Megan Ihnen
Host of Studio Class
Mezzo-soprano Megan Ihnen is a tireless promoter of contemporary classical music for the voice. Her performances thrive on elaborate sound worlds and fully-developed dramatic interpretations. Megan recently debuted on the Detroit New Music “Strange Beautiful Music Marathon”, the Works and Process at the Guggenheim series, and with NYC-based Stone Mason Projects. Her interdisciplinary “Kafka Fragments” project had performances in Maryland and Colorado. Her recording of Garrett Schumann’s “Bound” with Latitude 49 was selected for both the I CARE IF YOU LISTEN Fall 2015 Mixtape and the CarpeDM Seize Des Moines “Music Mix: Volume III” featured at the 2016 SXSW Festival. Learn more about Megan at meganihnen.com.
Megan Ihnen has hosted 20 episodes.
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Episode 20: Outcomes, Not (Mindless) Activities
May 13th, 2018 | 47 mins 59 secs
achievement, arts entrepreneurship, classical singing, new music, opera, setting goals, success metrics, success workbook
"Performance begins with focusing on outcomes instead of activities. In my experience, most people do the reverse. They concentrate their efforts on the pursuit of activities instead of outcomes." Tired of the relentless busy-ness of being a musician? Let's re-focus on outcomes and avoid the temptation of mindless activity, divas, with the help of Douglas K. Smith's book "Make Success Measurable! A Mindbook-Workbook for Setting Goals and Taking Action."
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Episode 19: Everyone Performs
May 6th, 2018 | 38 mins 6 secs
audience building, creative placemaking, new music, opera
Today, we’re relying on the wisdom of Barbara Townley and Nic Beech in their book “Managing Creativity: Exploring the Paradox.” This episode covers topics such as audience building in opera and new music, collaborative creativity, creative placemaking, and how user-generated content means that audiences have different expectations of artistic experiences.
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Episode 18: Get a lay of the land
April 29th, 2018 | 42 mins 29 secs
classical singing, composers, music business, new music, opera
In this we’re taking a different approach. It’s been a little while since I’ve posted a new episode and I want to tell you about that. Then, we’re going to rely on the wisdom of Ellen Highstein and her book “Making Music in Looking Glass Land” to help us get “a lay of the land” for us that are out there performing and composing our little hearts out.
BURNOUT IS A B****. LET’S AVOID IT. article for NewMusicBox - https://nmbx.newmusicusa.org/burnout-is-a-b-lets-avoid-it/
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Episode 17: How To Change The World Through Classical Music - Part II
August 27th, 2017 | Season 2 | 25 mins 23 secs
change the world, classical music, new music, opera, singing, social justice, voice
I’m attempting to answer one of my own big questions, “How Do You Change The World Through Classical Music?” Yes. It’s a hefty topic. I have had this nagging feeling that I need to devote some of my attention to how my art can be a force for good and world events don’t seem to be slowing that need or quieting that internal voice at all. It’s getting louder and more insistent. Divas, not only do I want to help you make it rain in your business but I want to help you change the world while you’re at it.
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Episode 16: How To Change The World Through Classical Music
August 20th, 2017 | 19 mins 51 secs
change the world, classical music, diva, music education, music therapy, opera, voice
In this episode, I’m attempting to answer one of my own big questions, “How Do You Change The World Through Classical Music?”
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Episode 15: What Are Your Diva Metrics?
August 13th, 2017 | 25 mins 17 secs
choosing goals, classical singing, micro actions, new music, opera, singer goals, singer metrics
In this 15th episode, I’m answering a listener question! Mary, who goes by the artist name Alarke, asked me, “What metrics do you use to monitor your growth and how often do you check them? Do you outsource help?"
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Episode 14: Brand Yourself - Personal Branding for Divas
August 6th, 2017 | 27 mins 16 secs
branding, classical singing, opera, personal brand, singer
Personal branding is important for singers because you are your own business. In this episode, we'll go over some activities that you can do to understand your personal brand better.
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Episode 13: Build A Diva
July 30th, 2017 | 27 mins 10 secs
bio, classical singing, epk, press kit, resume, singer
Your digital press kit (often also called an electronic press kit or EPK) is meant to collate important information about you as a singer for presenters, applications, and media professionals.
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Episode 12: Make It Rain: Your Network = Your Net Worth
April 2nd, 2017 | 25 mins 42 secs
classical singing, communications, diva, networking
In this 12th episode, we’re going back to my “Rainmaker’s Guide to Music Business” lecture and diving into the network portion.
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Episode 11: Goal Setting for Your Diva Life
March 19th, 2017 | 16 mins 23 secs
classical singing, diva, goal-setting, metrics, opera
Goal setting is all about milestones. Let's discover where you are and what's left to tackle.
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Episode 10: Leveling Up - Diva Style
March 12th, 2017 | 49 mins 36 secs
auditions, classical music, networking, opera singing, performing
This episode comes from a music business lecture I do called "Make It Rain" and it covers the different stages of your creative career.
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Episode 9: Your Practice Plan
February 26th, 2017 | 34 mins 4 secs
classical singing, intrinsic motivation, memorization techniques, opera, setting intentions
In this 9th episode, I’m gonna take a little different path. I’m going to just talk about some things that I’ve been mentioning in the studio. I work with singers of all different ages and abilities and motivation and practicing are universal.
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Episode 8: Kicking Perfectionism to the Curb
February 19th, 2017 | 17 mins
classical singing, opera, overpreparing, perfectionism, under-doing
In this episode, I want to talk about the dangers of perfectionism. Perfectionism can manifest in a couple of ways and we’re going to talk about over-doing and under-doing as a couple of things to watch out for as well as how to accept both failure and success as part of the path.
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Episode 7: The Post-Show Schmooze
February 12th, 2017 | 19 mins 20 secs
audience development, classical singing, networking, opera, schmooze
Get your post-show schmooze on, divas, with this quick and fun punchlist! This Studio Class episode helps you decipher what an audience member or performer can do to up their schmoozing game directly after a performance.
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Episode 6: Create Your Singing Team
February 5th, 2017 | 35 mins 53 secs
auditions, classical music, gertrude stein, opera singing, performing, salons, singer
You have heard it said before, “it takes a village.” The simple truth in that statement is that we are only one person and have only 24 hours in a day. When we combine a reliable and skilled team of people the effort can be exponentially broadened.
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Episode 5: The Audition is Never Over!
January 29th, 2017 | 26 mins 55 secs
auditions, classical music, opera singing, performing
Observe and learn from those that you find the most charismatic. You do not have to mimic their actions, speaking-style, or look. Simply identify what it is you find most engaging about them and see how you could apply that technique to your own life.