ISABELLA MENDESBrazilian born singer, songwriter and pianist Isabella Mendez to perform at the 2015 New Haven Jazz Festival, a celebration of Women in Jazz. |
Singer, songwriter and pianist Isabella Mendes brings her quintet to the stage of the 2015 New Haven Jazz Festival on the New Haven Green on Saturday, August 22 at 6:45 p.m. Mendes performs jazz, Brazilian jazz and her own originals.
Born in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Isabella started studying music at CLAM (school founded by Zimbo Trio) at the early age of four. She started writing music and taking private piano and composition lessons four years later. Isabella participated in many piano competitions, concerts and Master Classes. As a teenager she earned a scholarship at Magda Tagliaferro, one of the top music schools in Sao Paulo. It wasn’t until she was 15 years old that Isabella started her jazz and vocal studies and moved with her family to the United States.
While living in Connecticut, Isabella studied at the Education Center for the Arts in New Haven, and continued her performances throughout New Haven County. She went to college in Massachusetts to pursue a bachelor in Structural Engineering and atttained her MBA in engineering. While graduating with highest honors, Isabella says, “my studies never stopped from pursuing my life’s passion: MUSIC!”
While in college, Isabella performed at several events on campus while being active in the chorus, jazz band, concert band, and writing music and performing locally in several events. One of her projects in college was to manage and coordinate an event on Virtual Choir. “I took every opportunity I had to continue to make music a big part of my daily life,” she said.
Upon graduation Isabella returned to New Haven, CT where she has had the privilege to perform with incredible musicians throughout Connecticut. She practices as an engineer during the day and a musician at nights and on weekends.
Listen to Isabella Mendes on YouTube |