Soprano Penelope Shumate shares her experiences in multi-genre singing, as well as her approach to balancing performing and teaching.
I am no psychic, but I am willing to bet I can recall a moment from your past. It’s Thanksgiving. You’re about to dive into a glorious pile of mashed potatoes when your mom’s cousin leans over and says, “So… how’s that singing thing going?”
Every year, the CS Music Convention gathers aspiring singers, industry professionals, and seasoned artists in a dynamic space dedicated to nurturing talent and fostering career growth. This highly anticipated event provides young artists with unparalleled opportunities to learn from and connect with esteemed professionals who have paved the way in the classical music industry. Among the distinguished mentors at this year’s convention is the legendary soprano Carol Vaness.
Our conversation was wide-ranging yet moored to the topic of working with students. In part one of this two-part profile on Leung, we’ll focus on Telly’s most recent work with students, with an eye toward how he hopes to engage with singers at the convention later this month. But first, a little bit more on NYC born and raised Telly Leung.
Sensorium Ex is a groundbreaking new opera by Paola Prestini that explores the intersection of AI, disability, and the arts, redefining what it means to have a voice. Premiering at the Common Senses Festival in Omaha in May 2025, the work features a predominantly disabled cast, including a nonverbal, non-ambulatory lead, and integrates cutting-edge AI tools to enhance creative expression for nonverbal individuals.
I recently had the pleasure of performing with Mobile Opera in their production of Ghosts of Gatsby. Scott Wright, Mobile Opera’s General & Artistic Director, took some time to share with me some of the amazing things this company is doing for our industry, as well as tips for singers with the precariousness of work.
Who doesn't love the magic of theatre? The world of the imagination, the suspension of disbelief, the communication of triumph and tragedy through words, music, lights, costumes, and sets. Anyone who has had a transformative experience through theatre will likely have a difficult time expressing the power of that experience through words. There are some words, however, that may be particularly inadequate or—in the opinion of at least one music professional—inaccurate.
American soprano Mary Dunleavy has enjoyed an exciting international career that spans over three decades and counting. She has done it all, from the most iconic soprano roles on The Metropolitan Opera stage, to premiering new works, singing on a Steven Spielberg film, and teaching at Manhattan School of Music. Dunleavy credits her longevity to a hard-earned vocal technique, a solid mental game, a passion for acting at the core of her performances, a loyal team, family life and a good dose of luck.
Soprano Nicole Heaston is a shining example of a constantly evolving artist in an ever-changing operatic landscape, a singer who values story-telling and technical excellence, and someone who wants to inspire, encourage, and nurture young talent.
Dating another artist comes with a whole set of unique challenges: unpredictable schedules, financial instability and everything that is the emotional rollercoaster of building a career in the arts. But dating someone who understands this world is also a profound gift.
Muscle tension dysphonia (MTD) is a voice disorder that is characterized by very tense muscles in the larynx surrounding the vocal cords. Read on to learn how to treat it!
Director of the Oper Wuppertal, Rebekah Rota says, “You can be lucky only after you have been smart.” Her career trajectory from singer to administrator in the German opera theater demonstrates an organized progression in the business of singing.
