Michael Zephrine

Young, talented and focused are just some of the words that best describe Michael Zephyrine, our very own son of the soil who is a prominent member of the Lydian Singers and a thriving classical singer studying abroad. Michael is currently home on vacation and IslandEvents took the opportunity to get to know the lad a little better.

(IE) When did you realize you had the potential to sing classical music as opposed to conventional music that our culture exposes us to i.e. soca, rapso etc.
(MZ) While I attended Presentation College San F'do I was very fortunate to be exposed to one of the best secondary music programmes in the country. I think it was from singing and playing in the annual productions, music festivals, junior arts festivals etc. that it allowed me to realize my abilities in classical repertoire.

(IE) Being accepted to three of the top music schools in the industry must have been very flattering, however what influenced your final decision, that is, choosing The Manhattan School of Music?
(MZ) Well for me being accepted was the big deal! Once the dust settled from this I really had to think about where I would be able to function best. I mean Juilliard, Manhattan School of Music (MSM), Mannes, they were all amazing schools with amazing teachers but they all have their own environments and I thought that it was really important for me to find the one that would be right for me. So I began leaning towards MSM and Juilliard. Then once MSM offered me a scholarship plus a programme whereby I could study there and still be able to take classes at Juilliard......well I'd have to be foolish not to accept!

(IE) You sing in seven different languages, did you actually study these languages in detail?
(MZ) Well Yes and No. Between my training down here and up there I was able to function in all seven languages. However, it wasn't until I started school up there that I was able to study Italian, German, French, Spanish and Russian in great detail.

(IE) How do you manage your time, that is, between school and performances with the Lydian singers?
(MZ) When I'm in school I usually don't have that many problems in time management simply because performing and performance opportunities form such a large part of the curriculum. In fact, a lot of opportunities come up as a direct result of performances in the school (e.g. this semester I was fortunate enough to be casted as the title role in the school's spring production of the opera "Julius Cesar" and as a result of those performances I was invited on scholarship to sing at the Assisi Music Festival in Italy!).
When I'm at home though, things can get kind of hectic. Since I've been back I've had the privilege of guest conducting the Lydian Singers and Steel on tour. This required me practicing everyday with them while simultaneously putting together my first recital for the summer which took place two weeks after the tour ended. In addition to this there have been the various workshops and coachings that I've been involved in and it can all be stressful at times. I would be lying though if I didn't say that I loved every minute of it. I think I work best at 'break neck' speeds and I try to pace myself through every task with specific objectives.

(IE) When you’re away from home, what do you miss most about it?
(MZ) Family and friends.......when you live in such an extreme environment you can begin to lose touch with reality. I also miss the simple things, like a bake and shark from Maracas or just liming by a friends houses and doing music.....just for fun!

(IE) You’ve sung with Kees Diefenthaller and Faye Alibocas, was that just on a professional basis or are you all good friends?
(MZ) These two are like family to me. I remember Kees and I would always be skipping class back in form 3 in “Pres” just so that we could do music. He was already writing his own stuff back then (it was real corny eh but I mean is form 3 we talking bout!) and we'd work it out with him singing and me playing the piano. Kees, Faye, myself and Marc Alexander formed the group KLAS and we would do everything from R&B and Jazz to Classical and our own compositions. Even today KLAS is to me one of my best achievements in music. Anyway, as a result of the group we were always in each others houses practicing and everybody "mudder" knew everybody "mudder", "fadder", "bruddas" and sisters. Looking at them today after everyone has moved on (Faye is an established talent not to mention one of the 10 most beautiful women in the Universe, Marc is on a full scholarship studying communications and Kees is at the forefront of the entertainment industry in T&T.....not to mention I understand he’s now a national heart throb!) I really am very proud to call them my best friends.

(IE) Do you still sing calypso, as I read you’ve won the National Calypso Competition three times in a row?
(MZ) No I don't. It was a great experience though. I started off doing it just to prove to myself that I could...then it got addictive! (laugh)

(IE) Meeting Placido Domingo was a great honour, did you ever think you’d meet him, what was the experience like?
(MZ) I mean you can never prepare yourself for something like that. He's a very good friend and colleague of my teacher Neil Rosenshein so that's how the whole meeting at the Metropolitan took place. I couldn't believe it though, I mean this was the guy whose career I was following all the way back when I was a lil' nobody "Presboy" from south and for me to finally meet and talk to him....unbelievable!

(IE) Since you’ve been back home, where have you been “limin’”?
(MZ) The usual places for a young adult I guess. Nightclubs, Maracas, Tobago and at friend's houses usually raiding the fridge! (Right Kees, Barry and Brent? - smile) Oh....and anything that IslandEvents organizing! (winks)

(IE) Do you have a girlfriend? People say that French is the language of love. Is that how you captured her heart (smile)?
(MZ) Not right now. It's hard to find a girl that is willing to understand far less get involved with a guy that already has a pre-existing obsession (i.e. music). Plus I lead a very demanding lifestyle so that's also a factor. My friends tell me I'm too picky but I haven't given up though. I'm not the kind of guy that will just rush into something just so I can say that I'm in a relationship. I really think it's important to find someone you can really connect with rather than just a girl that's on a "scene".
Hmmm......I heard so too, French is the language of love. For me though Italian does it. Give me a girl that can speak Italian and I good to go! "Dove sei mio amato ben?" (laugh)

(IE) I know that you have to an extent exposed a bit of our culture to your classmates i.e. local slang. Firstly, have they (your friends) ever heard about Trinidad? Do they ask about Trinidad and Tobago’s culture and what it’s like?
(MZ) Honestly, a lot of them had not heard about Trinidad and those that did were confused as to how our culture could produce a young person ready to embark on a career in classical music! Now they love everything about the culture though. They've met my Trini friends up there and they real like the vibe. It's all a learning experience though cause the students of the school really stretch the globe......have you ever tried teaching a Russian to say stuff like "yuh see what ah mean?" (smile)

(IE) To date, what has been your most embarrassing moment?
(MZ) You have to understand, I am a KLUTZ and as a result it is very difficult to choose one embarrassing moment! Whether it's falling down in the middle of High Street while walking with Kees one day or going into my MSM audition and nailing my first and most difficult piece then proceeding to forget the words to the most basic classical song in my second selection rest assured I have done it all!!!

(IE) What would you like people to know about you that they don’t already know?
(MZ) My life is pretty much an open book. What you see is what you get so I don't think there's anything about me that isn't already out there.

(IE) I read in the Express newspapers that you took your friends to Brooklyn to eat a roti. What was their reaction to eating this dish?
(MZ) Great.....maybe too great though. Left up to them they would happily make the trip to Brooklyn every Saturday morning to stock up on roti.........and guess who they waking up to carry them?

(IE) Generally, who is your favourite singer?
(MZ) Hard to choose one....hmmm.....Maria Callas, Cecilia Bartoli, Bryn Terfel, Placido Domingo, Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Kitchener, David Rudder etc.

(IE) Are there any plans in the future to bring your classmates from the Manhattan School of Music down to Trinidad to perform at a recital?
(MZ) Most definitely! I've been invited to perform recitals with students in Singapore, Puerto Rico, Japan, and Venezuela so it seemed only natural to extend the invitation to them as well. Not just students form MSM though but friends from Juilliard and Mannes. We're in the midst of trying to work around everyone's schedule but I'm confident things will work out....maybe as early as next year.

(IE) I read that you eat a lot of KFC and drink a lot of Coke, do you still do that? (smile)
(MZ) Waaaaayyyyeee boy......well researched questions here!!! But yes I do. Trini KFC has been a long time addiction for me and so has drinking Coke.....sadly nothing has changed. I can say though that my consumption of KFC has been limited to the time I spend down here....New York KFC just isn't the same!! (laugh)