Finding Song and Voice: Opera singer Yovanni Catalan Vazquez shares his coming of age

CHICAGO, ILL. - By Michael Oboza, Special to GoPride.com

During my last year as a volunteer photojournalist, I made it my intention to help acknowledge extraordinary figures in our LGBTQ community. I am grateful to give flowers to a Mexican American creative, artist and musician who makes a difference in the music industry. Thank you, Maestro Yovanni Catalán Vázquez, for your time, sharing your art and legacy.

For some, childhood, adolescence and adulthood are full circles of happiness.

"Before coming out, my life was actually quite simple," Catalán Vázquez said.

"I grew up in a traditional Mexican family and I have very fond memories of my childhood. Sundays were especially special because my father would take me swimming, and afterward we would spend the rest of the day at home with my siblings. Looking back, those are some of the happiest memories I have."

His earliest memory of young romance, however, comes with a touch of middle school humor. In sixth grade, he fell completely in love with a classmate named Sheila, whom he described as the prettiest and coolest girl in school.

During a classroom game of spin the bottle, fate intervened when the bottle landed on both of them. Given the choice between a challenge or a kiss, she chose to kiss him on the cheek.

"Now comes the embarrassing part," Catalán Vázquez recalled with a laugh.

"After that kiss, I was convinced that if I took a shower, the kiss and all the magic that came with it would disappear forever. So I refused to bathe for almost two weeks! My parents had absolutely no idea what was going on. They thought I had suddenly declared war on soap and shampoo, so naturally I got into trouble. To this day, it's one of the funniest memories from my childhood."

As he entered middle school, Catalán Vázquez began navigating his identity alongside his close friend Hugo. Together, they spent hours talking, sharing stories and making sense of their feelings during an era before modern internet access. He marks that chapter as an exciting time when he truly began to understand himself.

High school brought a sharp focus on his passion for music. While studying at the university level to earn his music degree, he fell deeply in love with one of his teachers and vocal coaches, an experience he credits with shaping him both personally and artistically.

Yet, balancing romance with a demanding performance schedule presented ongoing challenges.

"I have to admit that pursuing a career as a professional opera singer has not always left much room for long-term relationships," he said.

"The demands of training, rehearsals, auditions and travel often meant that most of my relationships were brief."

Eventually, his personal life aligned with his artistic career. Today, he shares his life with his fiancé, who understands the sacrifices required by the profession.

"Having someone who embraces both the artist and the person behind the performer is a gift I never take for granted," Catalán Vázquez said.

Drawing from his journey, he offers advice grounded in lived experience for the next generation of performers. He encourages young artists never to let anyone convince them that they must choose between their identity and their dreams.

"Being an LGBTQ artist is only one part of who you are," he noted.

"Be known for your kindness, your discipline, your artistry and your integrity just as much as for your authenticity. There will be moments when you'll feel different, misunderstood or alone. Keep going anyway. Invest in your craft, find people who genuinely support you and never stop believing that your voice deserves to be heard."

For Catalán Vázquez, stepping onto the stage carries a meaning that goes far beyond individual performance.

"As a Mexican American opera singer, I have learned that every stage I step onto carries more than my own story," he said. "It carries my culture, my family, my struggles and the people who believed in me when I was still learning to believe in myself."

Ultimately, he measures his accomplishments not just by the venues he plays, but by the peace he has cultivated in his life.

"Success was never simply performing on prestigious stages," Catalán Vázquez said.

"It was finally reaching a point where I could be honest about who I am, continue pursuing excellence in my art and share my life with someone who loves me without asking me to become someone else. That, to me, is what living authentically truly means."