A Young Voice Soars at Our Lady of Guadalupe Festivity
A powerful voice filled the Cathedral altar recently, captivating attendees at a special Mañanitas event honoring Our Lady of Guadalupe. Young singer Isabella Parra delivered a moving performance of two beloved classics, “Amor Eterno” and “Te Lo Pido por Favor,” accompanied by the vibrant sounds of mariachi music.
Parra’s journey to this moment was deeply personal, bringing her full circle to a tradition cherished since childhood. She fondly remembers attending the Mañanitas celebration with her grandmother, but this marked her first time performing at the event in many years.
A Grandmother’s Encouragement
Interestingly, it was her grandmothers who ultimately propelled her toward this opportunity. One grandmother, working at a Catholic cemetery within the archdiocese, spotted a flyer advertising a singing contest. She instantly shared it with Parra, sparking a decision to audition – despite never having sung the pre-selected songs before.
Learning “Paloma Blanca” proved a focused challenge, taking about four days. First, she mastered the rhythm and melody, then the lyrics, and the emotional core of the song. “It was a good experience, just having to learn something on the spot in a certain amount of time,” Parra explained. “It’s good practice.”
A Legacy of Faith
Beyond the contest itself, the performance held profound spiritual significance. Another grandmother, now deceased, instilled in Parra a deep connection to Our Lady of Guadalupe.
“She was my grandma’s favorite ever since I was a little girl,” Parra shared.”She just put that into my head that she’s the Virgencita. We love her, we pray to her, and the love my grandma had for her, especially now that she’s not here, is something I can find through La Virgencita, for sure, just like remembering my grandma.”
Dreams of a Musical Future
Parra harbors aspirations of a professional singing career, drawing inspiration from iconic artists like Juan Gabriel and Rocío Dúrcal. She notably enjoys performing songs such as “Los Laureles” and “La Farsante.”
Whether a singing career is in her future remains to be seen. However, Parra embraces a viewpoint of faith and acceptance. “The things that he throws at me, whether thay’re good or bad, he’s doing it for a reason,” she said.
She views every experience - opportunities,struggles,and challenges – as integral to her personal growth.”I know that it’s just a part of my journey,” Parra concluded. “all these things are going to help shape me as the person that I’m going to become in the future, and I’m really excited to see where this journey can take me.”