Teen finds forte in music
By Kapono Dowson
Advertiser Staff Writer
Crystal Mateo could be anything she wants to be. She could sing, dance, have a stellar career in the music industry or move to Hollywood.
Fred Mateo photo
The 19-year-old, a sophomore at the University of Hawai'i-Manoa, has been singing since she was 5. She is featured on a number of CDs, and her debut CD, "Treasures," was named 1999 Hawai'i Music Awards Inspirational Album of the Year and nominated for a Hoku Award in 2000.
Crystal Mateo led the girls of Kamehameha's Class of 2001 to victory in the school's song contest last year — the third year in a row. Mateo also directed the Salvation Army's Leeward Singing Company to first place in a regional competition.
But she would rather be a teacher than a performer.
"You can always be a performer, but a teacher must have special skills," Mateo said. "I want to be a teacher; that's my biggest goal in life."
The Salvation Army-Leeward Corps considers her to be an invaluable teacher and music director for its performing arts program, said Leeward Corps pastor Capt. Kyle Smith.
Mateo has tutored children with their homework, taught hula and sung with various groups as a Salvation Army volunteer for the past two years, he said.
"She is always available to the young kids as they come up to her. Even if she is with her peers, she'll take the time to see how they are and to listen to them," Smith said.
Mateo also directed to fame their Leeward Singing Company, which recently took first place in the Salvation Army's western competition covering six states and the Pacific Islands, Smith said.
The Leeward Singing Company is part of the Leeward Corps' performing arts program. All performing arts classes are free and open to children ages 7 to 17. Classes, which have included hula, 'ukulele, guitar, drama, choir and hip hop in the past, begin Sept. 4.
Mateo also directs the Leeward Community Gospel Choir for ages 14 and older. Their new season begins Sept. 12 with auditions and orientation. Last year, she took the choir's 30 to 35 youths to a California Youth Quake, a Salvation Army youth congress for 3,000 young people from across the Western region, Smith said.
Both choirs have taken awards in competitions. This would come as no surprise to Mateo's high school classmates. She led the class of 2001 girls to top honors in the annual Kamehameha Schools Song Contest three years in a row as their student director.
Mateo just completed her first paying job as an assistant choir teacher at Kamehameha Music Performance Arts Academy, and she is hooked. She wants to be a music teacher.
"I'm driven by the people I teach. To finally sing in forte — with strength together. Wow. They finally understand. You see it in their faces. That's what drives me. It's their excitement."
Kamehameha Schools music and choir director Lynell Bright had Mateo from kindergarten through sixth grade in music. At Bright's request, Mateo sang Bright's song "Seize the Day" with the Kamehameha Schools children's chorus on the choir's recent CD "Na Keiki O Kamehameha." The song will also be included in September on the Friends of Foster Kids new CD, Bright said.
"Crystal has always had this stage presence, and her singing ability is outstanding," she said.
"She used to always tell me, 'When I grow up, I'm going to take over your job.' You know, that's every teacher's dream, that a student takes your place and will be better than you someday," Bright said.
Anyone interested in the Salvation Army-Leeward Corps performance arts, choirs or church services should call 487-1636.
