Introducing: Aumna Iqbal, Mezzo-soprano

  Name: Aumna Iqbal Where you might see me perform: In the Los Angeles/Orange County areaInstrument/voice type: Mezzo-soprano Why I participated in the iCadenza Career Development Bootcamp: I had had a few phone calls with various members of iCadenza, and after I finished talking to them I always felt like I had a clearer idea of what my career … Read more

Welcome new bloggers!

In the coming days and weeks you can look forward to getting to know our newest bloggers, who will be joining Lindsay, Karen, Amanda, and Rachel in sharing about their journeys and experiences post Bootcamp. Get excited!

The Art of Listening – Lindsay Feldmeth

Opera doesn’t always prepare you for real-life situations. My education in stagecraft did not include many “practical skills,” unless you include sword-fighting and swooning.  I certainly know how to: a) fall in love with a tenor b) go insane c) die of grief or d) slay an enemy. But if there are no tenors or … Read more

Letting go is not giving up – Amanda McAllister

One of the things I’ve been learning lately is how to let go.  It’s a concept that has pervaded my personal and singing life.  For months, my coach has been telling me to ‘have fun’ and to ‘play’ in my performances.  I watched myself seize with terror as I feebly attempted to ‘have fun’ with … Read more

Wait, what?! – Rachel Payne

My father wisely stated, “one day you will likely have to do something other than music to make money.” Wait, what?! Hold the phone. I didn’t sign up for that! I just want to sing.  That’s what God put me on this green earth to do. As it turns out for me, Dad was right. … Read more

Kicking Back to Grade School – Karen Hogle Brown

Seriously!  How many times has that same person been late to rehearsal? How many times have I spent weeks on a score and the person next to me is fumbling around looking at it for the first time?  No matter what a great singer they may be, I know I would never recommend them for … Read more

Mr. T – Rachel Payne

Just like the saying ‘it takes a village to raise a child’, it takes a plethora of teachers and mentors to raise a performer. Today I’m going to focus on just one who was absolutely influential in my development as a musician and artist. He was taller than me when I first joined the orchestra … Read more

For the Love of Lieder – Lindsay

Growing up in Los Angeles, I didn’t know much about German Romantic poetry. I did read some Goethe and Heine (because I had excellent high school German teachers) but I didn’t exactly grasp the scope of that literary movement. And I couldn’t have guessed that those poems would change my life. But when I moved … Read more