About Fernando Grimaldo
Fernando Grimaldo is a native Houstonian, growing up in 2nd Ward. He began his artistic education at the High School School for the Performing and Visual Arts where he studied musical theater. Once at Pepperdine University, he changed his major to Music where his career in Classical Voice started. While at Pepperdine he had the opportunity to perform both musicals and operas: Into the Woods (Steward), South Pacific (The Professor), Crazy for You (Harry), Big Fish (Amos); Die Zauberflote (2nd Priest), Don Giovanni (Leporello) and Pirates of Penzance (The Pirate King). He continued his studies at the University of Michigan with a Master's in Voice Performance. There his craft was honed through intensive studies and roles like Maximilian in Candide, both Benoit and Alcindoro in La Boheme and Dr. Falke in Die Fledermaus. At both institutions he was active in both University Choir and the Chamber Choir performing works like Carmina Burana, St. John's Passion (where he portrayed Pontius Pilate) and Mozart's Reqiuem.
Now he has relocated back to Houston to begin auditioning for opera companies and teach aspiring students, from all backgrounds, the love and beauty of music. Some other areas of interest include the study and exposure of Classical Music to underrepresented communities as well as acting & movement techniques in relation to performing (specifically Opera). Being a well-rounded "singing-actor" is very important as each area relates to the other. Music theory and preparation flow right into the ability to be free vocally and physically. This is something he emphasizes to students and continues to explore throughout his own studies.
Other roles and training programs he has attended include Taos Opera Institute, (2016; working with acclaimed soprano Mary Jane Johnson), Heidelberg Opera Scenes Program (2017), Hawaii Performing Arts Festival (2018; Melisso in Alcina), Opera in the Ozarks (2019 & 2021; Schaunard in La Boheme, John Brooke in Little Women/Papageno in The Magic Flute, Pandolfe in Cendrillon).