Ixya Herrera
Cantares Mexicanos
A powerful and exquisite selection of Mexican folk melodies as performed by vocalist Ixya. Herrera
Ixya (pronounced ee-shaw) was born in Oxnard, California. Her name is a Mayan word meaning female bird, an auspicious epithet for this young lady who turned out to be a true songbird with amazing vocal purity and power. The youngest of five children, Ixya grew up in a musical family equally conversant with classical, blues, rock, and Mexican music.
Her home experience and rigorous voice training from master teachers such as Michael Bondon, Nolan Van Way, Mario Llano Talavera, and Seth Riggs ("voice coach to the stars") have prepared Ixya to sing in a variety of styles with astounding ease and authenticity.
Ixya Herrera made her stage debut at age 12 at the Tucson International Mariachi Conference singing duos with her idol Linda Ronstadt. Ixya was later invited by Ms. Ronstadt to do a number of guest appearances with her in the "Fiesta Mexicana Tour".
Other Credits include performances at the Conservatory of Music at the University of Missouri in Kansas City, Fiddler's Green Amphitheatre in Denver, The John Anson Ford Theatre in Hollywood, the Teatro de la Cuidad de la Paz in La Paz, Baja California, the Orange County Center for the Performing Arts, Televisa Foro 2 in Mexico City, Convento del Carmen in Mexico City (Recital for Televisa), UCLA's Royce Hall, the San Jose Center for the Performing Arts, the Tucson International Mariachi Conference (alongside Lola Beltrán), the Las Cruces International mariachi Conference (also with Lola Beltrán), and the Los Angeles California Plaza.
Ixya's First CD recording Primavera (Mexican classics) was released to the critical acclaim of publications such as Billboard Magazine, which awarded Ixya a star for musical excellence and wrote of her:
"This classy Oxnard, California siren displays astonishing power, range, and graceful maturity..."; Entertainment weekly: "...blazing...vocal and inspirational diversity...her voice soars and dives...an ability to tell a story with authenticity as well as an alluring purr..."; The L.A. Times: "...singing prodigy...remarkable strength and clarity..."; The Tucson Citizen: "...an elegant singer with...flawless intonation..."; Latin Style Magazine: "She is nothing short of prodigious. " Her second CD, Cantares Mexicanos, was released in early December, 2004.
Latin: Mariachi