My earliest memories are of my sister practicing her scales on my family’s piano, my brother conjuring up fiddle tunes on his violin, my mom playing gentle melodies on her flute while my dad accompanied her on piano, and my dad blasting Emerson, Lake and Palmer on our stereo system while Mom worked nights at the hospital. Given this prevalence of music, it was only inevitable when my parents signed me up for piano lessons when I was 4 years old.
Alas– my relationship with piano was doomed to fail. Practicing nearly always resulted in tears and screaming. “I wish I were a beaver, so that I could eat the piano,” I declared to my parents after a particularly difficult lesson.
Thankfully, my stubbornness prevailed and I retired from piano after two tumultuous years, replacing monotonous practice with playing tag amongst the cherry trees.
However, music hadn’t given up on me. A few months into my ‘retirement,’ my brother’s violin teacher invited me to sing the first verse of “Amazing Grace” at her fiddle group’s summer concert. Throughout the rehearsals, joy replaced resistance. I enjoyed the sensation of breath moving through my throat, my tiny vocal folds creating a sweet yet powerful sound, a feeling of playful presence. When I finally made it onstage, my heart pumping slightly faster than normal and my stomach fluttering with ‘the good butterflies,’ I released into the moment, basking in the euphoric vibrations emanating from my seven-year-old self. After the concert, I declared to my mom, dad, siblings and anyone else who would listen that I was going to be a singer when I grew up.
I have since followed through on my childhood dream– starting voice lessons in western classical music at age eight, singing with opera choruses and choirs in my youth, pursuing two music degrees, and now living and working in Boston, USA as a freelance singer. Throughout my career, I have created my own opportunities and diversified the music that I perform. By being active in different musical spaces including choral music, Church music, opera, pop, film music and the avant-garde, I have increased my fluency with different musical styles, activated my creativity, and participated in exciting, interdisciplinary collaborations. My favourite part about being a musician is working with others– that spark when we find an innovative solution to a tricky problem, the sounds of our voices and instruments conjoining through time and space, the purposeful act of defiance against a system that values competitiveness and the cult of individuality.
In pursuing my passion, I have learned to take care of my mental and physical health. Eating nourishing food, drinking water, and taking time each day for spiritual practice is vital. While social media, especially in the pandemic era, makes it easy to get caught up in the never ending pursuit of likes, I rebel against it through meditation and journaling. As I feel my torso rise and fall with each inhalation and exhalation, I am reminded of my seven-year-old self who sang for joy. I release the societal pressures to be ‘successful,’ to make money, and to fit in. As ego washes away and spirit takes over, I remember my purpose as a singer: to create healing experiences that allow human beings to embrace their complexity and humanity.
Written by: Rose Hegele
Soprano & Artistic Collaborator
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