I sang in the bathtub as a little girl. Growing up, my family would invite another family over every Sunday evening after church for dinner. After dinner, we would sing hymns.
Around age 9, I was asked impromptu to sing “Chim Chim Cher-ee” from Mary Poppins in front of a huge audience. It was scary and absolutely thrilling all at the same time! I joined a record club (yes! LP’s!) and sang along as I got dressed for school each morning. In high school, I became the ‘star’ singer. I was given solos in our school chorus. I made Quad-State and All-State choruses. I won our Youth Talent Contest. In ninth grade, I was a “cigarette girl” in Opera Memphis’ production of “Carmen.’ Just being in the presence of those amazing opera singers transported me to an entirely different world.
I became HOOKED on opera!
When I was a senior, I sang the role of Josephine in our production of Gilbert and Sullivan’s “HMS Pinafore.” I sang an aria from Pinafore on our local CBS TV station. I won the Daily Talent Contest for the Mid-South Fair. I got a vocal scholarship to Harding University. I was selected to be a soloist in a small group called the ‘Belles and Beaux” and was one of eight out of 14 singers selected to go to the Far East for two months on a USO tour. (A government sponsored entertainment program for military personnel stationed overseas.)
These may seem like little things, but they were big things to me.
I felt my life was laid out for me. I had my family’s support…or so I thought…and things came easy for me. Then, my parents pulled their support for no apparent reason. I was young, emotionally vulnerable, and fully dependent on them.
I was devastated by this abrupt turn and knew I had to do something to prove to them that my dream was much more than just a dream.
I went to three professional classical voice teachers, ones my parents knew of and respected, and asked them point blank if they thought I had what it took to make it as an opera singer. Each of them said I would have to work hard, but the answer from all three was a resounding ‘YES!’ Even that did not change things for me at home. I felt I had no way out. Yet, I knew way down deep that music, particularly opera singing and piano, was who I was. I had never known anything else.
Decades later, I used some money I fell into to go back to school…to add a piano performance degree to my previously earned vocal performance degree.
After years of working with excellent therapists, I was emotionally able to study voice again. Through the undying patience and encouragement of my incredible voice teacher, Mark Thress (New Roots in Nashville), I decided to respond to an audition invitation in April 2025 for Commonwealth Concert Opera (CCO). I decided to go for it, if only for the experience. They asked me to join them on the spot!
I am now an opera singer! I could not be more grateful. For the first time in my adult life, I feel I am fully whole. I have nothing to prove to anyone. I refuse to limit myself.
And I am full-out going for it.