This week was a whirlwind and I don’t say that lightly. Opera singers are often faced with tough decisions and I was hit with one of my biggest. Even now, I’m still dealing with the repercussions. As many of you know, my wife Irina and I are expecting our first child. The due date is … More The Biggest Sacrifice of My Life

High notes are notoriously the hardest thing to sing in opera. But there’s another vocal challenge that’s almost or just as hard. That’s accessing and singing in your passaggio. What is your passaggio you might ask? Simply put (and this is the best definition there is, without getting threatened by the vocal ped police!) it’s the … More My Weird (But Effective!) Trick for Singing in Your Passaggio

With the highs and lows of an artistic career, we mostly hear about those defining moments where someone’s dream came true and a perfect opportunity presented itself, and a star was born. This blog post is not that. This was one of the ultimate lows of my career. In fact, it’s the one blaring regret … More The Worst Audition of My Life

Reviews have a special place in the opera world. They inform readers about the quality of most current operatic performances. Unknowingly, reviews can teach readers about opera by showing them what to listen for, informing them about history, style, and so forth. They can educate an entire community. Yet, behind every review is a reviewer. … More Are Reviews Relevant?

It’s easy to look back on the past and wonder what would have happened if you did something differently. If I had the chance to impart some advice onto my younger opera singer self and change the past, this would be it. Find Your Edges, Round Them Out As a music student, it’s prime time … More What I Would Have Done Differently

I just finished a recital tour and I thought it would be a good time to address some of the differences between recitals and my regular singing gigs—opera. Not only are there many differences but there are lots of similarities. Especially after having done many recitals in my developing years and mostly opera in my … More Recital Singing vs Opera Singing: What’s the Difference?

Many things surprise us once we leave academia. In my case, when I entered the professional world of opera, I was hit with several realities. What I’m about to explain is the biggest lesson I learned about opera after leaving school. Everyone has their own experience transitioning from academia to the professional world but this … More What School Doesn’t Teach You About Opera

Now, the title of this article might be a little misleading because you’re soon about to find out that there is no “right” voice teacher. However, there is the right teacher for you, but it may not necessarily be the right teacher for everyone else. In other words, the best voice teacher for someone could … More My 6 Rules for Choosing the Right Voice Teacher

Sometimes the best advice comes to you in a different form. In my case, it wasn’t actually meant to be advice at all. In 2003, I stepped into the War Memorial Opera House at the San Francisco Opera to start my first day as a young artist at the Merola Opera Program. 24 of us … More The Best Advice I Ever Got

Covering is a big part of an operatic career. Most of us learn on the job but there’s a lot to gain from sharing with others. Currently, I’m covering a number of Iolanta performances at The Metropolitan Opera and I’m singing one. I haven’t covered in about 5 years, but when I was beginning my … More How to Cover a Role Like a Pro