Singer Spotlight: Anna Laurenzo
Tell us a little about yourself! Where are you from? What is your educational and musical background?
I grew up in Urbandale, IA. Undergraduate: University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (Bachelor of Music - voice, cum laude, minor in Speech & Hearing Sciences). Graduate: Florida State University (Masters of Music - voice).
What is one thing you wish you had known as a young singer and why?
I wish I had known more about the financial obligations of a career in music. When you calculate the costs of voice lessons, coachings, audition travel, and application fees, it is a huge commitment to undertake. I got myself into a bit of debt because I wasn't being realistic about what those numbers actually were. When you leave an academic institution, voice lessons and coachings are no longer paid for or included with your tuition. The reality of those costs made me learn to practice more efficiently and ensure I was prepared for a lesson or coaching (because otherwise I was wasting money).
Tell us about an obstacle you have faced during your career and how you overcame it.
An ongoing obstacle in my career has been attempting to balance personal life and professional life while on the road so consistently. I've had to miss a number of family events and friends' weddings. When I was younger, it didn't bother me quite as much, but as my family members get older and I am away from home longer, it starts to weigh on me a bit. I haven't found the perfect solution yet, but I've been better about prioritizing meaningful events and scheduling around them as much as possible.
What is one role or piece you could perform over and over and never get tired of?
I recently performed Berlioz's song cycle, Les nuits d'ete, and vocally it felt like coming home. The texts are so rich in imagery and emotion, and Berlioz writes beautiful legato lines that allow the mezzo voice to flow and bloom. I can't wait to sing it again!
If you could only give one piece of advice to a young singer, what would it be?
Be authentic to yourself and your voice. That can apply to many different facets of the career: singing repertoire that you love and that fits your voice like a glove, spending time in the practice room getting acquainted with your voice, being your own biggest cheerleader, believing in what you have to offer, "staying in your lane" and avoiding the comparison game, not trying to make your voice sound like Pavarotti, Callas, Joyce DiDonato, insert any other name here.
Is there anything you spent too much time stressing over that didn't end up being a big deal?
Audition attire - my goodness, I worried so much about how I looked for auditions. As I've gone a bit farther along, I've realized that it is not about wearing the perfect jewel-toned dress. Auditions are about showing an audition panel who you are, and while your attire is a part of that, they are primarily listening for the voice.
Where can we catch you performing next?
I just made my Carnegie Hall debut on April 28th singing the mezzo solos in Vivaldi's Gloria. Up next, I’m presenting a recital of works by female composers on May 18th with The Song Set Chicago. This summer I’ll be debuting at Symphony Space (NYC) in a workshop performance of Outcast at the Gate with Center for Contemporary Opera on June 14th, and debuting with Glacier Symphony (MT) as Dorabella in Cosi fan tutte on August 10th.
