Artist Statement

VALUES

I am a singer, actor, dancer, teacher, and designer. Through my art, I seek to offer an avenue of hope, wherein others are invited to dream. I seek, through my performances, to draw diverse audiences in to shared experiences, and ultimately, to a deeper connection with one another, and with the world around them. In the future, I hope to share my own experiences with others through teaching at the collegiate level. I have experienced first hand the transformative power of music at this formative time in life, and I hope that I may help young artists find their voices, just as someone helped me to find my own. 

Teaching Statement

The use of one's voice can be an empowering thing. It can also be quite intimidating. As a woman, I have often found it difficult to speak up for myself or to take up space. Singing changed that for me. For this reason, as a teacher, I guide my students on a transformative journey of healing, confidence building, and expression. I also have experienced the health benefits of singing for physical ailments and share what I have learned with students that may be experiencing current or past injuries, shortness of breath, other respiratory issues, etc. I have experience working with students of diverse ages and backgrounds and am available to receive anyone where they are at in their walk of life. Through goal setting, self-discovery, and expression, I lead students to discover the power of their own voice. 

Diversity Statement

Growing up, I had a hard time understanding why I was excluded from things because I was a girl. In fact, I still have a hard time understanding it. I'm not expected to have opinions, let alone express them. Not allowed to have emotions, good or bad, because it was always "too much.” As I grew alongside fellow artists, I noticed they were also being excluded for just being themselves. Whether it was the color of their skin, their sexuality, gender identity, body shape, etc. I was upset for being excluded myself but became furious when the people I cared about were being told they weren’t enough when they gave me so much. Later on, I became very ill and injured and was expected to just give up on my dreams. That's when I found opera. Something that was larger than life, allowed me to take up space, be loud, and be “too much.” The industry, however, has a long history of excluding certain groups of people which is something I am seeking to change. I have been a part of creating new operas, telling new stories, as well as reimagined existing works that give new points of views.