Check Out Carol Ann de Leon’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Carol Ann de Leon.

Hi Carol, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today. 
I was born and raised in Southern California and come from a musical family who readily encouraged my love for singing. I grew up singing in school choirs and continued on the trajectory, eventually receiving a master’s degree in Vocal Performance. I sang classically for years until I decided to research more into my Guatemalan background. There, I found great inspiration to write songs celebrating Mayan culture, Guatemalan poetry, and history while mixing it up with my imagination. It was a beautiful turning point that fostered my appreciation for my indigenous and Spanish roots. 

We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I have big ideas and an imagination that doesn’t rest, so the main obstacle was centering the objective for each song and staying true to that idea. For instance, when I was writing about the energy of the moon named Qanana Ixchel (Kanana), I aimed to make it sound ancient via choral arrangements, spacious and grand with instrumentation. Trying to avoid creative detours was the challenge. 

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I started teaching children at a young age. I was still in high school. I knew the joy that singing brought me, so I began teaching the children at a church I grew up in to establish a musical foundation for those who desired it. This work stirred my curiosity about the function of the voice. It opened my eyes to see how vital it was to develop tools for myself and the vocal students who entrusted me with their development. It is quite a responsibility to help cultivate an instrument such as the voice, and it takes an acute ear and deep knowledge of vocal mechanics to be a vocal coach. My fantastic education helped me achieve this and encouraged my appreciation for the uniqueness of every voice. I consider myself a specialist in this area, and I am proud that I have had successful vocalists coming out of my studio. 

I also grew up in recording studios, so session singing has been a massive part of my musical development. There was loads of training there, helping develop my pitch, sight reading skills, and the ability to blend and harmonize easily. 

Since childhood, I have always enjoyed coming up with melodies and could hear the orchestration in my head, but now I have the tools to joyously create new music with Mayan energies, folklore, and a country in mind. Writing music to make these grand ideas come to life is overwhelming and fun. 

For example, I had to ask, “What musical choices should I make to create the sound of an ancient, magical forest in an unpredictable way? How can I evoke emotions for all listeners while making Guatemalan listeners proud? 

I loved that challenge for myself and made choices while remaining true to my musical preferences. I have a talented, thoughtful, highly musical team that I create with, though, so that helps to weigh out the do’s and don’ts. 

Any big plans?
My plans, like my imagination, are grand. There is a well-known poem in Guatemala called La Niña de Guatemala (The Girl from Guatemala). I wrote a mini script and layout to make a music video. I reworked a melody of the poem by the Mexican singer Oscar Chavez. and developed a new arrangement with composer David Martinez. Accompanied by a wealth of trials and errors, I made this a reality with the help of family and friends. The work paid off, winning me a few film awards. 

I intend to do more of this as I write new music to bring my connection to culture and what this journey entails to life, both musically and visually. 

The big change is to live there for a few months this year and take in some sacred ceremonies. I should return with some magical musical ideas, without a doubt. 

Contact Info:

• Website: https://carolanndeleon.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carolanndeleonmusic/
• Other: carolanndeleón2.hearnow.com

Image Credits
https://karenjtrejo.myportfolio.com/contact
https://www.instagram.com/karentrejophotography
https://www.photographybyshawn.com
https://www.instagram.com/shawnfblair/