David Mejia

I am is a queer Latino vocalist based in DFW, originally from Brownsville, Texas which is a predominantly Latinx community. The culture I've learned in South Texas is a constant through my musical repertoire and expression. I am an impassioned educator and an advocate for DEI in the classical music cannon through the inclusion of my own self-expression of any artistic project, company, or collaboration I am a part of.

• Michael Johnson in The Bridges of Madison County: The Musical by Jason Robert Brown at The Camille Playhouse in Brownsville, TX (2018).
• UT Arlington Opera Workshop Company: Tamino in Die Zauberöte by W.A. Mozart (2018), Understudy for Frederic in The Pirates of Penzance by Gilbert and Sullivan (2019), Role Prep Sesto from Giulio Cesare by George Frideric Handel and Elvino from La Sonnambula by V. Bellini (2020), Mr. Angel in Mozart's The Impressario (Spring 2021)
• Sam Kaplan in Street Scene (2021).
• TCU Opera: Swing for Witch and Sorceress roles played in Dido and Anaes by Purcell (2022), Monostatos in Die Zauberöte by W.A. Mozart (2023), Stars of Tomorrow Concert: Role Prep for The Phantom in The Phantom of The Opera and Nadir in Pearl Fisher's by Georges Bizet(2023), Little Bat/Chorus for Susannah by Carlisle Floyd (2023), and King Kaspar in Amahl and The Night Visitors by Gian Menotti (2023).
• Diversita Opera Arts: premiered the role of King Reynaldo in Anam the Witch and Beatrice the Beautiful words by Claudia Jameson and music by Alice Rich (2022), Don Basilio in The Marriage of Figaro by W.A. Mozart and El Dancairo in Carmen by Georges Bizet (2023)
• Dallas Opera: Ernesto in The Billy Goats Gruff with music by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Gaetano Donizetti, and Gioachino Rossini. Words and Story adaptation by John Davies (2023)

• Tenor Soloist for Handel's Messiah at Spring Valley UMC in Dallas, TX (2018), Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Victoria, TX with Victoria College under the direction of Dr. David Means (2019), St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church Parish in Arlington, TX (2020).
• Featured Tenor Soloist at St. John Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Arlington performing solos from Mendelssohn's Elijah (2019)
• UTA Student Recording Artist for UTA Records on "I'll Live," an album for suicide prevention and mental health awareness, my song entitled "I'm Out." (2020) https://open.spotify.com/album/7akfoPfA2peoHRZRKPL5W4? si=nl8cCTY-T7icRy7hUIheOA
• Tenor 1 in UTA Acapella Choir as invited collegiate chorus for music convention performances at TMEA in San Antonio (2019), National Collegiate Choral Organization Convention (NCCO) at College Park Maryland (2019), SWACDA featured soloist in Little Rock, AR (2022)
• National Anthem Singer for UTA Basketball at College Park Center and Commencement Ceremonies for Graduation with the UTA Jazz Ensemble (2022).
• Tenor 2 in TCU Concert Chorale, featured college ensemble for TMEA in San Antonio (2023) and American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) in Cincinnati, OH (2023).
• Texas Choral Directors Association (TCDA) invited non-prot chorus (2023).

• Spanish
• English

• Texas Music Scholar (2017)
• Schmidt National Youth Vocal Competition Encouragement Award Recipient (2017)
• TMEA All-State Mixed Choir (2016-2018)
• Gilman International Study Abroad Scholar (2019)
• Arlington Master Chorale Scholarship Recipient (2020-2021)
• Good Times Chorus Scholarship Recipient (2020-2021)
• 2nd Place Overall Male Vocalist for the American Pops Orchestra and performed at Lincoln Center in NYC, (2023).
• Top 3 National Finalist and 1st Place National Winner for the NATS Student Auditions for Graduate Tenor-Bass in San Diego, CA (2023).
• TCU Concerto Competition Winner (2024)

• UTA music students pivot to stay creative, secure an income during social distancing, Alexis Williams, The Shorthorn, Apr 27, 2020, https://www.theshorthorn.com/news/uta-music-students-pivot-to-stay-creative-secure-an-income-during-social-distancing/article_fbbe9126-88e6-11ea-8edf-bf1bca555bda.html
• UTA A Cappella Choir holds preview concert before invitational performance, Ritchie Manalastas, The Shorthorn, Feb 20, 2022, https://www.theshorthorn.com/life_and_entertainment/uta-a-cappella-choir-holds-preview-concert-before-invitational-performance/article_913e0dc0-92d2-11ec-9996-03b8c69fb60f.html
• David Mejia Publications on The Shorthorn, UT Arlington's Main News Source since 1919, https://www.theshorthorn.com/users/prole/david%20mejia/
• Lead On, Creatively: Q&A with David Mejia 24, College of Fine Arts / School of Music, April 17, 2023, https://nearts.tcu.edu/news/lead-on-creatively-qa-with-david-mejia24/
• Stars of Tomorrow in Concert: TCU Operas season nale, Caleb Gottry, Published May 2, 2023, https://tcu360.com/2023/05/02/stars-of-tomorrow-in-concert-tcu-operas-season-nale/

• Dr. Karen Kenaston-French, UTA Head of Choral Activities, kenastonexchange.uta.edu, (931) 216-6748
• Dr. David Grogan, UTA Professor of Voice, Dgroganuta.edu, (817) 929-9585
• Dr. James Rodriguez, TCU Associate Director of the School of Music, Division Chair of Voice, Associate Professor of Voice & Voice Pedagogy Music, James.Rodriguez@tcu.edu, (817) 257-4572
• Dr. Corey Trahan, Director of the Opera Studio, Instructor of Voice, corey.trahan@tcu.edu, (817) 257-6630
• Leslie Dietrich, Birdville ISD Educator at NRMS, leslie.detrick@birdvilleschools.net, (817) 975-7548
• Christopher Leach, Education Production Coordinator for The Dallas Opera, Christopher.Leach@dallasopera.org, (214) 443-1034