For Chilean soprano Catalina Prado, the stage has always been a space for emotional connection—whether in an opera house or under the open skies of one of the world’s most prestigious sporting events. In the last two years, Prado has earned a remarkable place in an unexpected corner of the cultural world: the elite equestrian circuit.
In March 2024 and again in March 2025, Catalina Prado performed at the Rolex-sponsored Wellington International Equestrian Festival, held at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center in Florida. The event, one of the top equestrian gatherings globally, draws over 10,000 spectators—including Olympic riders, international dignitaries, luxury sponsors, and a high-society audience—and is broadcast internationally on ESPN.
For Prado, the invitation to perform at Wellington marked a turning point in her U.S. career. “I will never forget the moment I stepped onto that stage for the first time,” she recalls. “To sing for an audience so passionate about beauty, elegance, and excellence—it was thrilling. And to do it again in 2025 was a true honor.”
Her performance at the $750,000 Rolex U.S. Equestrian Open Grand Prix in 2024 included a repertoire carefully chosen to resonate with Wellington’s cosmopolitan crowd. Blending operatic arias with crossover favorites, Prado performed selections such as Puccini’s O mio babbino caro and Nella fantasia—Andrea Bocelli’s version of Gabriel’s Oboe—earning standing ovations.
In 2025, she returned to an even more prominent slot, performing during the closing ceremony of the Grand Prix. Her program included Con te partirò, Somewhere Over the Rainbow, and an emotional rendition of Ave Maria—which drew glowing feedback from attendees. “So many guests came up to me afterwards to say the music touched their hearts,” she says. “For me, that is the greatest reward.”
Prado’s presence at Wellington is part of a larger trend: the increasing role of live vocal performance at luxury lifestyle events. With sponsors like Rolex and Hermès elevating the cultural prestige of equestrian sports, organizers seek artists who can embody that sense of timeless artistry.
Behind this success is a career grounded in rigorous classical training and remarkable versatility. After earning top honors at the Conservatory of Music in Santiago, Chile, Prado performed major operatic roles—including Susanna in Le Nozze di Figaro—before relocating to Florida in 2022.
Together with her duet partner and husband, bass-baritone Carlos Iturrieta, Prado founded Vocal Menu, a crossover vocal project that seamlessly blends opera, musical theatre, and pop. Their ability to connect with diverse audiences has made them a standout act in South Florida’s cultural scene, with performances ranging from Parkland’s 60th Anniversary (opening for Sugar Ray) to the Deja Blue concert series.
But it is the unique space of the Wellington Festival that has given Prado a new artistic platform. “There is something magical about singing under the stars at an event where beauty, sport, and artistry come together,” she says. “The equestrian world appreciates excellence in every form—and that makes it a dream audience for a performer.”
VIP receptions following the concerts have also expanded Prado’s connections in the luxury and arts community. “I’ve met so many fascinating people—riders, patrons, sponsors—who share a love of great music. It’s inspiring to see how these worlds can intersect,” she reflects.
As she prepares for upcoming performances—including a featured recital in New York this August as a winner of the International Youth Music Competition—Prado continues to embrace opportunities that bridge traditional and contemporary spheres. As a member of the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS), the world’s largest organization of singing teachers, she connects with a global network of over 7,000 voice professionals in more than 35 countries.
“Music should be alive in every space,” she says. “Whether I am singing Verdi in a theater or Bocelli at Wellington, my goal is the same: to tell a story that moves people.”
With her third invitation to Wellington already in discussion for 2026, it is clear that Catalina Prado has found a unique place in the equestrian world—and in the hearts of its discerning audiences.
Originally published on https://clichemag.com/
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Image provided by Alle Abad
Interview by Fanny Hulard
