS, Recording Academy of Arts & Sciences). Not only is Dr. Ulloa known for her Operachi music, but is also a seasoned pianist, voice-over artist and is the proud mom of Cristina Ulloa Milizia, who has become a star in the voice-over world with national accolades and award nominations, one of many being role of Annie in the video game, League of Legends (www.cristinamilizia.com).

 

 

 

 

 

 

"After hearing Juanita sing Handel’s “Messiah” Operachi style I can no longer hear it the traditional way. Her version gave it a whole new life and energy while being totally true to the spirit of the music and text. It was one of the high points of the concert."

- Michael Morgan, Conductor, Oakland-East Bay Symphony

 

"With a smooth delivery and an exquisite voice, singer Juanita Ulloa is one of the finest mariachi singers in the country. Ulloa always impresses because she knows how to blend power with control."

-Ramiro Burr, writer/author, www.ramiroburr.com

 

"Juanita’s singing is incredible! What a fabulous voice!"

-Blanca Garza, Telemundo TV

 

"Juanita has it all, she is a great talent."

-Lalo Guerrero, Legendary Mexican Composer

 

"Move over Linda Ronstadt....make way for Juanita!"

-Legendary Percussionist Pete Escovedo

 

"Juanita, your singing is spectacular and your 'Mujeres y Mariachi' CD is fabulous!"

-Rocio Schlaeffer, Consul for Mexican Consulate,  Denver, CO USA 

 

" '¡Canta Mi Son!' is culturally authentic and Juanita’s pronunciation tracks are user-friendly. It is a valuable multicultural CD that nurtures the whole child in the classroom."

-Belle Otíz, founder of Mariachi Education, Texas

 

“Thank you Juanita for your extraordinary singing magnetic stage presence, and invaluable support at our Mexican Independence Day celebration in Civic Center, San Francisco. We look forward to more in the near future”.

- Mr. Guillermo Reyes and Paula Linares Cruz, Mexican Consulate

 

 

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Juanita's Videos

Juanita's Videos

Juanita's Videos
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Silent Night / Noche de Paz

Silent Night / Noche de Paz

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Mexico Lindo y Querido

Mexico Lindo y Querido

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Juanita Ulloa

Juanita Ulloa

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Albums
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Albums

Mariachi & Boleros

01/19 - 01/23

HYDRA

Operachi singer San Leandro, CA

Dubbed the High Priestess of Operachi" by Hispanic Press.org, "Her songs expand the range and style of the female voice in a mariachi context. Truly unique Ranchera Music." 

01/19 - 01/23

HYDRA

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Unforgettable, soaring, powerful vocals ranging from intimate romantic to fiery sounds. This is one of the few CDs in the world available honoring the contributions of female composers, including two of Juanita's songs as well, plus her hit song "Amame",

01/19 - 01/23

HYDRA

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Learn Spanish through the world of Mariachi. A must for every teacher, school district, library, and parent. Juanita Ulloa, national bilingual singer/songwriter, not to mention Professor of Music at Tx State University, teams up with top Mariachi Campanas

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Check out Juanita’s flamenco fusion Single with Euterpe.

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Joyous Latin American Christmas Music for the Whole Family

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Rhythmic Single of this unforgettable holiday villancico

 Bilingulal Song Series-KIDS!

HYDRA

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An unforgettable journey into relaxation-a stress-free atmosphere reviewed by the Kennedy Center for the Arts as "music that promotes cultural understanding and creates learning opportunities for children ages one to 101."

SANTORINI

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Includes the lyrics and translations, a piano/vocal score with chords, plus a lengthy teacher's activity guide to go along with the songs.

MYKONOS

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Includes the lyrics and translations, a piano/vocal score with chords, plus a lengthy teacher's activity guide to go along with the songs.

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