Beginnings

Born on the night of August 14th, 1992 in Rancagua, Chile, Xavier Mathías Prado Cáceres became the fourth of five children of missionaries Teodoro Manuel Prado and Maria Eva Cáceres. He was raised in a remote country area surrounded by numerous cousins, uncles, grandparents, and farm animals. Following in his parents’ and siblings’ footsteps, Xavier, who at the time was only called by his middle name, Mathías started showing a deep interest and ability in music.

Early Music Training

The young Xavier first began taking voice and guitar lessons from the vocalists at his father’s church. He enjoyed the benefit of constantly being under the guidance of his older brother, Felipe Prado, also a professional tenor, who was the music director for the church from a very young age (click the link to find out more about him). However, Mr. Prado’s musical training became more formalized once he joined the “Escuela de Orquestas” program in the nearby city of Rengo (School of Orchestras). He began playing the viola, and later on played the violin. Studying under maestro Javier Asenjo by the age of 13, he became the principal violist for the city’s Symphony, Chamber, and Youth Orchestras. Later, he briefly participated in a small jazz ensemble, playing the violin.

Training in the United States

At the age of 15, Mr. Prado’s family moved to the United States, to continue their religious work. Soon after, he met one of his biggest musical influences, the world-renowned former principal violist of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Mr. Evan N. Wilson. After playing for him in a master class, Mr. Wilson decided to help Mr. Prado, whose family was not in a good financial situation, by giving him free lessons for a significant amount of time. Under Wilson’s guidance, Xavier was subject to the most rigorous, strict, and highest standard of private music education, learning and polishing technique, musicianship, musicality, and artistry. Mr. Prado attributes a big part of his success and abilities to the time, work, and dedication Mr. Wilson invested in him.

From Violinist to Tenor

Mr. Prado joined the Antelope Valley Symphony where he played first violin and made his way to second chair. As a member of the orchestra, he was exposed to a wide variety of repertoire. It was at this moment that he had the joy and privilege of being introduced to the opera and oratorio world from a different perspective before fully becoming a vocalist. The conductor of the orchestra was Dr. David Newby, who played a vital role in his development into a professional musician and later on during Mr. Prado’s time in college as he opened his way to a career in opera.

Another important figure in Mr. Prado’s development and transition into an opera singer was his A Cappella choir’s director, Mr. Aaron Foley. The encouragement to become a soloist, and the stage opportunities Mr. Foley provided, changed Mr. Prado’s mindset. The teamwork values and skills Mr. Foley and the entire group imparted set him on a path of success, rewarding those values every step of the way. Together with the Quartz Hill High School Vocal Association, Mr. Prado participated in several vocal ensemble competitions and helped bring home the first Gold Award to the school for choir competitions. The Quartz Hill High Vocal Association awarded Mr. Prado several outstanding performances, best section leader, and singer of the year awards during this time.

In 2018, the Opera Buffs selected Mr. Prado to be featured in their fall production of La Boheme and he was made eligible for the grant they provide to excellent emerging young artists. He also debuted on the small screen by playing the lead role in an American television miniseries. More details about this project, such as the title and where/when to find the show, will be disclosed later this year.

Mr. Prado starred in the lead role in the world premiere of the new opera Dulcinea XL by celebrated composer Juan Colomer in January 2019 in Los Angeles under maestro Ignazio Terrasi and the Los Angeles Grand Ensemble.

In 2020 he was selected as one of the Beverly Hills National Auditions winners and presented a recital series throughout Southern California with Argentine Soprano, Camila Lima.

During the rest of that year, Mr. Prado dedicated himself to serving in the non-profit sector, which led him to become the executive director of the Family Rescue Center in 2022. This relationship resulted in a recent recital held at the Colburn School with the collaboration of The Opera Buffs, Inc., renowned pianist Catherine Miller, and the Family Rescue Center in Los Angeles, where all proceeds were donated to support educational and humanitarian efforts made by the organization.

He returned to the opera stage in late 2021 and has made various appearances in operas, recitals, and concerts in Southern California, including his participation in several vocal competitions where he has been consistently selected as a finalist and awarded singer. Some of these include the 2023 Mary Jacobs Singer of the Year Competition, The 2023 Loren L. Zachary Society National Vocal Competition, The Giulio Gari International Vocal Competition, The 2023 Pasadena Vocal Competition, the 2022/23 Laffont Met Competition San Diego District, and the 2022 Palm Springs Opera Guild Vocal Competition, where he received both the third place and the Audience Choice Award.

In April of 2023, Prado met his current voice teacher, the internationally acclaimed Bass, Carlo Colombara in Bologna Italy.

Mr. Prado joined the Academia Rossiniana “Alberto Zedda” in the Summer of 2023 in Pesaro, Italy, for the production of Il Viaggio a Reims at the Rossini Opera Festival. There he had the opportunity to further expand his network to Europe and receive valuable mentoring from other world-renowned artists such as Ernesto Palacio, Juan Diego Flórez, Luca Canonici, Rubén Sánchez-Vieco, Rosetta Cucchi, Giulio Zappa, and others.

Following, that same year back in Los Angeles, Xavier was seen on stage as Rodolfo in La Bohème. Once again he was a finalist and 2nd prize winner at the Palm Springs Vocal Competition, which was followed by his participation in the 2024 Pasadena Vocal Competition Finals where he obtained the Audience Choice Award.

2024 has brought a series of varied recitals and concerts, including a Zarzuela Recital with soprano Oriana Falla and his participation in the 2024 Bombay Beach Biennale Opera House Project with soprano Anastasia Malliaras and pianist Catherine Miller. He also debuted as Edgardo in Lucia di Lammermoor, made a triumphant mark as the title role in the Opera Zorro by Héctor Armenia with Opera Santa Barbara, and triumphed at the “Piero Cappuccilli International Vocal Competition” in Italy taking home the first prize.

Upcoming engagements include his debut with Opera Las Vegas, in the world debut of the opera “Again, and Again, and Again” by Conrad Cummings; Rodolfo in La Boheme at Teatro Rossini in Lugo, Italy in December/January of 2024; and a return to the role of Zorro/Diego de la Vega in Zorro with Opera San Jose for the 2025 season.