Meet Noreen Valdes | Music Educator & Pie Baker

We had the good fortune of connecting with Noreen Valdes and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Noreen, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
I was always a musical child and I began singing when I was four years old. My aunt was the choir director at our church in Quebradillas, Puerto Rico. My beautiful Titi Lily with the voice of an angel recruited me into the children’s choir at age four, we traveled around various cities in Puerto Rico and won awards for our choir. I wanted to sing just like my Titi, so I found my voice at church.

My family moved back to California when I was in Kindergarten and I always gravitated towards music, when I was in 6th grade my voice really started to form. I sang solos in school, at church, and I went to a performing arts middle school for music. Pacoima Middle School is where I fell in love with Classical music, and Musical Theatre. Music opened my eyes to a world outside of Pacoima, a world full of color and opera, it was as though this Puerto Rican/Mexican little girl heard music for the first time.

I learned all of the show tunes I could possibly learn and I learned about Beethoven, Mozart, and Chopin, I knew I wanted to really study music as an escape beyond the chain linked fences of Pacoima to the opera houses in Europe. I auditioned for Los Angeles County High School for the Arts and I was accepted to the music department, what a beautiful day to remember. It was the perfect school for a creative girl like me, there were so many talented kids that were so inspiring to be around. I had found my bubble of creatives on the campus of Cal State Los Angeles in 1994.

My world was forever changed I saw myself in a new light and I knew that music was the language of my soul, I studied Mozart’s music with a passion, and I discovered parts of my voice that resonated so brilliantly. I continued to pursue a music degree at Cal State Northridge and I was delighted to travel all over the world through the sheet music I learned and loved. These sheets of music have saved my life so many times, they have helped me discover who I am, who I’m not. My voice is everything I am and everything that I’m not. Music has always grounded me and I have been a music educator for fifteen years, I have had the privilege of inspiring my students in the same way my teachers have inspired me.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My career began out of my art. I love music so much and the dedication and lifestyle as a singer has channeled a love for teaching. Teaching has been a journey, I have been so inspired by many teachers throughout my education. I wanted to be the teacher that for many years I didn’t have initially. I wanted to be the Latina teacher from Pacoima that inspired inner city, and marginalized neighborhood kids. I have never seen a Latina opera singer perform, I wanted to change and inspire the narrative around music education and music performance. It has been difficult to survive as a performer, work can be hard to keep consistent. Teaching became a way for me to combine my love of music and performance to inspire my students, and I really fell in love with the pedagogical journey.

I was married in my early twenties and for a few years I stopped singing, I tried so hard to be the perfect wife and as a result I lost myself in that relationship. This led to a very difficult divorce and through my divorce I discovered what baking can do. I was so lost and the only thing that got me through that difficult time was baking pies. I began baking and it became my therapy. I would think of beautiful pie creations, and when I’d put my son to bed I’d stay up late baking to my hearts content. Repairing the broken pieces of my heart through the dough and the songs I began to sing again.

The pies were my only audience and I cried many tears and eventually began to smile again. After many endless nights of pie baking and through the constant support and encouragement of my family, I started my pie business “Dough Re Mi Pies”. I incorporated my love of baking with my love of singing. I began hosting pie parties where I’d bring an array of freshly baked pies, tell my story and sing a song or two encouraging anyone going through a hard time to never give up and persevere. It was Pie church for me, I was really talking and singing to myself so I wouldn’t forget who I am. I started singing at church at the age of four and now I was singing with a pie in my hand telling anyone who would listen how life can be sweet again with music and pie. Dough Re Mi Pies became my saving grace. Who knew pie could do so much for a Latina who couldn’t even translate the word pie into Spanish, there is no Spanish word for pie it’s that American. I discovered who I was and who I wasn’t I heard my voice again and wow it was full of grace.

The life lessons I’ve learned through music, through pie and through being an educator have been that you can have it all. Every slice of who you are makes all of the beauty that is mixed up and baked in a beautiful pie. You don’t have to sacrifice any part of who you are to try to fit into a box, whether it’s a box of shame, a box of failure, a music box, a or a box of expectations. Allowing all of the different parts of you to shine through and learn new talents, embracing the creative, inspirational being that you are will take you to places you never imagined. I am the American dream my name is Noreen Valdes and I love my son and will never stop singing my songs and baking pies for my world to taste and experience. This broken heart has been mended through many tears, many music notes, and many beautiful pies.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If my best friend were here for a week I’d take her to Little Tokyo to my favorite sushi spot called Oomasa, then to grab some delicious mochi at Fugetsu. I would also plan to take her to the Music Center to enjoy a beautiful opera. I used to take the train to High School everyday, I’d take the Metrolink from San Fernando to Union Station so I would also plan to take her to Union Station to enjoy a lovely dinner at Traxx, and we’d go China Town to enjoy drinks at General Lee’s. Downtown Los Angeles was very unsafe in the 90’s when I’d travel to High School via the train. It’s interesting to see how much the city has changed now, I am always reminded of the melting pot that Los Angeles is and all of the history that comes with it. I’d also plan a day in Pasadena and take her to the Norton Simon museum and the Gamble house my two favorite museums, then I’d take her to lunch to the the Little Flower Co. the olive oil cake is my favorite. There are so many beautiful neighborhoods in Los Angeles, The Brand Library in Glendale is my favorite Library because it’s a Music Library. I would spend hours on end in that library, I’ve checked out countless Cd’s and sheet music, it’s actually a historic home turned into a library and so beautiful. Zuma beach is pretty chill, my favorite restaurant is the Sunset in Malibu, it over looks Zuma beach and is very low key. I’m not interested in trendy spots, I love spots that are under the radar and have a chill atmosphere. My favorite bar is the Roger Room, it’s pretty unassuming and they have amazing drinks. A fun night of dancing will definitely include the Abbey after a couple rounds of drinks at the Roger Room. I look forward to going to all of these places very soon now that I’m fully vaccinated, this year has been tough.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’d like to dedicate my shoutout to my son and my family. Everything I do is for my son, he inspires me to be the best version of myself. I am so grateful to my family for always supporting my music endeavors, my pie business and for showing me how beautiful our culture is. I am my Abuelita’s answered prayer. Tomasa Hernandez Ramos, the strongest woman I ever knew. She wanted a better life for her family and I am so honored to share stories of perseverance, strength, and achievement with my son and family.

Website: doughremipies

Instagram: ghremipies

Facebook: doughremipies and Noreen Valdes

Image Credits
Carrie Carnevale