Jennifer Almeida Vidal

Outstanding actress, television host, musician, composer and Cuban singer, graduate of the Instituto Superior de Arte, owner of an extensive and fruitful artistic career.

Jennifer holds a degree in Orchestral Direction with a gold medal from the Universidad de las Artes (Instituto Superior de Arte), under the tutelage of master María Elena Mendiola, in 2011. Previously she had graduated from the Conservatorio Amadeo Roldán in the specialty of Choral Direction in 2005, as she preferred to pursue music even though she had passed acting exams in 2000.

She studied to complete her comprehensive training in 2007 in acting, with master José Antonio Rodríguez, in courses organized by UNEAC. In her childhood she was part of the Children's Theater Company La Colmenita, directed by Carlos Alberto Cremata and in 2001 she was part of the amateur theater group "William Shakespeare", directed by Luis Yaser Vila among many other professional tasks of the artist.

Courses and Workshops
2002- Choral music workshop taught by Mike Brewer (England).
2007- American music workshop taught at the International Choral Festival América Cantat, with the Coro Nacional de Cuba.
2008- Romantic Music workshop taught by master María Felicia Pérez as part of the International Choral Festival CORHABANA 2008.
2006 and 2008- Taught Choral Direction Technique workshops to art instructors at the Provincial Meeting of Amateur Choirs organized by the Centro Provincial de Casas de Cultura de La Habana.

Artistic Career
Work as an actress
2006- From that year to the present, she is the figure and scriptwriter of the children's program Amanecer Feliz, included in the Television Magazine Buenos Días (TeleRebelde and Cubavisión Internacional channels).
2013- She hosts the alternative music program Cuerda viva, directed by Ana Rabasa.
2012- She stars in the dramatization of the program "Cuando una Mujer" by Marilú Macías, with the character of Sandra. She shares scenes with Carlos Padrón, among others.
2012- She participates as a supporting actress in the chapter "El contenedor" of the series "Tras la huella", directed on that occasion by José Víctor Herrera.
2012- She participates alongside outstanding Cuban comedians in the program El motor del arranque (Habana Channel) for the special programming at the beginning of the year; under the direction of Juan Carlos Travieso and Osvaldo Doimeadios.
2011- She played the supporting role of La Negra in the telenovela Bajo el mismo sol (Casa de cristal) directed by Jorge Alonso Padilla, sharing scenes with actresses of the caliber of Blanca Rosa Blanco, Verónica Lynn and Dailenis Fuentes.
2011- She participates in the musical Gatos (Cats), by T.S Elliot and Andrew Lloyd Webber, which premiered in Cuba by the Coro Escénico Estrellitas (founded in 2005 and directed by Jennifer Almeida Vidal); being the first time in the world that this famous musical is performed by child actors and singers. Presented at the Hubert de Blanck, Lázaro Peña and Centro Cultural Bertolt Brecht theaters in March, April and May respectively; the staging was done by Alejandro Milián and had the participation of experienced actors from the Mefisto Teatro group. Jennifer Almeida conducted the musical direction of this musical. She also played the supporting roles of "Rompetrizas" and "cat from the Mirringo trio".
2011- She acts in the environmental campaign El planeta tiene fiebre by filmmaker Ana Vivian Mora, (Promotion and Messages Division of ICRT), in which she played Bioma, the main character in a package of spots.
2009- 2010- She hosted the children's program Contar Cuentos, on Educational Channel 2 (Cuban Television), under the general direction of Joaquina Martínez.
2009- She played Mariela, one of the main characters in the children's and youth series Flores con Patricia, under the direction of José Víctor Herrera and production by Casa Productora de Telenovelas.
2009-2010- She participated as narrator of the stories in the multimedia Children's Stories I and II, produced by CITMATEL and Cuba Literaria.
2009- The Coro Escénico Estrellitas premiered the children's musical Un concierto para Blancanieves, with script and original music by her. She also played the antagonistic character of "the Queen". Under the artistic direction of Alejandro Milián and the advisory of Tony Díaz, this musical remained on the bill in May and August at the Complejo Cultural Bertolt Brecht.
2008- Host of the children's program "Fantasía de verano", directed by Maricel Acosta.

Presenter
She has worked as a presenter of events, among which can be cited:
Galas of Nominees for the CUBADISCO 2009 and 2010 awards.
Gala dedicated to Puerto Rico (Closing of the International Record Fair 2009). Both under the direction of Orlando Cruzata.
Awards ceremony for the "PMA en acción" contest, supported by the UN. (2007, 2008 and 2010).
Awards ceremony for the "Jojazz 2009" contest. (Presided by Chucho Valdés)
She presents herself along with the Coro Escénico Estrellitas, in theaters throughout the capital and in various activities, in which she acts, sings and directs the choir. Among the shows that can be cited are: "El bolsillo del duende", "¡Que vivan los niños!", "Cuentos del hogar", "Mi granjita" among other variety shows, which she writes and directs.

Work as a Musician
The songs that Jennifer composes for children with great satisfaction for her are sung by her Choir "Estrellitas"

Jennifer Almeida holds a degree in Orchestral Direction from ISA. She began her artistic life at age 7, singing and acting, and began her musical studies in the specialty of Choral Singing at the "Escuela Vocacional de Arte Paulita Concepción", graduating as top of her class. She continued her secondary level studies at the Conservatorio Amadeo Roldán with professor Delfina Acay Espinosa and graduated in Choral Direction, Choral Singing, Teaching and Musical Writing in 2005.

She was part of the women's choir of the Conservatorio, participating in the international festivals Corhabana 2001 and 2004. She directed the mixed choir and the women's choir of theorists at that center, performing at various events.

She was part of the symphonic choral group on the occasion of the performance of L. van Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, together with the Orquesta Sinfónica Nacional under the direction of master Enrique Pérez Mesa in 2003 and of Gustav Mahler's Third Symphony, under the direction of master Elena Herrera in 2004.

In 2005 she joined the Coro Polifónico de La Habana directed by master Carmen Collado, with which she sang in concerts held in Ecuador.

She taught choir classes at the Manuel Saumell elementary music school for three years, (2005-2008) while completing her Social Service.

She has ventured as a singer of popular genres with the group Arnaldo y su Talismán (2004) and the jazz group Dayramir y Habana Entrance (2007 and 2010).

In 2005 she founded the Coro Escénico Estrellitas, an extension of the Schola Cantorum Coralina, with which she has been part of various recording productions (El bolsillo del duende; CD and DVD Chiquilín; and 24 quilates, all under the EGREM label) and in the CD of singer Zunilda Remigio in Homage to Mercedes Sosa, produced by master Joaquín Betancourt; and countless performances among which the premiere of the musical Un concierto para Blancanieves stands out, with script and original music by Jennifer Almeida, participation in the International Choral Festival CORHABANA 2008, 2010 and 12, the Tribute Concert to Leo Brower (2009); concerts shared with children's and youth choirs from Querétaro (Mexico), Ragazzy Boys (U.S.), Yale University Choir (U.S.); and also highlighting the boldness of the children's choir and its director in performing the musical Gatos (Cats) by Andrew Lloyd Webber (2011).

In 2006 she sang in the Coro Coralina and the Coral Juan Pablo II, both directed by master Alina Orraca.

She has worked as an orchestra conductor leading the Orchestra of the Universidad de las Artes (ISA), attached to the Lyceum Mozartiano (2009 and 2010).

She has provided conducting assistance to Master María Elena Mendiola with the Orquesta de Cámara Solistas de la Habana.

Since 2010 to the present, she has been invited on various occasions to conduct the Symphonic Orchestras of Matanzas, Santiago de Cuba and Santa Clara.

Together with Orchestra Director Michel Elvermann (Germany), she prepared the script for a didactic concert with the Orquesta Sinfónica de Oriente, through which, acting as an actress and conductor of the unique presentation, they pursue the objective of bringing children closer to symphonic music.

In December 2012 she performed the concert in Santiago de Cuba: "Amanecer a un año feliz", premiering with her voice her children's songs among others from her repertoire and accompanied by the cantoria Voz Melodía.

She was one of the finalists among participants for the Premio de Creación Ojalá 2010, convened by the renowned singer-songwriter Silvio Rodríguez and Estudios Ojalá. She was awarded with the production of a CD (under the Colibrí and Ojalá labels) which began production in 2012. Under the title of "Ofrenda", the musical production by Denis Peralta and the recording by Adolfo Ernesto (Fito) Martínez, in addition to the participation of outstanding Cuban musicians (Rolando Luna, Gastón Goya, Rodney Barreto, Esteban Puebla, Maurio Gutiérrez, Mayckel Olivera, among many others) she works as a composer, arranger and performer.

On March 24, 2013, the launch of her first CD Ofrenda takes place at the Centro Pablo de la Torriente Brau, as a singer-songwriter.

She sings at the Cuerda viva 2013 awards gala (Teatro Nacional de Cuba), in a tribute to Queen alongside singers Dianela, Maylú, David Blanco and the Hipnosis Group.

On March 29 she presents with her group at the Concert at the Karl Marx for the 49th anniversary of EGREM. She shares the stage with: Leoni Torres, Arnaldo y su Talismán, Waldo Mendoza, Qva libre, Osmany García, Bony y Kelly, Septeto Santiaguero, Diego Gutiérrez, among others.
Jennifer Almeida has her own group that accompanies her in her performances

Jennifer Almeida has her own group that accompanies her in her performances

Awards and Recognition
2011- The Actuar Agency of the Consejo Nacional de las Artes Escénicas and the Sindicato Nacional de Trabajadores de la Cultura awarded her recognition for her artistic performance.
2010- She was one of the winners of the Premio de Creación Ojalá 2010, convened by Silvio Rodríguez and Estudios Ojalá.
2009- The Asociación Nacional de Sordos de Cuba, at the I Encuentro Nacional ANSOC-ICRT, awarded her recognition for her work dedicated to the deaf community in the program Amanecer Feliz.