LYNN — Amanda Mena was only 7 years old when she began taking part in music programs at the local YMCA.
“I grew up in the music studio at the Y,” Mena, who is from the city, said. “I proceeded to go to a couple of different talent shows around Lynn… From there I started developing more seriously.”
Now a 21-year-old Berklee College of Music student, Mena is headlining her second show at City Winery Boston after selling out the venue last year. This time, she will be performing songs from her debut album, which is set to be released this winter.
“I’ve done a lot of different things,” Mena said. “It feels very surreal that I can come back to Boston and put a show together.”
So far in her career, Mena has won the talent show “La Voz Kids” on Telemundo at the age of 11, been a contestant on America’s Got Talent, and performed everywhere from the Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular to Patriots games.
She said that despite all the places she’s been, performing close to where so many of her friends and family live is always special.
According to Mena, one of the early influences who would help guide her career was former YMCA of Metro North Lynn Executive Director Audrey Jiménez, the current director of guidance operations at St. Mary’s High School.
“It was because of Audrey that I started going to the YMCA,” Mena said. “For my parents, signing me up for a music program was very difficult at the time.”
Jiménez said she remembers when the Lynn YMCA put in a music studio to engage kids in something other than sports, an opportunity she said quickly resonated with many of the kids who went there.
“It had an impact on a lot of kids,” Jiménez said. “Out of all of those kids, Amanda was the one that stood out.”
From that time at the YMCA, Jiménez continued to support Mena, especially when the young singer went on trips out of state for performances and talent shows in places as far as Florida and California.
“All of the experiences that she’s had are a lifetime of experiences,” Jiménez said. “If most people could experience only one of the experiences she’s had, it would be super fulfilling.”
Jiménez also credited Mena’s parents with allowing her to pursue a career in music.
“She really dedicated everything to this,” Jiménez said. “Amanda’s parents gave her the wings that she needed.”
Mena said she is grateful for all of the work Jiménez did for her, which enabled her to pursue new opportunities.
“What she did for me really changed my life,” Mena said. “(It) allowed me to find something that I really loved.”
Mena, who is a member of the St. Mary’s Class of 2021, noted how amazing it is to look back on those early days making music at the YMCA compared to the heights her career has taken her to.
“It was really fun,” Mena said. “I have some music videos that me and the kids from the after-school program would make, and I look back on those and say ‘Those were really good times.’”
Mena will perform at City Winery Boston on Saturday, Oct. 14.
According to Jiménez, now may be the last time to see Mena perform before she really makes it big.
“You just know when you see her she is just right on the verge of greatness,” Jiménez said. “It’s just waiting for the right time.”
