Most 16 year olds are not trained as classical singers, but for Joshua Banbury of Kyle, hearing one of the most famous operatic pieces ever written on the radio inspired him to do just that.
“I heard [the opera] Lakmé’s ‘The Flower Duet’ and knew I wanted to make my voice sound like that,” Joshua said.
He signed up for choir at Lehman High School and started taking voice lessons with not one, but two different instructors, Daniel Arredondo, the choral director at Lehman, and Kelly Glover.
“I researched this a lot,” Joshua said, “and most experts say you shouldn’t have just one teacher because you become a product of that teacher.”
Joshua wanted a broader experience and varied instruction in classical voice.
This Lehman High School junior has only been singing classically for a year but already has won several competitions and plans to attend a performing arts college.
In fact, Joshua is heading to Chicago in May to perform in the semi-finals of the Classical Singer Competition; he won first place in Houston in January at the regional level. This competition also serves as a major audition opportunity for aspiring young singers; recruiters from colleges and universities across the country will be in the audience.
But getting there posed a challenge, since the trip and fees would be about $1,000.
Joshua said his parents, Jonafa and Alexander Banbury, were excited for him but they wanted him to come up with the money on his own to learn the value of the experience.
A friend of his at Lehman High starting baking and selling cookies to help Joshua get money for his trip. Then teachers and students were donating money, one giving $200.
“My dad set up a Pay Pal account for me, and family and church members donated money for me there,” Joshua said.
With help from friends, family, teachers and church members, Joshua raised the $1,000 needed to get to Chicago.
Joshua also recently auditioned for the Austin School for the Performing and Visual Arts, a private high school with a tuition of $14,000 a year.
“I’ve basically been accepted,” Joshua said, “so the cost of the tuition is the only thing stopping me.”
He is waiting to hear about a scholarship or financial aid to attend.
Attending a high school like the one in Austin would certainly look good for Joshua when he applies for college.
While Joshua said The Julliard School in New York City would be his top dream for a college, he said it’s just not realistic.
“I don’t even think about that because it’s so competitive,” Joshua said. “Maybe for my masters I’ll go there.”
Joshua said for now, he is looking at the University of Houston, Boston Conservatory, Rochester University, and Westminster College of Fine Arts.
“I want to major in theater and local performance; I think I want to be an opera singer or an actor; later in my career I want to be dean of a college or have my own theater/opera company.”
Joshua said it’s important to him to open a school someday for underprivileged kids.
“Those auditions are expensive, sometimes up to $300 each, not including travel,” Joshua said. “I want to create a school where kids can have the same opportunities.”
Joshua has applied for several summer jobs in hopes of earning money for college.
At the competition in May, Joshua will be singing “The Vagabond” by Ralph Williams, “Per la Gloria” by Bonnocinni, and “If I Loved You” from the musical Carousel.
