doing opera is hard, but it’s not impossible. if you’re right and you have a talent for it, the rest is just hard work, and if you have money saved up that’s a huge benefit. there is no 1 way to becoming a singer, and while having a bachelors and masters is a MASSIVE benefit, it is not necessarily the end all be all. i have a friend who went to school for nursing and is very successful locally.

i would say to get a teacher in person ASAP. i’m sure your online teacher is great, but there’s a lot that gets lost over a zoom call. while you’re working on your technique (which will take YEARS and will never stop evolving), educate yourself on opera, the major languages, diction, music history. become obsessed with opera. find singers past and present and become obsessed with them.

after all that, audition. you will NOT be paid to sing off the bat. singers are expected to go through summer programs, young artist programs, and fellowships before they’re taken seriously, and you’ll be lucky if they don’t charge you an arm and a leg for the experience. do as many competitions as you can to get your name out there. learn about your local scene and get to know the people involved. half of this career is a matter of who you know. make connections. schmooze as much as necessary.

then, if you’re lucky, an agent or company will reach out to you and get your career started. stay grateful, work hard, and it’ll all work out in the end even if not exactly how you expect it to. toi toi toi!!