Participants:
Series Code: UBR
Program Code: UBR000255A
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00:01 Stay tuned to meet a musical prodigy
00:02 who has determined in her heart to follow Jesus. 00:06 My name is Yvonne Lewis-Shelton, 00:08 and you're watching Urban Report. 00:35 Hello and welcome to Urban Report. 00:37 My guest today is the lovely Martha Jhoana De Luna Mateo, 00:42 award-winning musical artist. 00:44 Welcome to Urban Report. Hello. 00:46 Thank you very much. 00:48 Oh, you know, it's so wonderful to see a musician in action, 00:52 like when the theme song was playing, 00:55 you're kind of playing it in, you know, air-playing it. 00:57 It's so cute, it's so great. 01:00 How long have you been involved in music? 01:03 Well, it has been more than 20 years actually. 01:06 Wow. 01:07 You don't look older than that. No. Well, I started very early. 01:11 You know, I started when I was eight years and a half, 01:13 and I am in my thirties. 01:15 Okay. 01:16 So as a child, you knew that you were called to play? 01:22 How did it all start? 01:23 Well, I come from a Seventh-day Adventist family, 01:27 musical family, and my parents, they used to sing at choir. 01:32 So they met at choir, they started dating, 01:34 and they started singing together at church. 01:36 So I come from a family that... We are three, my elder... 01:42 Two brothers and me. 01:44 You're the baby? I am the baby. Yes. 01:49 Are your brothers musical as well? 01:51 Yes, they are musicians as well. 01:52 Okay. All the family. 01:54 Wow. 01:56 So did you start out playing with the family, 02:00 like your parents singing and you playing 02:02 or how did that start? 02:03 Well, when I was a year and a half, 02:05 my dad started teaching me songs, 02:07 and he was playing with the guitar. 02:10 And he was testing my ear, and he was changing keys, 02:13 and I was just jumping with him at exact key. 02:17 And he was blown away, 02:18 and he said, "This little girl is special." 02:22 So he started, you know, teaching me more songs. 02:25 And when I was three years and a half, 02:28 I started singing at the church in public, 02:32 and that is how I started. 02:33 And my mom, she always sings at home. 02:36 She always was singing at home, 02:38 so I get to listen my mom's singing. 02:42 So your mom was singing at home, 02:44 so you started singing at three and a half, 02:48 and you started playing at how old? 02:50 When I was eight years old. Eight years old. 02:53 It's amazing to be able to go 02:56 from one key to the next without... 02:59 I mean, that is special. 03:01 That's a gift. It's a gift. 03:03 It's a gift from God, that's amazing. 03:05 So your first public appearance 03:07 as a pianist was when and where? 03:11 Actually, at church, when I was 10 years old. 03:13 Okay. 03:15 And it's interesting 03:16 because the music director from the choir, 03:19 since I was born, he said, 03:21 "She's going to be the pianist of the choir." 03:24 You're kidding. 03:26 From when you were born, wow, talk about prophecy, right? 03:29 Yes. 03:30 And he said, "She's going to be soprano, 03:32 she's going to be the pianist, 03:34 and she's going to be the musician." 03:37 And when I was 10 years old, he actually assigned me. 03:40 He was my first piano teacher. 03:42 And he assigned me one of the pieces 03:44 to accompany the choir. 03:45 And so I started to be the pianist 03:48 of the church and choir when I was 10 years old. 03:51 Do you remember 03:52 what your first song was that you played? 03:54 What was it? 03:56 Well, it's in the Spanish, but I don't remember the title. 04:01 You can say it in Spanish. 04:03 Okay, "Jesus dos de alegria" for choir. 04:06 Okay. For choir and piano. 04:08 Oh, how beautiful. 04:10 So what was it like 04:14 being so gifted in music at such a young age? 04:18 Did you have to overcome certain obstacles 04:21 as you were growing up? 04:23 Tell us about that. 04:24 Well, it was challenging because when I went to school, 04:28 my mind was always busy with music, 04:30 and I was very dedicated, devoted to piano. 04:34 I didn't have piano for seven years. 04:36 When I started, so one of the difficulties 04:40 that I had, I didn't have a piano, 04:42 but I could hear all the music in my head. 04:45 So I used to practice the table at the kitchen, 04:49 and my elder brother, he used to draw me piano, 04:54 so I could like, imagine the notes and playing around. 04:58 And I used dominos to... 05:03 You know, he plays, and I started playing. 05:05 And so that was one thing. 05:07 And when I was at school, 05:09 I used to take the breaks 05:12 to go to the piano at the church 05:14 at the sanctuary. 05:16 And so that was a little bit challenging 05:18 because some of my friends, they used to say, 05:20 "You can just play piano all the time, 05:22 you are not going to go anywhere, 05:24 but just, piano, piano, piano, piano." 05:27 But I never really listened to them. 05:29 I just kept going, and I just did it. 05:33 You know, now see, that is such an inspiring story 05:38 because even though you didn't have a piano, 05:42 you were still... 05:44 Just like you were air-playing 05:45 the theme song just a minute ago, 05:47 you were still practicing it without even the instrument. 05:53 So how did you get a piano and when? 05:56 That is amazing. 05:57 Well, I went to private school when I was 12 years old. 06:01 And I stayed there for seven years in that school. 06:07 But before the seven years... 06:09 Well, after the seven years in that school, 06:11 I was going, you know, to a lot of competitions 06:15 and winning all the competitions 06:17 without having the piano. 06:18 You were winning competitions? Yes. 06:21 Without having a piano? Yes. 06:23 I just could practice maybe twice a week 06:26 at the piano at the church 06:29 and trying to find a piano all the time. 06:31 Right. 06:32 So when I was 15 years old, 06:35 I remember, I had a competition, 06:37 and I couldn't practice for a week before the competition. 06:42 So my mom, all the time, 06:43 taught me how to pray before playing. 06:46 And I went with prayer, and I won the first place. 06:52 You won first place in the competition, 06:54 and you weren't even able to practice. 06:56 Yeah. 06:58 So your mom laid on your heart the importance of prayer. 07:01 Yes. Wow. 07:04 And I was depending on prayer at that moment. 07:07 And after that, there was a award ceremony at the school 07:14 where I went to study, and they told me, 07:17 "Oh, come, that we have something, 07:21 and some award for you. 07:23 It's a small award." 07:25 I thought it was something small. 07:28 But when I went, and the event was almost over, 07:33 I was like, "Why they told me to come? 07:36 And they haven't mentioned my name." 07:39 And at the very end, there was a lady. 07:41 She started talking about a person 07:43 that with so much sacrifice, 07:44 has been studying, and have the high GPA and all of that, 07:49 and without an instrument. 07:52 And she started describing me. And I started crying. 07:56 And then she said, 07:58 "And this award is for Martha De Luna, 08:00 and we are donating her a piano." 08:03 So that was the first time... 08:06 When I was 15, they gave me a piano. 08:09 That's going to make me cry. That's so beautiful. 08:13 You had no idea, did you? 08:15 That they were going to give you a piano? 08:16 No, not at all. 08:17 At 15, you got your first piano, 08:20 and you had been playing since you were eight? 08:24 Yes. 08:27 That's amazing. Look at God. 08:29 God is amazing. Look at God. 08:32 And I knew, one day I was going to have it. 08:35 I just, you know, kept doing it. 08:38 And what is amazing about it, the lacking of the piano, 08:42 actually developed a lot of skills in me. 08:44 I could memorize the music so quick, 08:48 I could hear all the notes in my head 08:50 without needing the piano. 08:52 And actually, it made me be ready all the time 08:57 to play anytime anywhere. 09:01 But look at the gift. 09:02 I mean, you heard it in your head, like that, 09:05 that to me, is such an incredible gift 09:09 and the fact that you were so determined to do it. 09:15 You didn't let anything stop you from doing 09:18 what you know you were meant to do. 09:24 We have some music, we're going to play in a minute of yours, 09:27 'cause I know our audience wants to hear you play. 09:31 You didn't grow up here though, did you? 09:33 So when they gave you the piano, was it here? 09:36 Tell us where you grew up. 09:37 I grew up in Dominican Republic, 09:39 San Pedro de Macoras is a city from Dominican Republic, 09:43 and it's a Caribbean island. 09:45 And so I was awarded of the piano, 09:50 to have the piano 09:51 in Santo Domingo in Dominican Republic. 09:55 And eventually, I moved here later when I was 24. 09:59 I want to... 10:00 Oh, when you were what? I'm sorry. 10:02 I didn't really catch you up? When you were how old? 10:03 When I was 24. Twenty four, okay. 10:04 So you moved to the States when you were 24? 10:06 Yes. Oh, okay. 10:07 Oh, so you haven't been here that long. 10:09 No. 10:11 Well, I want our viewers 10:12 and our listeners to hear you play. 10:16 So let's take a look for our viewers 10:19 and for our folks on radio take a listen to Martha. 14:28 Oh, that was beautiful. Ooh, I got chills. 14:33 We shall behold in. We shall behold in. 14:36 That is so beautiful. 14:37 So how did you realize that your talent 14:43 should be dedicated to God and only to God? 14:47 When did you realize that? 14:49 When I was actually seven years old. 14:51 Really? Tell us about that. 14:53 Well, I started, you know, playing the recorder 14:57 with my brothers at home and at church. 15:01 And we started ministry with my family 15:04 going to different churches and playing. 15:07 And I heard so many times, my father telling me 15:12 that I was going to be a great pianist. 15:15 He just had that vision. 15:17 And he said, "You're going to play with big orchestras, 15:21 and God is going to put you in those high places. 15:24 And it's for the God's glory." 15:28 So I really took that serious, 15:31 and I knew I was going to do that 15:35 when I got involved at church with the choir, 15:38 I felt the passion to do that for the Lord. 15:41 It was so inside of me. 15:43 And later on, I got so many calls from God 15:48 in different ways. 15:49 People telling me that what I had was so special. 15:55 And when I was 12 years old, 15:57 I had an incredible experience that I went to a competition, 16:03 and it was on Sabbath. 16:05 And we said, "No, I can't participate 16:10 because that day is for the Lord, 16:12 and I go to church, 16:13 and I just play that day for the Lord, 16:16 not for any competition or anything like that, 16:19 classical competition." 16:21 So you were invited to be a part of it, 16:25 but it was on Sabbath. 16:26 So you said, "No, I can't come."? 16:28 Yes. Okay. 16:29 To whom did you say no, 16:31 like was it to an administrator of the competition? 16:34 To whom did you say no? 16:35 Actually, the academy that chose me, 16:38 my school that was sending me to the competition. 16:40 Okay. 16:42 And so they really wanted me to play so bad, 16:46 and my faith was tested there. 16:49 So I was convinced that God wanted me 16:52 to be a testimony of my faith at that young age. 16:57 And that was when that experience 17:00 really sealed my heart to be faithful forever. 17:05 And I went to the competition, 17:07 but before the competition was performed, 17:12 my teacher, my piano teacher, he got the idea, 17:16 "Okay, let me talk to the judges 17:18 to see what they say. 17:20 If they can wait after the sunset," 17:22 something crazy. 17:25 And actually, he did. 17:27 He talked to one of them, 17:28 and one of the judges said, "You know, it's fine. 17:31 We have a musician in our orchestra 17:33 that we give him the Sabbath and all of that, 17:35 we are going to wait for her." 17:38 And they did wait for me, 17:40 and another friend that she was an Adventist. 17:43 And after we played, we got the first places. 17:48 Wow. Yes. 17:49 So, by standing up for God, you still... 17:54 You've won, you won, but you stood up for God too. 17:58 Yes. 17:59 That was beautiful. Beautiful. 18:04 So when you've gone to other competitions 18:07 or well, when you've been considering 18:11 entering into other competitions, 18:12 has the Sabbath been an issue? 18:14 Always. 18:16 Really? Always. 18:17 How do you deal with it? What do you do? 18:19 Well, it has been challenging, 18:23 you know, when I came specifically 18:27 to study in Texas. 18:30 I was trying to win a scholarship 18:33 to be at the orchestra, and I love that. 18:36 And they were willing to give me money for that. 18:41 And before I started even playing and saying that, 18:44 you know, that I wanted this scholarship, 18:47 I said to the director, 18:48 "You know, I just want you to know 18:50 that I am a Seventh-day Adventist, 18:52 and I keep the Sabbath, 18:53 and I want to be available to play on Friday night 18:57 and Saturdays and all of that. 18:59 I didn't want you to do the audition 19:03 before you knowing that. 19:04 And then I get the scholarship, and I don't tell you, 19:07 and then I come and tell you after." 19:09 So I said to him at front, 19:12 you know, this is what is going to happen 19:16 before you give me anything or you decide. 19:18 If you decide not to, I will be happy no matter what. 19:22 And he said, "You know what, I completely understand. 19:26 I am a Christian, and we will work it out." 19:29 Really! 19:30 So God saved me from that. 19:32 Yes, now did you get the scholarship? 19:34 Yes, absolutely. Look at that. 19:37 And I think it's so important for us to know 19:42 that when we stand up for God, He stands up for us. 19:46 Amen. 19:47 You know, it's all about taking a stand though, 19:51 and saying, "There's a line in the sand, 19:53 I cannot cross this line because this is God's time." 19:59 And you did that, and God rewarded you, 20:02 and you still got the scholarship. 20:03 That's so awesome. Amen. 20:05 So now are you... 20:07 You're in school now? No. 20:09 I finished school in 2014, 20:12 and Stephen F. Austin University in Texas, 20:15 Nacogdoches. 20:17 And so I finished school, 20:19 I did a Master's degree in harp performance 20:22 and piano performance. 20:23 So you also play the harp? 20:26 Yes. That's incredible. 20:28 Now how did you learn that? When did you learn harp? 20:32 And you have a Master's degree in harp and piano? 20:34 Yes. Oh, my word. 20:36 So when did you learn that? Tell us about the harp journey. 20:42 Beautiful journey. 20:43 When I was 19 years old, I finished my piano studies 20:47 in Dominican Republic. 20:50 So I received that strong call from God to play the harp. 20:55 I just wanted to play the harp. 20:57 And when I was reading the Bible, Revelation, 21:00 and I read that the angels play harp in heaven. 21:06 So I wanted to have that experience, 21:08 and I really felt that God called me too. 21:12 So I started taking lessons in Dominican Republic, 21:17 harp lessons when I was 19. 21:21 And as soon as I started, 21:24 God opened doors for me incredibly. 21:27 Really, like what? Give us an example? 21:30 Well, the country didn't have a harpist for many years. 21:35 So the news just run around that there was a student 21:40 that was very advanced at first playing the harp. 21:45 And I got a call from the embassy, 21:49 from the United States Embassy, USA, in Dominican Republic, 21:56 and it was from the ambassador. 21:59 My teacher, my orchestra director 22:02 from the conservatory of music where I was studying harp, 22:06 he called me, and he said, 22:07 "You know, the ambassador wants you 22:10 to go to his house for a private dinner, 22:13 and he wants you to play. 22:15 They have heard about you, 22:17 and they want you to play at that event." 22:22 But he said, "There is a problem." 22:24 And I said, "What is the problem?" 22:26 "Well, it's on Friday night, 22:28 and I already knew you're not going to do it." 22:30 So I said to them, you know, "She's not going to make it. 22:35 She's not able to make it for, you know, religious reasons." 22:40 But then I said, "It's fine, you know, the Lord knows." 22:43 He said, "You know, 22:44 you're going to lose a lot of opportunities like that." 22:47 And I said, I'm going to cry, you know, 22:49 but I said, "It's okay." 22:51 Four days later, I received a call from him again, 22:55 and he just said "What is your business with God?" 23:00 And do you have a hotline with God over there? 23:02 Yes. 23:03 And he said, "They just want you to play. 23:05 They changed the day for you." 23:07 Wow! Look at that. 23:09 So you're going to play now on Tuesday instead of Friday. 23:14 So when I saw that, I said, "Wow! 23:18 There is a reason why God wanted me to play the harp." 23:21 So I went to the event. I played. 23:24 And they wanted you as a harpist, not a pianist? 23:27 Not a pianist. They wanted a harpist. 23:29 Yeah, they wanted a harp. Wow. 23:32 So you went and what happened? I went. 23:35 I showed a repertoire of classical music 23:38 and also hymns arrangement. 23:40 And I prayed to God, I said, 23:42 "God, if you gave me the opportunity 23:44 to be in this place, it's to bring your message. 23:48 How am I going to do it?" 23:49 So I prayed and I said, "Okay, I just can't play. 23:52 I'm going to pray, I'm going to play hymns, 23:55 and You touch people." 23:58 I love it. I love it. 24:00 "And You touch people." Right. 24:01 So I started playing the classical music, 24:04 fancy and beautiful. 24:06 They didn't really react to, 24:08 when I start playing the hymns, they started clapping. 24:13 And that was my response from God 24:15 that they really received a message. 24:18 But I was not... 24:21 I mean, I was... I didn't stop right there. 24:25 So after the event was over, 24:27 the ambassador invited me with his wife to eat with him. 24:32 And they started talking to me and asking me questions 24:36 and saying, "Where is your music from? 24:41 How beautiful it is. 24:43 It is an honor for us to have you here." 24:45 And I said, "No, the honor is mine." 24:47 I felt like Daniel, you know, like Joseph, 24:51 and like Moses and all of that. 24:53 And they said, "No, no, no. The honor is for us. 24:56 It's an honor to have you here." 24:59 They started asking me questions, 25:00 "Who is your family? 25:01 What did you do? And all of that. 25:03 What do you do?" 25:05 So eventually, I was so grateful 25:07 that I went home and I said, "I can't stay just like that. 25:11 I'm going to send them a book." 25:13 So I took a book from Ellen White, 25:15 and I sent it to them not expecting any response. 25:19 And one day, there was one of the messengers 25:24 from the embassy that knocked my door, 25:28 very well-dressed up guy. 25:31 And the neighbors were like, 25:34 "Who is this person looking for Martha?" 25:38 And they told me about it. 25:39 It was a messenger from the embassy, 25:41 from the ambassador and with a letter, 25:44 and the letter was saying 25:45 that they were so touched by my music and the book, 25:48 and then they were going to read it. 25:50 They were going to pray for me 25:52 because they believed that my music 25:55 was a gift from God, my talent. 25:56 Oh, how sweet. That was beautiful. 26:00 You know, you never know, 26:02 like the Lord used you to open that door, 26:05 used that music to open the door. 26:07 You prayed for them, you gave them a book, 26:11 you know, you never know how God 26:13 is going to use that to draw them to him. 26:17 That is so incredible. What would you tell... 26:21 And we just have a very little time, 26:23 and in just a couple of sentences, 26:25 what would you tell a young girl 26:27 who is like you at eight who wants to play for Jesus? 26:31 What would you tell her? 26:33 Look into that camera and tell her. 26:35 I will say pray and give your all to Jesus. 26:41 And ask for Jesus to be your master, your teacher 26:46 because He really can teach us how to play. 26:49 Even we have a teacher, but God has this special touch, 26:54 the spirit that if we ask for it, 26:57 He's going to give it to us. 26:59 And if we really consecrate our hearts to Jesus, 27:02 He's going to make an amazing journey 27:05 in your life. 27:07 Oh, thank you so much, Martha. 27:09 Thank you for being with us. My pleasure. 27:12 And for blessing us with your music 27:14 and your beautiful testimony. 27:16 And we know that the Lord's got His hand on you 27:20 and your countenance just exudes a love of Jesus. 27:24 And so we thank you so very much. 27:27 Continue playing for Jesus. 27:30 Just continue. Amen. 27:32 You can't lose when you play for Jesus. 27:35 Thank you so much for joining us, 27:37 you know, we're just so blessed to have these guests 27:41 who share their testimonies with us 27:45 because that is their journey, but it's our journey too. 27:50 And thank you for being here. 27:53 You know that we couldn't do this without you 27:56 'cause, you know what, 27:57 it wouldn't be the same without you. |
Revised 2018-05-23