94 episodes

Let me be your diva sidekick when it comes to staying focused and extra sparkly in your singing career.
Megan Ihnen is a professional mezzo-soprano, teacher, writer, and arts entrepreneur who is passionate about helping other musicians and creative professionals live their best lives.
Studio Class is an outgrowth of her popular #29DaystoDiva series from The Sybaritic Singer blog. Did you feel like you simply ran out of time during studio class to talk about some of the necessary business elements of your career? Do not despair, divas! This podcast is meant for you!

Studio Class The Sybaritic Singer

    • Arts
    • 4.7 • 14 Ratings

Let me be your diva sidekick when it comes to staying focused and extra sparkly in your singing career.
Megan Ihnen is a professional mezzo-soprano, teacher, writer, and arts entrepreneur who is passionate about helping other musicians and creative professionals live their best lives.
Studio Class is an outgrowth of her popular #29DaystoDiva series from The Sybaritic Singer blog. Did you feel like you simply ran out of time during studio class to talk about some of the necessary business elements of your career? Do not despair, divas! This podcast is meant for you!

    Episode 95: Masterclass - Kathleen Kelly

    Episode 95: Masterclass - Kathleen Kelly

    Kathleen Kelly’s projects and repertoire are wide-ranging and diverse. From Mozart to commissioned works by her peers, she is both deeply experienced in the classical vocal canon and engaged in new creation. Recent notable projects include a recording with soprano Emily Albrink - which we’ll reference in this episode, leading the world premiere of Matt Bohler’s opera FAT PIG (composed for activist soprano Tracy Cox), and the filmed opera Interstate, composed by Kamala Sankaram, co-authored and performed by Kathleen and soprano Jennifer Cresswell, produced by Minnesota Opera.


    Kathleen has appeared internationally as a pianist in collaboration with singers including appearances at incredible and top tier venues around the world. She has worked with many companies including the San Francisco, Metropolitan, Houston Grand, and Vienna State Operas, and she is regularly invited to speak and write on womens’ issues in the opera industry.


    **
    Show Notes
    **
    Uniarts Helsinki article - https://www.uniarts.fi/en/articles/interviews/professors-universities-need-to-help-classical-music-students-expand-their-professional-views-beyond-tradition/?fbclid=IwAR08j3aLWCod_bG7j7IDF_1ZxMiJYfkN_7J2PSZkOs9-uyVe_OawO4r6vQ4
    SWAP'ra article - https://www.swap-ra.org/post/kathleen-kelly-sit-back-my-friends-it-s-morning-rant-time


    Thank You*


    My gratitude goes out to Hannah Boissonneault who edits our Masterclass episodes and to Juanitos and Scott Holmes for the music featured in this episode.


    You can help support the creation of these episodes when you join the Sybaritic Camerata on Patreon. Get started at patreon.com/mezzoihnen.


    Be on the Studio Class Podcast
    Megan Ihnen is a professional mezzo-soprano, teacher, writer, and arts entrepreneur who is passionate about helping other musicians and creative professionals live their best lives. Studio Class is an outgrowth of her popular #29DaystoDiva series from The Sybaritic Singer. Let your emerging professionals be part of the podcast! Invite Megan to your studio class for a taping of an episode. Your students ask questions and informative, fun conversation ensues.
    Special Guest: Kathleen Kelly.

    • 1 hr 17 min
    Episode 94: Masterclass - Carrie Hennessey

    Episode 94: Masterclass - Carrie Hennessey

    Carrie Hennessey is a wayfinder through the deep, spiritual and technical discoveries of the voice.


    Early success in the Metropolitan Opera Auditions led to high expectations, but singing after trauma in her early 20s dismantled the ease in her voice and presence. A top artistic mentor once reviewed, ‘This is not the same singer I heard 2 years ago. Go back home’, and a famous singer/coach exclaimed, ‘If you’d just sing like Renata Tebaldi…’ Hennessey left, losing her identity and voice.


    Ms. Hennessey has since found her true voice and created a wildly unique and energized career path in theater, opera, symphony work, recital, and education, wearing with pride the hats of trauma-informed teacher and facilitator, producer, singer, actor, innovator and writer.


    She is known for her soaring voice and richly nuanced characters onstage, and has sung all over the world. Notable highlights include debuting as Kát’á in Kát’á Kabanová at the Cal Shakes Amphitheater, As Blanche Du Bois in Previn’s A Streetcar Named Desire. Carrie captivated audiences in an immersive production of The Stronger and as Elle in La Voix Humaine in NYC. Her bold and nuanced interpretation of Strauss’ Vier Letzte Lieder resonated among the redwood trees with Music in the Mountains Orchestra. She then channeled the physical comedy of Carol Burnett and fearless vocalism and sense of humor of Beverly Sills in the world premiere ballet by Darrell Grand Moultrie “On the Rocks, Please!”


    Carrie lights a fire in those around her - teaching music education through lectures, workshops, Master Classes, and is joyfully dedicated to guiding all around her to find their true authentic voice in the world. Currently, Carrie is developing her one woman show about her life in singing, quitting for 12 years post trauma and creating from nothing a versatile and vibrant career steeped in authenticity.




    My gratitude goes out to Hannah Boissonneault who edits our Masterclass episodes and to Juanitos and Scott Holmes for the music featured in this episode.


    You can help support the creation of these episodes when you join the Sybaritic Camerata on Patreon. Get started at patreon.com/mezzoihnen.


    Be on the Studio Class Podcast
    Megan Ihnen is a professional mezzo-soprano, teacher, writer, and arts entrepreneur who is passionate about helping other musicians and creative professionals live their best lives. Studio Class is an outgrowth of her popular #29DaystoDiva series from The Sybaritic Singer. Let your emerging professionals be part of the podcast! Invite Megan to your studio class for a taping of an episode. Your students ask questions and informative, fun conversation ensues.
    Special Guest: Carrie Hennessey.

    • 1 hr 12 min
    Episode 92: Masterclass - Kala Maxym

    Episode 92: Masterclass - Kala Maxym

    Kala is the Founder of Five Senses Tastings, a Certified Women-Owned Business. Her philosophy of Sensory Wellness encourages guests to harness the energy, power, and play of their five senses using music, wine, and food, and sweet treats.


    Inspired by her childhood abroad, Kala believes that diversifying our own sensory ecosystems leads us to find beauty and inspiration not just in ourselves but in the world around us. She is a professional opera singer who has performed worldwide (including for three presidents), and now intentionally uses her voice to advocate for voting rights. She is a former federal government employee, bone marrow donor, a polyglot who speaks German, French, and Spanish, and is certified through the Wine & Spirits Education Trust.


    Kala lives in Los Angeles with her partner and two orange Bronx street cats, Ollie and Caspar.




    My gratitude goes out to Hannah Boissonneault who edits our Masterclass episodes and to Juanitos and Scott Holmes for the music featured in this episode.


    You can help support the creation of these episodes when you join the Sybaritic Camerata on Patreon. Get started at patreon.com/mezzoihnen.


    Be on the Studio Class Podcast
    Megan Ihnen is a professional mezzo-soprano, teacher, writer, and arts entrepreneur who is passionate about helping other musicians and creative professionals live their best lives. Studio Class is an outgrowth of her popular #29DaystoDiva series from The Sybaritic Singer. Let your emerging professionals be part of the podcast! Invite Megan to your studio class for a taping of an episode. Your students ask questions and informative, fun conversation ensues.
    Special Guest: Kala Maxym.

    • 54 min
    Episode 91: Micro Action Monday - Deal with negative feedback

    Episode 91: Micro Action Monday - Deal with negative feedback

    No one likes to receive negative feedback - it's true. But, how you respond to criticism will influence what kind and speed of progress you can make in your professionally creative career. In this Micro Action Monday, Megan discusses how to take in, respond to negative feedback, and turn it into a positive situation.


    Do you like these micro action episodes? You'll probably like the 29 Days to Diva series on The Sybaritic Singer too. Check it out here: https://sybariticsinger.com/category/29-days-to-diva/


    My gratitude goes out to Juanitos and Scott Holmes for the music featured in this episode.


    You can help support the creation of these episodes when you join the Sybaritic Camerata on Patreon. Get started at patreon.com/mezzoihnen.


    Be on the Studio Class Podcast
    Megan Ihnen is a professional mezzo-soprano, teacher, writer, and arts entrepreneur who is passionate about helping other musicians and creative professionals live their best lives. Studio Class is an outgrowth of her popular #29DaystoDiva series from The Sybaritic Singer. Let your emerging professionals be part of the podcast! Invite Megan to your studio class for a taping of an episode. Your students ask questions and informative, fun conversation ensues.

    • 15 min
    Episode 90: Masterclass - Hilary Ginther

    Episode 90: Masterclass - Hilary Ginther

    Opera Now Magazine in their article, “Written in the Stars” profiled Hilary Ginther in May 2016 as one of ten young American singers intent on taking the opera world by storm, calling attention to her “substantial and richly colored instrument”. This was followed by her Philadelphia Orchestra debut in Bernstein’s MASS under the baton of Yannick Nézet-Séguin, which was recorded by Deutsche Grammophon and released in March 2018, in commemoration of the composer’s centenary.


    Most recent engagements include Olga in Eugene Onegin for Opera Omaha, Rosina in Il Barbiere di Siviglia for Opera on the James, Adalgisa in Norma for Musica Viva Hong Kong, and Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony in Santa Fe.




    My gratitude goes out to Hannah Boissonneault who edits our Masterclass episodes and to Juanitos and Scott Holmes for the music featured in this episode.


    You can help support the creation of these episodes when you join the Sybaritic Camerata on Patreon. Get started at patreon.com/mezzoihnen.


    Be on the Studio Class Podcast
    Megan Ihnen is a professional mezzo-soprano, teacher, writer, and arts entrepreneur who is passionate about helping other musicians and creative professionals live their best lives. Studio Class is an outgrowth of her popular #29DaystoDiva series from The Sybaritic Singer. Let your emerging professionals be part of the podcast! Invite Megan to your studio class for a taping of an episode. Your students ask questions and informative, fun conversation ensues.
    Special Guest: Hilary Ginther.

    • 1 hr 9 min
    Episode 89: Micro Action Monday - Make your auditions shine

    Episode 89: Micro Action Monday - Make your auditions shine

    "Having an audition that really shines is not about, 'Oh, I wore this dress that they really liked.' It's about, 'I made a moment for them in that room. They felt so inspired by my work that they knew I would be the right fit for an entire production or I would be the right fit for their company.'" In this Micro Action Monday episode, Megan discusses a few tips to make your auditions really stand out.


    Do you like these micro action episodes? You'll probably like the 29 Days to Diva series on The Sybaritic Singer too. Check it out here: https://sybariticsinger.com/category/29-days-to-diva/


    My gratitude goes out to Juanitos and Scott Holmes for the music featured in this episode.


    You can help support the creation of these episodes when you join the Sybaritic Camerata on Patreon. Get started at patreon.com/mezzoihnen.


    Be on the Studio Class Podcast
    Megan Ihnen is a professional mezzo-soprano, teacher, writer, and arts entrepreneur who is passionate about helping other musicians and creative professionals live their best lives. Studio Class is an outgrowth of her popular #29DaystoDiva series from The Sybaritic Singer. Let your emerging professionals be part of the podcast! Invite Megan to your studio class for a taping of an episode. Your students ask questions and informative, fun conversation ensues.

    • 17 min

Customer Reviews

4.7 out of 5
14 Ratings

14 Ratings

dawnoftheresonator ,

Exactly what I needed to hear!

It’s been difficult to see a way forward during the pandemic— Megan invigorates my resolve with insightful information and intentional steps that I can use to figure out where I’m going next. Highly recommend!

Flute Peach ,

Smart, Entertaining, and Real

This podcast is terrific! Real world business thinking for real world musicians. Not a singer? Substitute whatever you do for 'singer' and it works every time. It's about developing yourself as Your Brand... not someone else's idea of a musician. Love it!

theHepcat ,

Every episode is a home run!

The Sybaritic Singer is brilliantly insightful. This podcast is helpful for any musician, not only singers.

Top Podcasts In Arts

NPR
The Moth
Snap Judgment
Roman Mars
Snap Judgment and PRX
Food Network