MAURICIO VILLANUEVA
Mauricio Villanueva Espinosa was born in León but raised in San Luis Potosí, México. His love of music began with the music of his own country, México. He began his classical music studies in Guanajuato, México at the University of Guanajuato where he studied guitar, composition, voice and the culture and music history of Latin America. His love of Latin music led him to develop a second passion in dance. He studied dance professionally for 7 years, taking classes in jazz, tap, and salsa and ultimately dancing competitively in international salsa congresses.
After his training in México, Mauricio continued his education in Norway where he completed his Bachelor's in Music from the University of Agder Music Conservatory and the Agder Folkehøgskole's Jazz and Norwegian Folk Studies in Kristiansand, Norway. Mauricio also added to his training with a semester abroad at the Conservatorio di Musica Licinio Refice in Frosinone, Italy where he perfected his Italian. Mauricio completed a 2-year post-graduate residency in opera at the Flanders Operastudio. Since his arrival to Europe, Mauricio continued his training while working as a freelance professional based in Ghent, Belgium working with opera companies in the Benelux region.
As both producer and performer, Mauricio also promotes the wealth of culture and arts of his native Mexico and Latin America abroad with his multimedia musical production ‘VIVA MEXICO’ having already toured in Norway and Belgium.
Mauricio moved to Miami, FL since 2016 and during this transition, Mauricio also launched and released his first Latin album, ConSentido, as a singer-songwriter, produced and recorded independently in Mexico and Miami, FL, USA. Mauricio has gained popularity in the community by working together with 3 times Grammy nominee Maestro José Negroni in his last production “Las Zarzuelas, Romanzas y canciones de arte populares” performed in the Fall of 2017 at the Miami Dade County Auditorium with great success and standing ovation. Keeping achieving goals in 2018, such as been part of the Opera Naples Academy where Mauricio, worked side by side to improve his repertoire with renowned opera stars like Veronica Villarroel, Sheril Milnes, Bruce Ford and conductor Ramón Tebar. Sang as finalist at the Carnegie Hall for the New York Lyric Opera Theater National Vocal Competition and played the role of Count Almaviva from the Opera Ghost of Versailles at the Miami Music Festival, a very unique, modern and timeless play written by John Corigliano.
In 2019 Mauricio also debuted the role of Libertario Fuertes in one of the most acclaimed Latin Musical Theater piece since the 80’s called La verdadera historia de Pedro Navaja. Produced by Miami’s most recognized and respected Theater company Teatro Prometeo and directed by Puerto Rican Stage Director Edgar Garcia. Played the Role of Don Mariano in the Musical Play ‘Martí, versos de Cuba y canciones de libertad’ music by Oscar Gómez performed at the Adrienne Arsht Center in Miami, as well as in the Role of Miguel Gonzales in ‘Sueños, An Exile Journey The Musical’ music and libretto by José Garrido, conducted by Maestro José Negroni.
Mauricio worked as a promoter and Artistic Director for the Opera Troupe Company Bang-up! Opera. Building a new community of culture in Miami, community that perhaps through music wants to belong and be part of it by attending our ‘En Casa Concert Series’. A concept created with the purpose of create a better and more loving community with opera.
During Covid-19 times in the year 2020, Mauricio developed a need to communicate to the masses about his experience in music throughout his life producing 'Co-rompiendo Géneros' a new podcast dedicated to talking about the genre of world music and its ambassadors. Targeting an audience that needs it the most which is the Hispanic people around the world and creating an awareness of community engagement, unity, and diversity through the music.
Mauricio was a member of Salsa Si Dance Company in Norway, representing his Latin community and the art of Salsa. He performed professionally in salsa stages in cities like Oslo, Stockholm, and at the Scandinavian Salsa Congress in Gothenburg. After dedicating many years as a singer, Mauricio is ready to come back to the Salsa scene as performer and instructor in Fall 2022 in collaboration with Almas Del Ritmo Dance Company St. Louis.
Along with many other projects in 2022, Mauricio is debuting this summer as part of the ensemble for the Tony Award Winning Best Musical "IN THE HEIGHTS" by Lin Manuel Miranda. A production of STAGES St. Louis.
When he's not singing opera, Mauricio is the lead singer and percussionist for the Latin band ChiWahWah, a well-known and televised Norwegian-based Latin band founded in 2007.