6th Grade Culture Project

Martina Arroyo:  Opera Singer (b. 1936)  Martina Arroyo was born in Puerto Rico and grew up in New York City.  She learned piano and ballet.  Martina wanted to perform, but she became a teacher because few minorities could work in the classical performing arts then.  Kind musicians helped her study singing on the side.  Martina earned a degree in languages to learn foreign opera and hen sang opera in Europe.  In 1965, she debuted at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City and received great reviews!

Marsh, Carole, The Best Book of Hispanic Biographies.,Galopade Interational:  2003 p23.      

Helpful sites:

http://www.martinaarroyo.com/bio.htm

http://sitemaker.umich.edu/livingmusic/browse_interviews&mode=single&recordID=206254&nextMode=list

http://info.music.indiana.edu/sb/page/normal/940.html