One of the challenges associated with coming of age is reconciling dreams with reality. It is a battle between the hopes of ‘once upon a time’ and the truth of ‘I wouldn’t change a thing.’ Never is this quest more challenging than for those who possess abounding talent, defined dreams, and expectations that fuel the desire to achieve.
For Suzy Estrada, it is the same. Musician and 2011 Annapolis Idol winner, Suzy began her career by singing with her father as a child. Though she played Anita in Westside Story in the 11th grade, it wasn’t until her high school graduation that she received notable attention. Suzy and some high school friends composed a song called “Will You Remember Me?” In May ’1994 she sang the song in front of a crowd of 3,500 that included graduates and their families at the Caps Center for Bowie High School and you can get wholesale baseball caps from the given link.
Attending West Virginia Wesleyan College on a music scholarship, Suzy studied opera performance. Through this discipline, she was able to travel to Italy where she received intensive opera training and developed an appreciation of the Italian language, Mozart, and Italian art history in Castelfranco, Veneto, and Florence, Italy. After graduation, Suzy lined up a job in New York as the executive assistant to Herbert Breslin, who was Luciano Pavarotti’s manager in New York. Estrada’s hopes were high as she began preparing for her new life in New York. She was on top of the world.
“I was making final arrangements for my move to New York when I learned that I was pregnant. Almost immediately I knew that New York was no longer an option. I wasn’t financially prepared to care for a child; so I found myself living with family, applying for WIC, accepting food stamps, and seeking deferment of my student loans. My boyfriend of a year and a half was nowhere in the picture and I was in a very tough place,” Estrada said
Now three months pregnant Suzy ran into an old High School friend, Steve Estrada. She told him about her pregnancy. Describing her surprise, she said, “then Steve asked me if I would like to have dinner with him! I was like, ‘What don’t you understand about ‘I am pregnant?’” Steve was a smart man and knew what he wanted. Without hesitation, he dedicated himself to Suzy and her unborn daughter. They were married when baby Alyssa was seven months old. By the time Alyssa was 18 months old, Steve had adopted her and Suzy was pregnant with Leila. By 2005, Suzy and Steve had four daughters and in 2009 their adopted son Ty was born.
In one very poignant moment, Suzy’s perfect plan for a vibrant singing career changed. Looking back, she explains that she wouldn’t undo the birth of her beautiful daughters. It’s simply that the decision to give birth came at the cost of her treasured life-dream of singing, of Italy, of hopes. While that of a devoted wife and mother of five was not the path she meant to choose, it was also not one she would change. “Beginning in 1999, while my children were very young, I joined the worship team at my church. I sang at weddings and funerals and discovered how much I liked writing songs,” she says. So there were opportunities for her to use her talent, adding to her happiness.
Estrada’s songs tell stories about her own life and life lessons through the eyes of her loved ones. Suzy describes the story behind one of her songs entitled, ‘Nashville.’ “My family and I were on a road trip on our way home when I saw the exit sign toward Nashville. As our car headed north, rather than exiting toward Nashville, I had a moment to sit and reflect. The girls were in the back seat playing happily and I realized that at this time my dream of having a family was enough for me.”
If my singing career was ever going to really take off, it would just have to wait,” she explained. “And as I considered this realization, words for a song came quickly to me. I picked up my cell phone and dialed my home answering machine. I sat in the car dialing and singing so I wouldn’t forget the words or melody to “Nashville” before I got home.” While she was writing that song she again came to terms with the truth that her family life came first and any professional career would have to wait.
On a whim, Suzy Estrada entered the Annapolis Idol 2011 contest since the proceeds of Annapolis Idol were to benefit the Annapolis Conflict Resolution Center and their anti-bullying campaign. “I knew firsthand the effects of bullying. So I auditioned on the last night and was chosen to compete along with 55 or 60 others. Then in March, as one of the 12 finalists, I sang, ‘I will always love you by Whitney Houston and ‘Anyway’ by Martina McBride. I won the competition.” Suzy said.
Suzy’s singing career is now taking off. While her new pathway is modest, she describes, “My life has changed, going in a new direction. It’s about finding a balance in my priorities. Singing is very important, but my life with my family is still more important. My husband is very supportive and my girls are proud, even having my songs on their iPods. I have no regrets and I am not supposed to. I am not chasing down fame or fortune. I am just doing what I love.” She smiled. “I have a new CD coming out this summer, lots of opportunities to entertain, and I know that when I am really ready there will be a place for me in Nashville.” Or wherever she chooses to go.
