What is Opera, Anyway?

 Timothy Long is a conductor, pianist, and composer and is currently on the faculty at the Eastman School of Music. In this conversation, Tim Long and Malinda Wagstaff discuss mental health for performers, the work of a conductor and artistic director, Tim's work supporting Indigenous artists and stories, and more.

This episode features host Ella Torres speaking with Andrew Elliot. Andrew is a makeup artist and wig stylist based out of Indianapolis. He primarily works on theatrical productions and on commercial shoots. Andrew works with a number of theaters across Indiana including Indiana University Opera Theatre at the Jacobs School of Music. He gained local notoriety during the pandemic for his quarantine drag creations – recreations of famous looks from pop culture and film. In this discussion, Ella and Andrew talk about how he got into makeup and wig, behind the scenes of his job, and childhood experiences with music and theater. One of the things they talk about is the work being done by Jerrilyn Lanier-Duckworth. We highly encourage you to check it! Andrew's website: https://www.andrewelliotbeauty.com/ His Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andrewjelliot/ IndyStar article: ⁠https://www.indystar.com/picture-gallery/news/2020/06/28/covid-19-lockdown-inspires-artist-andrew-elliot-transform-himself/5267791002/⁠ Jerrilyn Lanier-Duckworth: https://bridgingthegapintheatre.com/ https://www.instagram.com/bridgingthegap_in_theatre/

This episode features a conversation between Malinda Wagstaff and Micah Gleason. Micah is a conductor, singer, and chamber musician. Micah shared her classical music origins and how she approaches all art from an interdisciplinary lens. Micah talks about projects that are meaningful to her and how to create meaning in opera when working with other artists. https://micahgleason.com/about https://micahgleason.com/loam *We apologize for the occasional microphone distortion in this episode*

This episode features host Ella Torres speaking with Katie Brown and Dalanie Harris. Katie is a gigging symphonic violist and passionate vegan who shares her recipes on YouTube at KatieMakesItVegan. Harris is a music storyteller and writer currently based in Los Angeles. Together, Brown and Harris are the two halves of Classically Black Podcast. In this discussion, Ella, Katie, and Dalanie talk about the five year anniversary of CBP, working with your friends, different experiences with opera, cultivating minority communities, and ever-changing career paths. Classically Black Podcast: classicallyblackpodcast.com CBP Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/ClassicallyBlackPodcast International Society for Black Musicians (ISBM): isblackmusicians.com Katie's I Care If You Listen (ICIYL) article: https://icareifyoulisten.com/2023/07/failure-is-inevitable-in-classical-music-how-do-we-prepare-young-musicians/

This episode features host Malinda Wagstaff speaking with Nina Yoshida Nelsen. Nina Yoshida Nelsen is a mezzo-soprano who has been captivating audiences across North America and Europe. She has been praised for her portrayals of Suzuki in Madama Butterfly, Mama in “An American Dream,” and Fricka in “Die Walküre,” just to name a few. In addition to her exceptional performance resume, Nina is the board president and co-founder of the Asian Opera Alliance.  In this discussion, Malinda and Nina talk about Nina’s career, the mission of the Asian Opera Alliance, motherhood in singing, and more. Asian Opera Alliance Resources: https://asianoperaalliance.com/home/resources/

In this week's episode, Marcus chats with Jardena Gertler-Jaffe, a soprano from Western Canada who is the creator of “Our Singing Bodies”, an online platform for singers to explore, discuss, and make art about their bodies in singing, while also celebrating the craft and critiquing the discipline in which we make art. They talk about body image and body confidence as a singing artist, and the “super-human” activity that singing artist accomplish every time they perform. To find our more about or to contribute to “Our Singing Bodies,” you can head to oursingingbodies.com and @singingbodies on Instagram. You can keep up with Jardena at jardenasings.com and @jardenagj on Instagram.

In this week’s episode, Marcus chats with Tyler Bouque—a rising Baritone, Educator, and Musicologist—about the journey of “Modern” and “Experimental” Opera throughout history and how it gave way to the operas we have today that reflect current music and society. To learn more about Tyler and for more details on his upcoming book, you can find him at his website www.tylerbouque.com.

In this week’s episode, Marcus chats with Hailey McAvoy, a mezzo-soprano from Massachusetts who is living with Cerebral Palsy. Hailey discusses her journey into the performing world as a differently abled singer, along with some of the changes being made to accommodate more physically diverse singers! To keep up with Hailey and her journey, visit her website: haileymcavoy.com!

In this episode, our host Marcus leads a discussion with Emily Martin and Elizabeth McDonald the creators and founders of em2connect—a company that facilitates artist development, provides resources for total inclusion in the arts, and cultivates a community of artists through their online network “From the Voice of” www.from the voice of.com. Listen in to find out how these brilliant women are cultivating the next generation of artists by challenging and connecting them with their process. Their next Group Facilitation starts March 21st and runs for 4 weeks. Find out more about it here https://www.em2connect.com/groupfacilitation

Today we bring back our very own Malinda Wagstaff to talk to us about how composer Jake Heggie and librettist Gene Scheer brought the classic holiday movie, "It's A Wonderful Life," to the operatic stage!