Gratitude

It's November, and clearly beyond time for another post. Gratitude is something we reflect on each year at this time, but in 2020, it seems a little more challenging. 

This year has come with many struggles, loss of lives, loss of jobs, loss of sanity... We've adapted and moved on, we've learned how to use more technology than ever before! Our brains are tired, our bodies are sick of being behind a screen, and our lives are simply different now than in 2019. 

I want to give thanks for some of the silver linings we have had in 2020. I want to first thank my amazing vocal studio students for adapting to an online format in March and then not only learning to live with this new situation, but to thrive, improve in singing, and even deliver some awesome recitals and digital content! Music makes our souls happy, and I am so proud of the gift that you singers have delivered to the world through your recitals and videos. I look forward to seeing how you create and adapt your next projects. 

As this pandemic really dragged on, I grieved the loss of my dream job. I was hired for the 2020 season by San Francisco Opera, which is one of the world's major opera houses, to participate in the inaugural show for their first woman music director (and the first female music director for ANY A-Level Opera House). It was a monumental step for my career and a shattering of the glass ceiling for opera houses all over the world.

Having that show canceled broke my heart. I was extremely lucky, however, to still receive partial compensation for the show. The union that manages the opera chorus took incredibly good care of us. I was able to use that time and financial assistance to complete a yoga teacher training! For someone who loves to practice yoga and find stillness (and help others find stillness and mindfulness) I am not very good at sitting still for long. So, here we are. Welcome to Body Heart Voice. Not being able to perform left me a little empty. I had to figure out what my Voice and Heart really wanted. Creating this studio to help singers grow and support them in creating meaningful music has brightened my whole world. I could not be more proud of the amazing people with whom I work. 

So THANK YOU studio --- I give thanks for your amazing attitudes, your willingness to experiment and try new things, to have patience with my teaching online(!), and for your continued support of each other through this wild year. I am grateful for each and every one of you.