Singing a new song p1 - Military Success Stories - Military Times EDGE

Jesus Hernandez follows a strict training regimen. The Juarez, Mexico, native and former Army chemical operator now studies Italian, French and German and practices with a vocal coach six days a week, preparing for performances with the Washington National Opera.

It’s a far cry from the Amarillo, Texas, meat factory where he worked before enlisting in 2003.

“I thought, ‘I’m doing nothing with my life,’” Hernandez said, describing the meat-factory job after a one-on-one coaching session at the Opera’s Takoma Studios in Washington, D.C. He gave up meat packing and joined the 46th Chemical Company based at Fort Hood, Texas, later volunteering for about a four-month deployment to Iraq. He had orders to go back to Iraq in 2007, when he was awaiting shoulder surgery for an old injury he’d aggravated during training exercises.

That’s when a single encounter changed his life forever.

These are the lessons the mariachi singer-turned-up-and-coming opera star learned along his path to a great new life.

Don’t be shy

Celebrated tenor Placido Domingo was scheduled to perform at the Alamodome, and Hernandez was determined to see his hero perform. He couldn’t afford a ticket, so he wrote to the director of the San Antonio Opera, describing his upcoming deployment and his desire to see the show.

“He gave me a free ticket, and it was a nice ticket,” Hernandez said. He wore his dress uniform to the concert, strolled straight through security at intermission and met conductor Eugene Kohn backstage. Hernandez told the conductor he’d like Domingo’s autograph, and Kohn invited him back after the concert.

When he met Domingo, Hernandez asked to sing for him. Kohn accompanied on piano, and Hernandez performed “No Puede Ser” from Pablo Sorozabal’s “La Taberna del Puerto” — right in Domingo’s dressing room.

Don’t rule out anything

For years, Hernandez’s family had a running joke. They would ask whether he planned to make a career out of the Army or if he’d get out to pursue music. His reply: “It depends on what Placido Domingo offers me.”

Against all odds, that wish came true backstage at the Alamodome.

“Right away, he told me, ‘You know, you should be singing right now.’” Hernandez said. Domingo then invited Hernandez to join the Washington National Opera’s Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist Program.

But Hernandez had shoulder surgery scheduled for the next day, and he had his orders to deploy. Fortunately for his singing career, the surgeon couldn’t repair Hernandez’s shoulder, and he wasn’t allowed back to the combat zone. He received a medical discharge in June 2008 and quickly set out for Washington.

Realize your potential

Hernandez’s musical background was in mariachi, but he felt sure he had the chops for opera. “I just never had the training for it,” he said.

He arrived in Washington on a Saturday, and by Monday he was studying to perform the part of Gastone in Giuseppe Verdi’s “La Traviata.”

He loved being a soldier, but he realized his passion was singing.

“I was planning to do 20 years in the Army,” Hernandez said. “I took the risk of going to a concert and just asking.”

And now he’s living a dream.