Winnie – What were your first experiences in music and at what age did you start singing?

Ysis – Interesting. I was not a child prodigy! Since I was a kid I liked music, but I didn’t sing in public until I was 11 years of age in a mother’s day program. At age 6 my parents had me take piano lessons and after that I discovered I liked music. Actually for a long time I dreamed of being a concert pianist.

Winnie – That means that your talent was cultivated… and, what brought you to singing?

Ysis - Yes, my first teachers used to tell me that I had a special touch on the piano, piano requires a lot of practice. After I came to the United States, I started working and life got hectic, but I felt that singing was something I could incorporate a little easier into my schedule than piano. That’s how I started nurturing this talent. Besides, I have felt that singing is a very spiritual experience for me. It has always supplied certain spiritual needs.

Winnie – What happened to the piano? Do you continue playing it?

Ysis – Well, I still play it a little but only to play for congregational singing (hymns). I still like it and I keep saying to myself,...”I’m going to start practicing again”…At least I’m one of the pianists at my church. Also where I work we have morning devotionals and I play for the songs there. My time is always so limited and despite my good intentions I find it impossible to practice on a regular basis.

Winnie – I have noticed that your music is very professional and implacable. It has created an image for your listeners. What criteria do you use to select the music you will use in a particular recording?

Ysis - A requirement to sing or record a song is that it has blessed me or touched my heart. I pray that the same music will bless others and that it will help others in their spiritual experience. I have always felt that music is a very personal thing. Each song becomes “my” song even though I have not written it. It’s important to experience the music not just perform it.

Winnie – Which of your experiences in music have you considered one of the most significant in spiritual terms? Could you share an experience or testimony that someone has shared relative to your music?

Ysis - A few years ago I was going through a very difficult time. I was a little discouraged, sad and even a little depressed.

A pastor came to my office asking me to sing at a Thanksgiving gathering where churches of three different denominations were coming together to worship. The pastor was Spanish and he said the other churches were English speaking, and they wanted me to represent the Spanish congregation. The gathering was a week away. I answered no because I didn’t have the energy. Besides I wanted to be home with my family especially during that time of the year. But he insisted and said: “Ysis you need to continue using your talent for the Lord so we’ll be waiting for you next Wednesday.”

Winnie – What happened after that conversation?

Ysis – Wednesday arrived and I still didn’t want to go. But I had committed so I left the office and drove with tears in my eyes and thinking, “Why do I always have to do things out of duty and responsibility… I was feeling sorry for myself. When I arrived at the church I went to the sound booth and gave them my sound tracks and I sat waiting for the service to start. It was my turn to sing and as soon as the meeting was over I proceeded to go home. They were having refreshments so that people could fellowship and visit. But I left. The following Monday the pastor came to my office to ask me what happened… why had I left in such a hurry, people were looking for me.

He said: “Ysis something beautiful happened after you left. A lady, that does not speak Spanish, was looking for you to thank you for your music, it really blessed her.” The pastor asked her if she spoke Spanish and she said no. He asked her if she had heard the song before and she answered no. He proceeded to ask her what was the song about …and she repeated the words of the song in English.

When the pastor shared this with me I felt so comforted and thought “the Lord performed a miracle that night in spite of my sad estate.” All I could do was thank the Lord and ask him to forgive me for letting circumstances around me control my feelings. I was singing in Spanish. What made this so special is that the Lady did not speak Spanish, but the Lord opened her ears and I felt He did this so I could understand He was with me and would not forsake me. That was very special. Right away I started experiencing a healing process in my heart and spirit.

Winnie – What a beautiful experience...neat experience.. May the praise and glory go to God. In addition to being a worshipper, do you have another profession? Because you mention “the office” What else do you do?

Ysis – Yes, I work for the Texas Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. I have been there for 26 years. For this reason, the music ministry has not been very easy because I have felt a life filled with big responsibilities, but I have also felt the Lord wants me to be in the office, too. To me the office has also been a ministry. I know the Lord gives me the strength to balance life and do everything I need to do.

Winnie – As an employee, Administrative Assistant, do you have schedules, office hours that you must follow? How have you managed to do so many things at the same time?

Ysis - One good thing is that we work Monday through Thursday, 10 hours a day. Fridays we have off so this has allowed me to travel without affecting my office hours. If I’m scheduled for a longer trip I take vacation days. Because I have been working there so long I get 4 weeks of vacation a year so I try to manage them carefully. We make sure we take a week or two with the family and the other two weeks I use in travel with the music ministry.

Winnie – Who helps you in your ministry?

Ysis – All this time I have practically been doing it alone. My husband has given me great emotional support, but he has a lot on his plate, too. So it’s been pretty much the Lord and Ysis. Since 2003, Artistree Ministry has helped me with my scheduling. Also I have another friend that helps enter accounting information, does inventory, etc. I also must mention that I have another dear friend that sees to it that I get to the airport on time! That’s been of great help, too! Through the years the Lord has sustained me and sent these dear friends that believe in what I do and I thank the Lord for them and for allowing me to continue being one of His instruments of praise.