ALUMNA SPOTLIGHT

How did you come to pursue a career in opera?

I never thought I would pursue music. For a long time, my plan was to play basketball in college, and then to get a degree in mechanical engineering. I began to take music seriously when I started entering singing competitions, and when I joined Marymount’s performing arts ensembles. Eventually, I had to make a choice: what thing could I not live without, music or engineering? I chose music, and embarked upon a degree in music at UCLA.

What advice would you give those wanting to follow in your footsteps?

I have learned that while talent gets you in the door, it is hard work, consistency, and kindness that keeps you in the room. I know people who are incredibly talented, but who refuse to put time and effort into their craft and have, thus, fallen behind. Hard work will enhance your natural abilities and help you live up to your full potential.

Has the Marymount Community impacted you in your postgrad life and if so, how?

The Marymount community has been incredibly supportive of me as a student, an alumna, and during my short time as a Marymount faculty member. They believed in me way before I ever believed in myself. Some of my greatest friends are from my graduating class.

After I graduated from college, my burnout peaked. I doubted whether I wanted to continue singing, and I was lost in not knowing what my next step would be. I decided to take a gap year before starting graduate school. Taking a job at Marymount as a substitute math teacher, I noticed similarities between performing

Grammy Award Winner for “The Passion of Yeshua” with the UCLA Chamber Singers University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)

Major: Music-Vocal Performance, Minor: Mathematics on stage and teaching math. During that time, I also had the opportunity to work with choreographer and former Marymount mom, Laurie Sefton, in her experimental dance showcase, The Mythology of Self, in which a composer wrote a piece specifically for my voice. It was this journey out of my comfort zone that allowed me to explore things I would have otherwise never experienced, to see my own strengths and aspirations, and to feel myself become passionate about music again.

What advice do you have for current students at Marymount?

I believe there is too much pressure to have your path figured out by the time you leave high school. In reality, I think it is very unusual to have a clear idea of what your future will be at that age and take that exact path according to plan. It took me a while to realize that you do not need to be absolutely certain that each step is the “correct” step. If you don’t like the direction you are going, you can adjust. Trust your gut, do what you enjoy, and take your time. Life is a marathon, not a sprint.