Yolanda Vadiz

Who was Yolanda Vadiz?

Yolanda Vadiz was a Puerto Rican soprano. She got her Bachelor of Arts degree in Puerto Rico and her Master's degree in Manhattan School of Music in New York. While in New York, she sang the leading role in the zarzuela "Dona Francisquita" for the Repertorio Español theater company housed at the Gramercy Arts Theater, Off-Broadway. As winner of the Rome Festival in Italy, she performed the role of Susanna in Le Nozze di Figaro. While in Italy, she was under contract to RAI Television Network, and sang in front of kings and high dignitaries from different countries.

While still at the conservatory, Vadiz was a finalist at the Metropolitan Opera House Eastern Region Auditions, and did concerts with the Puerto Rico Symphony Orchestra with bass Justino Diaz, and renowned singers Ruth Fernandez, Chucho Avellanet and Nydia Caro.

Vadiz was the daughter of Puerto Rican actress and show host Meche Marchand, and of Puerto Rican trio singer Jose Luis Vadiz Colon. When Vadiz was little, her mother married comedy actor, show host and television chef Luis Antonio Cosme, who grew to love Vadiz as if she were his own daughter. Yolanda was raised by her father Guito Vadiz and his parents. At 15 years old, she went to live at Cosme and her mother Meche's house.