Opera star Isola Jones impresses many

This News By You article was submitted by Louise Gacioch of South Mountain Community College.

Few faculty can say they have inspired the Queen of Thailand.

Isola Jones has done so.

For the past nine years, Jones has served as adjunct faculty in voice at South Mountain Community College, where she is known for her passion for teaching.

In 1985, this world-famous mezzo-soprano performed her signature role of Carmen as lead in the opera of the same name. She had traveled to Bangkok with an American organization, Ambassadors of Opera.

"Singing for the queen is one of my greatest memories," Jones said. "The protocol was intense and precise. We weren't allowed to speak to her, turn toward her or talk to her."

However, after one performance, "princes and ladies-in-waiting gathered around the queen's throne and presented me with two 24-carat gold bracelets."

Jones has many stories of international adventure that put her in the company of famous people. She has performed with the likes of Placido Domingo and has appeared in key roles in London and with the Metropolitan Opera in New York.

Jones continues to perform in international, U.S. and local venues and will perform Friday evening at South Mountain Community College to raise funds for scholarships for SMCC students in need. Jones teaches classical voice to at least 20 students.

"My path to the Met was not typical," Jones said.

She started in the chorus with the Chicago Symphony, simultaneously serving as understudy for Yvonne Minton, mezzo-soprano in the Verdi Requiem. In storybook fashion, Jones took over the lead role when Minton became ill on the final day of dress rehearsal.

"Verdi was one of the few operas I could sing," she said.

That evening, she performed to a full house, sandwiched between Luciano Pavarotti and Leontyne Price. Jones left a positive, lasting impression.

The next night, she received a call from the representative of Chicago's maestro, inviting her to perform in Richard Wagner's famous Flying Dutchman the next year. Performance dates would include Carnegie Hall. Of course, the answer was yes.

It wasn't long before Jones was asked to perform in Porgy and Bess. Time magazine claimed she "stopped the show" with her unusual interpretation of the Strawberry Lady.

"I had no technique, no repertoire when I started in opera," she said. "All of my great teaching and coaching was at the Met - on the job.

"Most people think of the Met as the place where singers display their experience; however, it's also a place to learn, a place with wonderful coaches, conductors and the greatest singers in the world. They wanted me there and gave me everything I asked for or needed."

She performed with the Met for more than 15 years.

She has also performed with symphonies throughout the U.S. In Arizona, she has performed fundraisers for the Arizona Opera and has raised money for Northern Arizona University as a board member of the Northern League. Now she is helping some of her own.

Most recently, James DeMars, chairman of Music Composition at Arizona State University, composed an opera just for Jones. Guadalupe, Our Lady of the Roses is on the Canyon Record label.

In 1998, Jones was invited to perform as a soloist in SMCC's annual performance of Handel's Messiah. The chairman of the music department, Jerome Garrison, enthusiastically invited her to join the college as adjunct voice faculty.

"I enjoy good singing and have improved as a singer as a result of teaching," Jones said. "Some of the things my teachers tried to pound into my head I just wasn't getting. Now, teaching others, I 'get' these things. I find that helping students helps me."

She added, "The great joy is taking people who believe they have no aptitude and teaching them classical music . . . I teach them classical range and technique so they will know the science of it.

"What gratifies me is seeing what people are capable of achieving. I say, 'Do it this way,' and when they do, they see how easy it is, and they are thrilled."