Bárbara Padilla
Encyclopedia
Bárbara Padilla is a Mexican-American
opera
soprano
. She was the runner-up on the fourth season
of America's Got Talent
. She is well known as a survivor of Hodgkin's lymphoma
.
and radiation. During this time, Padilla was told that she might never be able to sing again because the radiation could harm her vocal cords. But she would not give up her dream.
After traveling to Houston
for a consultation with doctors, Padilla had the chance to audition for the Moores School of Music
at the University of Houston
. She was awarded a full scholarship where she completed the Master's Degree program, all while battling cancer. She was in treatment for several years and was near death on more than one occasion. Her faith, family and friends helped her through those difficult times.
Padilla is in remission, living in Texas with her husband and four-year-old daughter. She feels incredibly blessed to have survived cancer.
Ms. Padilla has performed as a soloist of many symphonic events, including oratorio and concerts in USA, Italy and Mexico.
Her repertoire includes operas like La Bohème, Turandot, Tosca, Madame Butterfly, La Traviata. She is currently working on her first CD.
" from Giacomo Puccini
. She then advanced to the Vegas Verdicts, where she then moved on to the Top 48. During the quarterfinals, she sang "Time to Say Goodbye
" by Francesco Sartori
, with the judges stating she's the leader of the night. She then advanced to the semifinals, singing "Ave Maria
". One of the judges claimed it was the best vocal performance in the history of the show, and she was clearly one of the favorites. During the finals, she sang the same song from her audition. She finished as runner-up, losing to country singer Kevin Skinner
.
Mexican American
Mexican Americans are Americans of Mexican descent. As of July 2009, Mexican Americans make up 10.3% of the United States' population with over 31,689,000 Americans listed as of Mexican ancestry. Mexican Americans comprise 66% of all Hispanics and Latinos in the United States...
opera
Opera
Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
soprano
Soprano
A soprano is a voice type with a vocal range from approximately middle C to "high A" in choral music, or to "soprano C" or higher in operatic music. In four-part chorale style harmony, the soprano takes the highest part, which usually encompasses the melody...
. She was the runner-up on the fourth season
America's Got Talent (season 4)
The fourth season of America's Got Talent, an American television reality show talent competition, premiered on the NBC network on June 23, 2009. Country singer Kevin Skinner was named the winner on September 16, 2009....
of America's Got Talent
America's Got Talent
America's Got Talent is an American reality television series on the NBC television network, and part of the global British Got Talent franchise. It is a talent show that features singers, dancers, magicians, comedians, and other performers of all ages competing for the advertised top prize of...
. She is well known as a survivor of Hodgkin's lymphoma
Hodgkin's lymphoma
Hodgkin's lymphoma, previously known as Hodgkin's disease, is a type of lymphoma, which is a cancer originating from white blood cells called lymphocytes...
.
Personal life
Bárbara Padilla was born in Guadalajara, Mexico where she studied music, acting, and dance.Health
While in college, Padilla was diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma and underwent several rounds of chemotherapyChemotherapy
Chemotherapy is the treatment of cancer with an antineoplastic drug or with a combination of such drugs into a standardized treatment regimen....
and radiation. During this time, Padilla was told that she might never be able to sing again because the radiation could harm her vocal cords. But she would not give up her dream.
After traveling to Houston
Houston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
for a consultation with doctors, Padilla had the chance to audition for the Moores School of Music
Moores School of Music
The Rebecca and John J. Moores School of Music is the music school of the University of Houston. The Moores School offers the Bachelor of Music, Bachelor of Arts in Music, Master of Music, and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees in music performance, conducting, theory and composition, music history...
at the University of Houston
University of Houston
The University of Houston is a state research university, and is the flagship institution of the University of Houston System. Founded in 1927, it is Texas's third-largest university with nearly 40,000 students. Its campus spans 667 acres in southeast Houston, and was known as University of...
. She was awarded a full scholarship where she completed the Master's Degree program, all while battling cancer. She was in treatment for several years and was near death on more than one occasion. Her faith, family and friends helped her through those difficult times.
Padilla is in remission, living in Texas with her husband and four-year-old daughter. She feels incredibly blessed to have survived cancer.
Accomplishments
Her accomplishments while at UofH include first place winner in NATS competition in 2001 in the advanced adults category. Barbara was a participant in the summer program IIVArts held in Chiari, Italy. She was invited to sing the American and Mexican National Anthems for the sold-out, historic soccer game at Reliant Stadium.Ms. Padilla has performed as a soloist of many symphonic events, including oratorio and concerts in USA, Italy and Mexico.
Her repertoire includes operas like La Bohème, Turandot, Tosca, Madame Butterfly, La Traviata. She is currently working on her first CD.
Overview
Padilla auditioned on America's Got Talent, America got quite the surprise when she got up to sing"O Mio Babbino CaroO mio babbino caro
"O mio babbino caro" is a soprano aria from the opera Gianni Schicchi , by Giacomo Puccini, to a libretto by Giovacchino Forzano. It is sung by Lauretta after tensions between her father Schicchi and the family of Rinuccio, the boy she loves, have reached a breaking point that threatens to...
" from Giacomo Puccini
Giacomo Puccini
Giacomo Antonio Domenico Michele Secondo Maria Puccini was an Italian composer whose operas, including La bohème, Tosca, Madama Butterfly, and Turandot, are among the most frequently performed in the standard repertoire...
. She then advanced to the Vegas Verdicts, where she then moved on to the Top 48. During the quarterfinals, she sang "Time to Say Goodbye
Con te Partiró
- History :The song's original single release by Polydor Records was not commercially successful in Italy, and received little radio airplay there. Elsewhere, however, it was a massive hit. In France and Switzerland, the single topped the charts for 6 weeks, earning a triple Gold sales award. In...
" by Francesco Sartori
Francesco Sartori
Francesco Sartori is an Italian composer and piano and trumpet player best known for composing "Con te partirò" with Lucio Quarantotto for Andrea Bocelli. The song was also recorded as a duet entitled "Time to Say Goodbye" with Bocelli and Sarah Brightman...
, with the judges stating she's the leader of the night. She then advanced to the semifinals, singing "Ave Maria
Ave Maria
Ave Maria may refer to:*Ave Maria , the "Hail Mary", a traditional Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox prayer calling for the intercession of Mary, the mother of Jesus-Music:...
". One of the judges claimed it was the best vocal performance in the history of the show, and she was clearly one of the favorites. During the finals, she sang the same song from her audition. She finished as runner-up, losing to country singer Kevin Skinner
Kevin Skinner
Patrick Kevin Skinner , better known as Kevin Skinner, is an American country music singer from the Jackson Purchase region of Kentucky. He was the winner of the fourth season of America's Got Talent.- Early life :...
.
Performances/Results
| Week | Song choice | Original artist | Performance order | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Audition | "O Mio Babbino Caro O mio babbino caro "O mio babbino caro" is a soprano aria from the opera Gianni Schicchi , by Giacomo Puccini, to a libretto by Giovacchino Forzano. It is sung by Lauretta after tensions between her father Schicchi and the family of Rinuccio, the boy she loves, have reached a breaking point that threatens to... " |
Giacomo Puccini Giacomo Puccini Giacomo Antonio Domenico Michele Secondo Maria Puccini was an Italian composer whose operas, including La bohème, Tosca, Madama Butterfly, and Turandot, are among the most frequently performed in the standard repertoire... |
N/A | Advanced |
| Vegas Verdicts | N/A | N/A | N/A | Advanced |
| Top 48 Group 4 |
"Time to Say Goodbye Con te Partiró - History :The song's original single release by Polydor Records was not commercially successful in Italy, and received little radio airplay there. Elsewhere, however, it was a massive hit. In France and Switzerland, the single topped the charts for 6 weeks, earning a triple Gold sales award. In... " |
Andrea Bocelli Andrea Bocelli Andrea Bocelli, is an Italian tenor, multi-instrumentalist and classical crossover artist. Born with poor eyesight, he became blind at the age of twelve following a soccer accident.... |
2 | Advanced |
| Top 20 Group 2 |
"Ave Maria Ellens dritter Gesang Ellens dritter Gesang , in English: "Ellen's Third Song", was composed by Franz Schubert in 1825 as part of his Opus 52, a setting of seven songs from Walter Scott's popular epic poem The Lady of the Lake, loosely translated into German.It has become one of Schubert's most popular works under the... " |
Charles-François Gounod | 10 | Advanced |
| Top 10 |
"O Mio Babbino Caro" | Giacomo Puccini | 4 | 2nd Place |