About Merryjest
How It All Started
Merryjest Starchild is originally from Ecuador, where he studied music at the Rimsky-Korsakov Conservatory.
Always interested in the possibilities that technology can offer to enhance the reach of classical music, Merryjest first signed on to Second Life on September 14, 2004 on his then-primary account, Merryjest.Chatnoir. Inspired by the likes of the first live musicians on Second Life such as Mel Cheeky, Effinjay and Jaynine Scarborough, quickly became involved with musical initiatives on Second Life and performed at Music Island and Cedar Island while still working on his undergraduate.
During this time, Merryjest (then going by his username of Kain Scalia) was featured in a BBC radio broadcast focused on virtual worlds due to his involvement with the SS Galaxy, and was also featured in Mario Gerosa's bookRinascimento Virtuale: convergenza, comunità e terza dimensione
(Virtual Renaissance: Convergence, community and the third dimension.) He also collaborated with film director Berardo Carboni in his 2009 film Vola Vola, the first movie to take place partially in Second Life, making an appearance as a tiger avatar performing the operatic aria Una Furtiva Lagrima from L'Elisir D'amore by Gaetano Donizetti.
Merryjest sings at Cedar Island in 2011
Merryjest sings at Ger Y Lli's classical ballroom in 2011
A Break
After the passing of a dear SL friend, Osprey Therian, Merryjest stepped away from performing on the platform. At this time he enrolled at Colorado State University, successfully completing his Masters in Vocal Performance degree, and continued studying with distinguished soprano Martile Rowland. Focusing on real-life performances, Merryjest became featured guest soloist in Colorado and a Central City Opera outreach touring artist, and a returning participant at the Colorado Vocal Arts Festival in Colorado Springs over the past decade. His opera roles during this time encompassed Prince Tamino in Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte, Nemorino in L’Elisir D’Amore, Count Danilo in The Merry Widow, Prunier in La Rondine, Hindley in Wuthering Heights, Faust in Faust, Don Jose in Carmen, Don Ottavio in Don Giovanni and Idomeneo in Mozart's eponymous opera.
Return To Second Life
The pandemic was a massive disruptive event and many industries were shaken to the core, the music industry among them. Many interactions turned online and so did performers. After two years of performing virtual concerts from his living room, Merryjest decided it was time to return to Second Life - just in time for the platform's 20th anniversary celebration, where he had the had the opportunity to perform on the main stage with a well-received set. Since then, Merryjest has remained active in Second Life with regular weekend performances and involvement with the Rosehaven and Radio Spiral communities.
Merryjest performs at Second Life's 20th anniversary on the main stage, photo byLiberty Marques
Merryest's concert stage inRosehaven